1:15 Cheltenham Tips

Going with a horse here who doesn't know how to run a bad race. Never been out of the first 4 in 11 races. Won the Gerry Feilden at Newbury last season. Placed in the valuable Premier Hurdle at Newbury. No doubts about him, he is a seriously good horse. If he brings his A-game, he could easily see this lot off. Fantastic each-way angle.

French Ship would have won last time out until coming to grief late on. Runs off the same handicap mark and should be competitive here.

A really competitive handicap to get Cheltenham's season up and running, but East India Express could blow this apart from top weight, having bolted up over C&D in April from a mark of 129 under Freddie Gordon, claiming 3 lbs. 8 lbs higher, but he's still unexposed after just 8 hurdles starts (won 4), and he was sent off 2nd fav for the Martin Pipe here in March, which would suggest the yard felt he had loads in hand. He's 2 from 2 on seasonal reappearance, and in my view, could yet make into a graded performer, which would suggest this mark of 137 is well within reach.

Classic King is a relatively lightly raced seven year old who showed some smart form last season. He is quite likely to progress a little yet in my view following his wind operation. He comes from the Emma Lavelle yard who are in good form at this early stage of the season, and Harry Cobden on board is never a bad thing.

The Expensive One is a progressive game horse that won nicely at Stratford 18 days ago. It can run a big race with more improvement expected.

Jazzy Matty loves thos place and has 2 wins and a second from 3 starts so as long as he doesn't mind the revert back to hurdles he should go well

Bowensonfire has won 3 of his 12 starts, also being placed on 6 occasions. The wins came at Limerick on heavy in January and at Bellewstown on good ground in July, so he should be fine whatever the ground. He has been 3rd in big handicaps at Killarney and Listowel in his last two starts. He is off 2 lbs higher here but should go well and looks like a good each-way bet with 5 places on offer.

A lot to like about this 7-year-old gelding, and this drop in grade should suit now that the handicapper has dropped him down a fair few pounds. Previously won a G2 Novices' Hurdle here. Course form at Cheltenham tends to be important, and with Evan Williams in reasonable form, Minella Missile can go close here.

Horses out of Doctor Dino tend to go well at Cheltenham. So although the form on Service Minimum is not up to winning this, she is worth a play at big odds and 5 places. Harry Skelton has chosen this over their other runner.

This horse has previous winning course and distance form and looks to be fairly handicapped. Can reward each way support in this race.

This 5yo has had a wind op since his last race, and since some of his form in his short career is very useful, any further improvement from the wind op is going to make a mockery of his 28/1 outsider quote here. His last run of last year can be ignored since that was over too far a trip, but prior to that, his easy beating of the 130-rated Pigeon House at this trip reads really well (he was receiving 5lb). He races off 123 here, and on that evidence, you'd have to say he has every chance in this race, which has been won by 5yos in 4 of the last 7 years.

David Pipe sent two over to Punchestown: American Sniper, who was sixth, and the winner Thanksforthehelp. The form of this race does give American Sniper hope, as there was a winner from behind who has come out, and Kap Vert, who was in seventh, was second at Fontwell. American Sniper may have been taken to Punchestown to get a run into him, as he won over twenty-one furlongs here last year in a conditional jockey race with Fergus Gillard. This class three handicap can be well within his ability with jockey James Davies. When winning here, he raced off 122, and he has this rating again today, plus has conditions in his favor to serve up a big run here. American Sniper is in and out with his form, but with cheekpieces on once again, he can be ready to run. In a big field like this, he has no fear and can get competitive.

This steadily advancing contender got off to a solid start at Uttoxeter in July. Just 14 days ago, he delivered a commendable 4th place in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow. With the tongue strap back on, he should be in contention again and is a valuable each-way bet at enticing odds of 40/1.