Horse Racing Tips: All eyes on Constitution Hill and Friday's best bets

• Get Sam's views on Constitution Hill's Friday night flat outing 

• Elsewhere, Gavi may prove a tasty wager

• Pray for better from Angel

• Betfair are offering Non-Runner No Bet at Cheltenham!

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• Check out our 2026 Cheltenham Festival Mega Guide

Listen to this week's Racing...Only Bettor

Southwell the stage for latest chapter of the Constitution story

The saga surrounding Constitution Hill's flat debut will be resolved when the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner finally sets foot on the Tapeta for his eagerly-awaited comeback in the Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes at 19:30.

Following three falls and a submission on his last four hurdles outings, Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old tackles 13 rivals as he embarks on his new vocation and, although the early betting suggested all Constitution Hill had to do was turn up to collect the vastly inflated first prize, the market has altered to reflect the competitive nature of the mile-and-a-half novice event.

Dundalk winner Square Necker, priced up an 11/112.00 chance by one firm, is now a well-backed second favourite, while the likes of Daddy Long Legs and Gowran maiden winner Gambino add further intrigue to a fascinating race.

If I was looking for an interest, the latter would make some appeal on his debut for Dan Skelton since joining from Noel Meade, but he was withdrawn from his hurdles bow with a bruised foot in January so after 191-days off the track, his match sharpness is open to question.  

Below you can watch how the Betfair Exchange market develops with the prices updated in real time.

Southwell, 19.00 - Back Angel Hunter each-way @ 22/123.00

Backing a horse that failed to beat a rival home on his previous start wouldn't be my normal method of working, but there could be better to come from Angel Hunter and he is worth a modest wager at big prices on his return to Southwell.

It was only three starts ago that Richard Hannon's four-year-old was forcing a dead-heat in a Class 3 seven-furlong handicap at tonight's venue, giving plenty from the furlong marker to join Morte Point on the line.

That effort back in October suggested the winter all-weather season could be a profitable project for the son of Acclamation, but two subsequent outings over a mile have only served to see him drop from 91 to 90, which incidentally means he was qualified for this event, with or without a full field.

Although beaten five lengths in last place at Kempton, a deeper dive into the data shows that Angel Hunter clocked the second fastest finishing speed percentage of the race, only bettered by the winner so he clearly ran a lot better than his position crossing the line.

Connections reach for the blinkers here and, in the hope they help to sharpen the selection's focus, he looks worth a small play at the 20/121.00 on offer at the time of writing given his career best effort was achieved at the Newark venue.

Ffos Las, 15.22 - Back El Gavilan @ 5/23.50

Having had a selection beaten at 50/1 ON at Ludlow on Wednesday and heavy odds-on at Wolverhampton the night before, I'm beginning to think the racing Gods aren't with me at present, but in the hope that changes, El Gavilan is fancied to complete a rapid hat-trick in this handicap.

The concern with the selection is the trip as all of his recent success has been achieved over two miles, but he has hit the line strongly on both occasions at this venue so I'm hoping he might even improve for the step up in trip.

However, given that El Gavilan has yet to prove this test represents his optimum, I'll be putting him back in the exchange at short odds to lay in running.

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