Who To Follow On Day One Of Cheltenham's December Meeting

Dan Skelton has been the man lately when it comes towards the weekend and on Friday at Cheltenham he has a few runners that could go close.

His first runner of the afternoon comes in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase and looking still well handicapped off the back of his win on chase debut, Hidden Heroics has a big chance.

Skelton next fields 10 year old Spiritofthegames in the valuable Dahlbury Handicap Chase over 3m2f with Cheltenham being a track that gelding has ran well at during his career.

Too Friendly is a lively runner in the Handicap Hurdle over 2m1f with his mark of 123 being very workable off the back of his second last time out.

Skelton finishes the afternoon by running Uhtred in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle and the gelding isn't without a chance having finished third in a better race last time out.

Skelton is currently running at a strike rate of 18% for the last two weeks with 12 winners from 65 runners and overall the prize money he has picked up has been superb.

Nico de Boinville could be set for a big day Friday at jumps racing HQ with a handful of nice rides across the afternoon, starting with Attacca in the Novices' Hurdle who does have 6lb to give away to some runners but in the Altior colours could be a nice type.

In the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 3m 1 1/2f Mister Coffey will be hoping to get off the mark over fences for the first time in his career and has a big chance to do so.

Finally, De Boinville rounds off the afternoon on the very talented gelding Dusart who makes his seasonal debut in a handicap hurdle off 150.

The rider heads into the meeting sporting a strike rate of 21% for the last two weeks with four winners from his last 19 rides.