Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips – Friday, 23rd October 2020 Preview

The best tips from Friday's Cheltenham Racing

Horse Racing Betting

This is Friday’s Cheltenham Racing odds, tips & preview feature for Friday which is the first of two day’s of big action.

Among the feature races for our Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips are the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Flying Spur Handicap Chase.

So here is the top Cheltenham Racing action from Friday, 23rd October 2020 as we take a look at the full card.

Included are racing odds and our tips of the day.

All times listed are GMT.

13:50 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Ask For Glory 11/8
Global Fame 9/2
Does He Know 11/2
Midnight River 8/1
Finisk River 10/1
Domaine De L’isle 10/1
Topofthecotswolds 10/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: GBB Race Class 2
Age: 4 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 7
Distance: 2m 5f

Race Favourite

The race favourite for the opening fixture at Cheltenham on Friday is ASK FOR GLORY at 11/8* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020).

He will be back out for the first time since February and coming up in grade as well.

Ask For Glory dominated a fixture at Wincanton in that last race, beating a poor field by 23 lengths.

During his break, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding had wind surgery as well. He looked good on his two hurdles trips last season.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

MIDNIGHT RIVER looks like a key player in this contest as well. He won on his reappearance, a convincing win as well when he scored at Uttoxeter.

That was the first go over the hurdles as well for Midnight River and he looked as if he would enjoy the extra trip that is on offer here.

He is definitely one to keep on side of the shortlist. He just makes it as our pick at 8/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)

The other pick for that shortlist is TOPOFTHECOTSWOLDS who scored on his last trip. It has been a strong season for him as well.

He was coming on leaps and bounds over the fences last summer. There has been further great progress from him since reappearance following a second-place finish and then a score at Uttoxeter, his first in this sphere. We think that he has a chance.

 

Cheltenham Racing Betting Tip

  • 13:50 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – MIDNIGHT RIVER 8/1
  • 14:25 Novices’ Chase – GALVIN 9/4
  • 15:00 Handicap Hurdle – HIJACK 13/2
  • 15:35 Flying Spur Handicap Chase – ON THE SLOPES 4/1
  • 16:10 Maiden Hurdle – FAVIOIR 4/1
  • 16:45 Novices’ Chase –
  • 17:15 Handicap Hurdle –

 

14:24 Novices’ Chase Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Galvin 9/4
Soldier Of Love 7/2
Mossy Fen 5/1
Doctor Duffy 5/1
Ask Dillon 5/1
Clondaw Caitlin 9/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: GBB Race Class 2
Age: 5 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 6
Distance: 3m

Race Favourite

At the head of the market for this Cheltenham Novices’ Chase is GALVIN at 9/4* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020). After just having completed a hattrick, it is going to be all eyes on him.

Earlier this year he was at the Cheltenham Festival and Galvin only found one too good in that situation. But he was well clear of the rest. So a return to the venue is likely going to present no issues for him.

He still holds on to his novice status at the moment and the completion of his hattrick came in a Grade 3 chase at Tipperary earlier this month. It was a cozy win as well, securing those three novice wins on the spin in Ireland.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Another of the big players in this shield is SOLDIER OF LOVE. He has actually gone one better, having taken four straight wins.

He does not look to be done improvising yet either and a wind operation has helped tremendously. Just because of being in great heart at the moment he has to be respected.

The other one to watch for the trip is MOSSY FEN who is coming into his chasing debut. He was a winner at Grade 2 over the fences, so it was an interesting return from him.

Given the look of him, Mossy Fen is built for chasing. In his last run, which was at Warwick, he was the epitome of power and strength at the close. He could be a huge threat.

15:00 Handicap Hurdle Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Captain Tom Cat 7/1
Hijack 13/2
Fix Sun 9/1
Our Power 10/1
Yeavering Belle 10/1
Up The Straight 12/1
Imperial Elysian 12/1
Weather Front 12/1
Whatsupwithyou 14/1
Dagueneau 14/1
Hometown Boy 16/1
Good Man Pat 16/1
Young Lieutenant 16/1
Lungarno Palace 16/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: Class 3 handicap hurdle
Age: 3 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 20
Distance: 2m 5f

Race Favourite

The race favourite for this handicap hurdle is CAPTAIN TOM CAT at 7/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020). He will be looking to secure a hattrick on Friday as he makes his handicapping bow.

Captain Tom Cat comes from last year’s winning yard, plus has a 7lb claimer on his back to boot. He opened his account with a commanding, bold run at Uttoxeter at 2m.

Then he followed that up at the same venue to claim a win by a neck. He looks to be on a very workable market at the moment and has to be feared in this contest.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

HIJACK is going to be our pick though, trained by Nicky Henderson at 13/2* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020).

He has been lightly raced and there is still a stack of potential on side with thim.

Hijack has had a reappearance run, which will help his cause here. That was when he claimed second place at Fontwell. He should be a big player.

