Antepost Racing Tips: Three to back at the Cheltenham Christmas Meeting from in-form tipster Alan Dudman

• Cheltenham's December Gold Cup tip can go one better after Paddy Power

• Progressive chaser looks one to follow at a price of 6/17.00

• Alan Dudman previews Saturday's card with three antepost tips on the Sportsbook 

Cheltenham, Saturday, 13:50 - Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase: Back Vincenzo @ 9/25.50

Hoe Joly Smoke and Vincenzo do battle once again for the Saturday feature, although the presence of Jagwar might temper the enthusiasm from both camps as one of the 7/24.50 favourites.

Jagwar, the Plate winner at last March's Festival will be towards the head of the weights from 148, with he and Ga Law keeping them down for the others (Ga Law off 154), but I still think there's some scope with our chum Vincenzo.

There was nowt wrong with his run in the Paddy Power and a rise of just 2lb from the handicapper can be considered to be okay, as on the bare facts, a second in a big handicap usually warrants a little more.

He was, of course, four lengths behind Panic Attack, who is improving quicker than a Chopin finish in Etudes and it was she who had the timing of a concert pianist with the way she came from the back and breezed through the pack and she delivered again in the Coral Gold Cup by an even bigger margin, so their form now looks even better.

Vincenzo was slugging it out in front for much of the way, and fared best in the end of all those up or making the running as the first, third and fourth all came from the back.

Thomas might be thinking Vincenzo can improve again for his first run of the season and there is no reason to doubt his best could yet be over 2m4f - with two fine efforts up to that distance in his last two runs.

Jagwar's training duo Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero are not in rip-roaring form at just 8% in the last two weeks so I am happy to weigh in again with Vincenzo.

Cheltenham, Saturday, 14:25: Back Excelero @ 6/17.00

The 14:25 is a real mixed bag of a Handicap Chase over 2m - a couple of veterans at ten years of age, and two horses in the 140s amongst the 120 hombres.

I'd like a little more rain in the forecast ahead of Saturday as soft conditions are A-OKAY with Excelero and can take another step on his road of improvement this weekend.

I was surprised he was as big as 6/17.00 as he really impressed me at Warwick over fences last time.

He may have only faced two rivals, and Spirit's Bay cried enough early after a horror error as the favourite of the trio, and Mister Cessna was no rag yet couldn't cope with the constant pressure applied from Excelero from the front with his accurate jumping.

It was a real pleasure to watch him as a young horse attacking his fences at speed and with such enthusiasm. He's a fencer with a ton of scope from a good yard in Jane Williams.

He makes the running, and did so over hurdles too and I am hoping he will turn out to be a far superior horse to his 128 current rating. Williams is 5-19 this term with her chasers too.

Cheltenham, Saturday, 15:35: Back Game Colours @ 8/19.00

Game Colours is the biggest price of my three antepost bets.

Ben Clarke's mare has the potential to improve on her seasonal reappearance at Fontwell, and the step up to 2m4f should suit too.

She won going away by a massive margin in soft conditions in a Lingfield Mare's Novice last season and earned a crack at a valuable 51K race at Kelso subsequently in the Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle - a race she finished a creditable third in on good to soft.

A second soon followed at Cheltenham's April meeting on good ground, although she was kicked at the start and the speed on good ground pressured her jumping early.

I am hoping the spin at Fontwell last time will have her spot on as that was a return from wind surgery and first run since last spring.

Dorset handler Clarke hasn't had a ton of runners but this month from three appearances from his team, two have finished second.

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