Cheltenham Races Tips: Four bets For Friday's Showcase Meeting At Cheltenham

It's the return of Cheltenham Races on Friday afternoon, as Prestbury Park hosts day one of the Showcase meeting and there's a competitive-looking seven-race card for punters to get stuck into, and our man Steve Chambers has picked out his best bets for Friday's racing here...

14:10 Cheltenham - squareintheair.com Novices' Chase

A classy novice hurdler last season, Chris Gordon's AUCUNRISQUE showed his class when bounding to victory in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton Park, and while he failed to reach Grade 1 class when being well beaten in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree  he heads into his novice chasing campaign as a smart prospect.

Sent off a warm order for his chasing debut at Uttoxeter, Aucunrisque defeated Jetoile by three-quarters-of-a-length, and the pair clash again on Friday, and the Gordon charge should be able to frank that form. Sure to improve on that first start over fences, the six-year-old is an eye-catching 11/4 favourite for this 1m 7f 199y novices' chase and while Gordon Elliott's Galway Plate fourth Ash Tree Meadow will have more experience than Aucunrisque, he looks an exciting novice chaser this season and can make it two wins from two. Currently a 50/1 chance for the Arkle in March, a win here would boost his Cheltenham Festival claims.

15:20 Cheltenham - 888Sport Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Emma Lavelle's Hang In There has made a fabulous start to his chasing career, as having notched up a second place on chase debut, the eight-year-old then went on to notch up a four-timer over the larger obstacles and will attempt to make it five on the spin on Friday in a fascinating 15:20 event. The one to beat, Lavelle's charge could well have a lively rival in the shape of Gordon Elliott's TULLYBEG, who could be a smart performer over fences, and at 3/1 that's the one to be with.

The Cullentra House inmate competed in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but failed to land any sort of blow when finishing 18th, but he's been busy since and has already had five races over fences. Two wins at Kilbeggan and Wexford have shown he can perform with credit over fences, and a mark of 139 is certainly workable on his handicap debut. The trip is the slight worry, as he could make up into a three-mile chaser later in his career, but the test Cheltenham offers should work to his strengths and he can prevail here.

15:55 Cheltenham - Abu Dhabi Digital Exchange Handicap Hurdle

A few lining up in this contest could well have bigger fish to fry later in the season with the likes of Coole Cody and Francky Du Berlais to be given tougher tests over fences during the Jumps campaign. The former could use this as a warm-up for the Paddy Power Gold Cup next month, while the latter won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July and is sure to be better over fences.

One at double-figured odds that has to come into calculations is Lucinda Russell's AURORA THUNDER, who was last seen finishing second off a mark of 120 at Perth and the eight-year-old mare will return off that same figure on Friday after a few months off the track and has to be considered, if on form. She has often run well fresh, so the long absence could be a huge bonus, and while the likes of Spanish Present and Onagatheringstorm will be leading players here the Russell charge can make the frame at the very least.

16:30 Cheltenham - Andrew Malam Lifetime In Racing Award Winner Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Ben Pauling's ANIGHTINLAMBOURN has been in the form of her life over the last couple of months notching up back-to-back wins at Worcester and she can make it three on the spin on Friday by landing the victory in a hugely competitive 16:30 race. Sent off an odds-on favourite last time out off a mark of 111, the eight-year-old cruised to an 11-length victory, but for that success she's been hiked up a whopping 10lbs by the handicapper.

Not only will she have to deal with a new mark of 121 on Friday, she will also step up in trip considerably as well as she tackles over three miles for the first time. There's sure to be question marks over her abilities over the trip, but Pauling couldn't have her in any better form and she's sure to put up a bold bid for glory in the penultimate race.