Cheltenham Friday

Todays racing looks quality and going through the cards Broadback Bob looks solid in the first but Super Duty in receipt of 5lbs could give him a lot to think about.

In the 1245 I like the look of two, Plein Pouvoir and Sound Stage both of whom can be weak finishers but both are on workable marks, Plein Pouvoir is 1lb above his last winning mark but looking at his Cheltenham record of 67P he might not like the track. Sound Stage on the other hand is a previous winner of this race(2009) who has been racing over 3m which he does not stay, so his mark of 113 looks reasonable, his trainer had a winner and a second yesterday at Taunton and at 10/1 currently looks good e/w value.

The 1320 looks a typically tricky Cheltenham Handicap but the one that jumps out at me is Harry Fry's Bold Chief you can draw a line through his reappearance run as he was found to have a problem after the race, this has now been cleared up and I believe he is on a winnable mark off 135, all his racing has been done over further but this test should suit him today and at 18/1 currently he again looks a good e/w shout.

The Grade 3 Handicap Chase looks between Bradley and Quartz de Thaix and with Bradley possibly getting caught up in a battle for the lead with Midnight Chase that should set it up for Quartz de Thaix who at 9/2 looks a good bet.

I've passed on the cross country and handicap hurdle but the novice event which closes the card looks interesting, Nicky Henderson has won the last three running's of this and his Royal Boy could be interesting if market vibes are about. Valdez is well regarded and won well at Huntingdon on his latest run he should improve again and will be thereabouts. Melodic Rendezvous is potentially very useful and ran well enough on his hurdling debut, but I have a feeling he needs better ground to be seen at his best. All of which leads us to the northern raider Eduard who was just touched off on his hurdle debut by subsequent handicap scorer Ifandbutwhynot, he then hacked up at Newcastle on his next start and deserves to take his chance in this higher grade and at 9/2 i've had a little play.

Bets

1355 Quartz de Thaix @ 9/2
1540 Eduard @ 9/2