Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams fancies Desert to be a punter's Friend at Cheltenham

• Travelled well for a long way last time
• First time tongue tie could bring improvement
• Rhys Williams thinks Desert Friend is overpriced at Cheltenham
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Travelled well over further here last time

Cheltenham 16:00: Desert Friend 0.5pt e/w 25/1

A wide-open 20-runner novices' handicap hurdle concludes the card at Cheltenham and while the market has picked up on those with obvious chances, there's one at a big price whose chance I think has been overlooked a little.

Desert Friend ran at the October meeting in a 2m4f novice hurdle and shaped promisingly while suggesting that he could be suited by a drop back in trip. He raced a bit keenly under restraint through the first half of the race before easing closer at the top of the hill. He was still travelling well behind the leaders approaching 2 out but once put under pressure, he couldn't pick up and was beaten 17½ lengths.

Following his win at Listowel in June, he had run better than the result suggests on his following two starts over hurdles with his jumping letting him down at Roscommon when finishing third behind Salvador Ziggy who went on to finish fourth at Cheltenham off 145 at the October meeting. At Sligo over a shorter trip, he made a big premature move early on the final circuit and failed to see out the trip as well as the front pair as a result.

I think the step back to this trip in what is likely to be a well run race should suit Desert Friend and the addition of a tongue tie for the first time could result in him finishing off the race stronger than was the case last time.

It might be that he's already shown his hand a little too much for a race of this type or that he won't find too much under pressure again but I think he's a bit overpriced and any 20/1 or bigger appeals.