Friday Racing Tips: Last year's winner Star to bring us some luck at Cheltenham

According to some observers, A Hare Breath landed one of the gambles of the season when winning on his debut for Ben Pauling here last month - it was no such thing of course, simply that the early 25s and 20s were taken to small money the night before, and the price then collapsed very quickly into single-figures - so it will be interesting to see how he fares in the market in the 13:10.

The first fixed-odds firm to price up the market at 1.30pm on Thursday afternoon made him a 3-1 chance, and it was hard to disagree with that assessment.

Yes, he was raised a harsh-looking 12lb for that victory - in a race where they didn't jump too many hurdles, remember - and this is a stronger handicap, but all the vibes coming from connections are that they expect him to follow up here.

If you want to back him, then I wouldn't put you off. He is the likeliest winner. But the purpose of this column is not to put up favourites with very little juice in the price, so I am taking him on win and place with last year's winner Starluck at 15.014/1 and 4.57/2 respectively.

He races off the same mark as when winning this contest last year and has been in fair form this autumn, winning at Epsom on the Flat in September, and shaping promisingly enough at Ascot last time.

He is down to a winnable mark, and fingers crossed the rain stays away as good to soft ground would be perfect for him.

He is getting on at 10yo but is interesting that connections are trying him in cheek pieces for the first time over hurdles (he wore them once on the Flat in 2012) and one of his three course-and-distance wins came when the blinkers were applied after being left off for a while.

He is just the sort of horse who likes to be kept thinking, and he makes plenty appeal at the prices.

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The staying handicap chase at 13:45 is a very trappy little race.

You can make claims for all of them, and I was half-tempted to side with Aachen at a double-figure price, even if he is 5lb out of the handicap.

He returned to form when winning by six lengths at Wincanton at the start of the month, but I just wonder whether the ground will be soft enough for this mud-lover.

Looking through the field, nothing else really stands out at the prices, so I'll pass on the race.

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Regular readers know the score when it comes to Cross Country races. So you can make your own mind up in the 14:20.

Connections took it slowly with One Track Mind last season and their patience could be rewarded in the 14:55. Back him at 6.05/1 or bigger.

He shaped like a stayer on more than one occasion last season, so the step up to 3m is expected to suit. And if it does bring about improvement then he could prove very well-treated indeed, as a mark of 139 is already fair judged on his Grade 1 Challow Hurdle fourth at Newbury last year, where he had the likes of Arpege D'Alene and Native River behind him.

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In the non-C4 races on RUK, the opening novice chase at 12:00, looks a cracker, and I wouldn't be in a rush to rule out any of the six. And I won't be having a bet on the race.

Plenty will be looking to Minella Rocco to step forward massively from his chasing debut at Haydock - and he may well do, with that run under his belt over a longer trip - but Blaklion is the interesting one.

Vicente did remarkably well to give Un Temps Pour Tout 8lb and a beating here last month, but I just wonder what may have happened if Blaklion may not have fallen three out. He would be my bet in the race, if forced.

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The handicapper has given Lord Landen a fighting chance in the 12:35, and he rates an interest at 21.020/1.

He is 2lb lower than when edging out Less Time by a nose over an extended 2m5f at Market Rasen in April and there have been enough promise in his recent efforts over further, here and at Newbury, to suggest that he may be capable of exploiting that good mark.

The step back down to the kind of trip that all his three career wins have come over is an obvious plus, and he could arrive with a winning run late on off his feather weight.

The novice hurdle that rounds off the card at 15:25 features a host of unexposed youngsters, and as such it is hard to be bullish about picking the winner.

Good luck.

Recommended Bets

Back Lord Landen at 21.020/1 in the 12:35 at Cheltenham
Back Starluck at 15.014/1 in 13:10 at Cheltenham
Back Starluck at 4.57/2 to Place in the 13:10 at Cheltenham
Back One Track Mind at 6.05/1 or bigger in the 14:55 at Cheltenham