Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Betting: Friday tips from the Bets of the Day team

Alan Thompson

Flash The Steel has been laid out for this

Back Flash The Steel each-way at 14/1 in the 17:30 at Cheltenham

Dan Skelton has a reputation for getting one laid out for the Festival. Ch'tibello in last season's County Hurdle was a prime example. The modus operandi for a laid out Skelton horse appears to be a promising run before Christmas and then being put away until the Festival. His eight-year-old Flash The Steel won a really competitive Silver Trophy at Chepstow before then running a really promising race over half a mile further on heavy ground at Haydock in November. He traveled so well into the race until his stamina gave out on the ground over the extra distance. A return to this trip around here on soft ground looks absolutely ideal and for me he goes very, very close.

Burning Victory can Triumph for Willie Mullins

Back-to-Lay Burning Victory at 20.019/1 in the 13:30 at Cheltenham

How often is a Graded juvenile hurdle run in February won on debut? Not many, if at all. Burning Victory jumped so poorly that for even a decent horse it would have put paid to her chances. But the fact that she won going away suggests she could be a real monster of a filly. Willie Mullinsdiscounted the Triumph after that race but given that she now runs it would suggest she's been burning up the gallops and been getting her jumping remedied. With just three hurdles in the last mile it massively favours the four-year-old filly more than the Old Course would so that is a big plus and I just think there are two opportunities here, I think she starts a lot shorter than her current big price of 20.019/1 and will trade shorter again in-running.

Alan Dudman

Elliott can land the big one with Delta Work

Back Delta Work @ 6.205/1 in the 15:30 at Cheltenham

I collected another second yesterday with Gordon Elliott's The Storyteller - and with the way he travelled, I thought he was home and hosed. We stick with the trainer again for the Gold Cup and I am firmly with Delta Work. He can be backed at 6.411/2. As a 7yo, he fits the profile of recent Irish-trained winners Sizing John and Al Boum Photo and also comes out of last year's top-drawer renewal of the RSA. He finished third in that and travelled as well (if not better) than his rivals. Despite a low-key beginning to his campaign, he has bounced back with victory in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown to record back-to-back Grade 1 wins. The Savills was a very strong edition, and he done well to win that considering he didn't have an ideal prep, according to his trainer. Click here to read his preview of his runners today.

Column Of Fire can star in finale

Back Column Of Fire @ 8.415/2 in the 17:30 at Cheltenham

It's another one of Elliott's horses for me and winning the Martin Pipe Condtional Jockeys' Hurdle would mean a lot to the handler. He has four major chances, but the best in my opinion could be Column Of Fire from 143. You need a stayer for this race and the selection certainly fits the bill with form over 3m - so the drop to 2m5f for this at a fast pace will suit. He's a big laid-back horse with a good attitude, and brings decent maiden hurdle form to the table. He finished third in a very strong-looking handicap at Leopardstown last time to give him a bit of experience in these sort of races. He made a couple of errors in that (both early and late), and if he can sharpen up that jumping, I'm hoping for a big run. The 5 Places marketoffers up a price of 2.0621/20.

Nick Shiambouros

Harry The Boss

Back Harry Senior Each-Way at 20.019/1 in the 14:50 at Cheltenham

Harry Senior could run well at a big price in this wide open event. This talented performer is improving with racing and was most impressive when beating King Roland over this course in January. He took the lead on the approach to the last, and powered home to win with complete authority. I think he has a lot more to offer, and is super each-way at 20.019/1 on the exchange.

Ramses De Teillee is an interesting runner. He has found a new lease of life since reverting to hurdles, and easily disposed of Kalooki in a Grade 2 at Haydock last month. He has bags of stamina, and looks saver material at 14.527/2 on the exchange.

Super Santini

Back Santini at 6.611/2 in the 15:30 at Cheltenham

Santini is taken to win this historic race. This smart performer beat Bristol De Mai in the Cotswold Chase over this course in January. He regained the lead over the last and kept on strongly for a decisive victory. Last year he finished a gallant second to Topothegame in the RSA with Delta Work back in third. I think he is sitting on a big effort, and is fairly priced at 6.611/2 on the exchange.

Al Boum Photo is the market leader at 4.67/2 He is bidding to win this race for the second year in a row and has had an uninterrupted preparation. He is a serious contender.