Cheltenham Showcase Meeting Day One Tips: Three To Back On Friday

The mecca of jumps racing hosts action once again on Friday as Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting begins. A group of the races are set to be shown live on ITV Racing, but off the terrestrial television coverage there are still some good races and Billy Grimshaw has three to keep onside...

13:15 Cheltenham - Foundation Developments Handicap Hurdle

The first race back at Prestbury Park is sure to be greeted by rapturous cheers from the faithful who have been starved over the summer of their favourite sporting pursuit, National Hunt racing at Cheltenham! I am suitably jealous of all those lucky enough to be attending and if I was on course, I think my chunkiest bet of the day could well come in the first. Plenty of readers will no doubt have experienced this sort of confidence before and will know this first race can dictate whether you have a good day out or a great day.

The Twiston Davies team have predictably started the season hot but even discounting trainer form, I'd have their PUSH THE BUTTON as clear favourite. 5/1 is a smashing price and I'd be surprised if we got north of 7/2 on the day, unless the horse is judged to be needing the run. He has been off over 300 days, but his yard don't often bring one to Cheltenham not cherry ripe and this won't be a pipe opener. Before his time off he was a very progressive novice hurdler and although he will have to ive a stone to nearest market rival Walking On Air, I'd still be very disappointed if a mark of 132 doesn't seriously underestimate Push The Button.

On Push The Button's last start he trounced Cherie D'Am, who was sent off joint favourite at 6/4 with our pick here, by four lengths at Warwick and that one won next time out before finishing third to Dancing City later in the season at Aintree. He was miles off that winner, but that's good form nonetheless. Push The Button is the standout in here and although there is the obvious danger of him needing the run, his price more than makes up for that.

16:10 Cheltenham - Alastair Down Press Room Novices' Hurdle

Despite siding with Sam and Nigel Twiston Davies earlier on the card, I'm not convinced their Potters Charm will go off favourite as he is at the time of writing or that he will be able to live with the highly rated Irish raider MINELLA SIXO for Gordon Elliott here. Danny Gilligan comes over for the ride and while we have little racecourse evidence yet for a lot of the runners in here, what we have seen from Minella Sixo to me is enough to say he is going to progress into a very nice staying prospect as his career progresses.

He hardly took the eye out at Fairyhouse on rules debut when winning by eight lengths, however despite looking like he was carrying some condition and also some novicey jumps the engine was there for all to see and the way he drew out the energy from the rest of the field indicated he is smart. I actually wouldn't be surprised if there is an Irish 1-2 as John McConnell's Cloonarina gets weight all round as a mare in here and has an experience advantage over most, for all that she didn't exactly cover herself in glory at Downpatrick last time out.

16:45 Cheltenham - Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

It is ominous that the Ben Pauling trained favourite Fiercely Proud in here, with a ten pound claimer on his back, has opened up so short, but I'm willing to stick my neck on the line and say he's under priced at the time of writing and - unless some stable information gets out that he's a rocket - I'd be amazed if he doesn't drift out a bit in a race as competitive as this.

Aucunrisque was one I was tempted to chance considering he showed plenty of signs of life last time out behind Enthused, who he reopposes here with a weight swing and should turn the tables on, but I'd want him to get a freebie out in front to support him and with Jetronic also in for the Moore team, I can't see that happening. The one I've come down on is one of Fergal O'Brien's trio of entrants (all available to be backed at double figures) OSLO.

He ran a smashing race back in April to take a Huntingdon handicap on good ground and with pace galore in here, I'm hopeful his experienced rider holds his nerve and attempts to stalk his way into the race. This horse's jumping has not been perfect thus far in his career, as he showed when unseating at the third last time out, but O'Brien really primes his horses for days at Cheltenham and I'd fancy Oslo to at least reverse form on better terms with Here Comes Georgie, who beat him into third by a length a few runs back and is a shorter price in here. The drift on my selection on Friday morning is a bit of a concern, but I still reckon he has what it takes to at least hit the frame.

The one I fear most - other than the favourite, obviously - is Jilalione for David Pipe, who looks very well handicapped and should appreciate the expected good ground for a yard who seem to have hit form a bit earlier than usual this season.