ITV Racing Tips: Check out Friday's best bets from Cheltenham

It's day one of Cheltenham's November meeting on Friday and while the showpiece race of the three-day event, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, doesn't take place until Saturday our in-house tipster Steve Chambers focuses on Friday's action, which takes place in front of the ITV racing cameras and he has picked out his best bets...

13:45 Cheltenham - Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase

Alan King's THE GLANCING QUEEN was hugely progressive last season and ended her campaign with a hugely impressive victory at Cheltenham's April meeting. She will return to the scene of that success on Friday and is currently the 11/4 favourite to land victory in the 13:45 contest, which is a cracking handicap chase over 1m 7f 99y.

Seventh in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival a month previous, the Barbury Castle inmate put up an improved effort next time out off a mark of 140. Given a 5lbs rise for that success, she will have the burden of top weight in this contest, but the King yard could have their hearts set on a potential tilt at the Mares' Chase in March - a race she is 14/1 for at the moment - and if she can prevail here then she has to be a lively player in that contest.

The likes of Amarillo Sky, Grey Diamond and Malystic are all lively adversaries and add quality to the race, but The Glancing Queen could just be a cut above those rivals and can strike gold here.

14:55 Cheltenham - Glenfarclas Veterans' Handicap Chase

Some old stagers of the National Hunt sphere do battle in a hugely competitive veterans' handicap chase at 14:55 and 2016 Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy will return to the scene of his biggest success and is currently the 3/1 favourite and has to be considered a leading contender in a trappy betting heat.

However, the one to side with is Kerry Lee's MAGIC DANCER, who is a 5/1 shot, at the time of writing, and still looks to have some potential despite being ten years old. Last seen in April at Ludlow bounding to an 11-length success, Lee's charge will have a tougher task on his hands on Friday with not only a strong field of rivals, but he will also have to contend with a 5lbs rise in the handicap.

Lining up off 125, Magic Dancer will likely have to improve on that Ludlow display, but unlike some of his rivals who look to be past their best, the Lee charge could still be able to produce the goods at this sort of level and should be able to storm to glory.

15:30 Cheltenham - Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

There's a fascinating renewal of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle trial at 15:30 and this could throw up a genuine contender for the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the big gun trainers will unleash some of their smart young hurdlers in this event.

A facile 27-length winner of a Stratford maiden hurdle, the Paul Nicholls-trained Hermes Allen was hugely impressive on debut and earned quotes of 33/1 for the 2023 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle in March, but the Ditcheat raider could have a huge thorn in his side on Friday in the shape of HUBRISKO, who lines up for Willie Mullins.

The 3/1 favourite for this event, the Closutton raider has significantly more experience under Rules having been a French bumper winner. A maiden hurdle win at Galway in September was followed by a fine third in a Grade 3 contest. Finishing behind the classy duo of Champ Kiely and Fred Winter winner Brazil, Hubrisko shaped with real promise and is likely to kick on again from that performance and can deliver the goods here.