The other one would be another of Henderson’s charades, FIX SUN. He is unexposed as well but has had a fine time in what he has produced so far.

He won two of his three trips over the hurdles (novices) last season. Fix Sun steps into handicapping for the first time here and this will also be the first run since a wind operation. Claims are there.

15:35 Flying Spur Handicap Chase Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

On The Slopes 4/1
Rouge Vif 9/2
Scardura 6/1
Beat The Judge 11/1
Hatcher 10/1
Ballywood 10/1
Dolos 10/1
Katpoli 10/1
Azzuri 14/1
Northern Beau 20/1
Movie Legend 20/1
Doitforthevillage 25/1
Western Miller 25/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: GBB Race Class 2
Age: 4 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 13
Distance: 2m

Race Favourite

The current 4/1 favourite for this contest is ON THE SLOPES at 4/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020).

He will be making his reappearance run in this one and will be looking to pick straight up from where he left off in the last campaign.

On The Slopes had a run at Cheltenham earlier this year, going off on Trials Day to claim third in a novice handicap chase.

He followed that up then with back to back wins at Kempton and he looks extremely good with his jumping.

It is that previous run here at 2m 4f in January that really looks to be the big indicator of how well he will go. He looks to be the one to beat and we will have him marked down as our selection.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

ROUGE VIF should also be in the first for this one. He took on the ARkle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and claimed third place there.

Rouge Vif wasn’t anywhere near the top two, but held off the rest of the challengers well in the Grade 2 contest. He comes into handicapping for the first time and will appear for last year’s winning yard.

BEAT THE JUDGE is another interesting one to throw on the shortlist. He beat Ballywood at Fontwell last month, leaving him with back to back wins at the venue.

That was a margin of victory by 9 lengths. There is a 7lb rise for Beat The Judge in this one, so that should level the playing field a little bit there.

But there’s still plenty to like about him having had a great start over the fences.

16:10 Maiden Hurdle Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Pipesmoker Evens
Champagnesuperover 7/4
Faivoir 4/1
Presentandcounting 12/1
Art Approval 18/1
Found On 40/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: GBB Race Class 3
Age: 4 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 8
Distance: 2m

Race Favourite

The favourite for this contest is PIPESMOKER at even money* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020). This will be his first trip of the seasons for trainer Nicky Henderson.

But in a couple of novice hurdles last season, Pipesmoker made the places. It was a second place finish for him at Ascot on his last trip. Plenty more to come of course and he has already faced some stiff opposition in his career.

So there should be a great chance here for him to open his account. The five year old looks the ideal fit for this race.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

CHAMPAGNESUPEROVER scored on his debut at Ayr. On his last trip he was in a Newbury Listed bumper and went well again, to secure a place finish.

He is coming into action for a top yard and this will be his first attempt at the hurdles. He’s well worth keeping a market-eye on.

The other for the shortlist in this one will be the proven form of FAIVOIR. He delivered a couple of bumpers before making his hurdles bow three weeks ago. He was travelling very, very well for most of that race before settling for second place.

There was plenty to take from that and the horse that beat him has gone on since to win again. We are just going to pull towards FAIVOIR at 4/1 as our selection* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020).

16:45 Novices’ Chase Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Fusil Raffles 4/6
Getaway Trump 9/4
Sir Valentina 15/2
Return Ticket 11/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: GBB Race Class 2
Age: 4 year olds
Declared Runners: 4
Distance: 2m

Race Favourite

Heading up this small field is FUSIL RAFFLES at 4/6* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020). A former Grade 1 winner over the hurdles, Fusil Raffles is going to take plenty of backing here.

Trained by Nickey Henderson, he came back into action this season making a chase debut at Uttoxeter.

He was as comfortable as you like in getting the win at 2m. So he easily brings some leading claims to the table for this contest.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

There is actually a good little field here, but the main threat to the favourite has to be GETAWAY TRUMP. Following his reappearance at Fontwell, the form of Getway Trump was projected forward when he scored at Warwick.

17:15 Handicap Hurdle Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

Benny’s Bridge 4/1
Wild Max 11/2
Nanabelle 7/1
Magic Dancer 15/2
Endlessly 7/1
One True King 9/1
Ashington 10/1
Sternrubin 11/1
Tegerek 12/1
Byron Flyer 14/1
Clemencia 16/1
Scorched Earth 16/1
20/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
 

Race Details

Race Type: Class 3 Handicap Hurdle
Age: 3 year olds plus
Declared Runners: 18
Distance: 2m

Race Favourite

We have BENNY’S BRIDGE at the head of the market here at 4/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020). It has been almost a year away from action for him.

But he took the win in last year’s renewal of this fixture.

He is rated 9lb higher than he was for last year’s run at this one. It’s 341 days since he last ran. That’s pretty hard to overlook in a competitive field. We feel it’s worthwhile looking elsewhere.

Cheltenham Racing Odds & Tips

NANABELLE is interesting her. She won a couple of hurdle efforts in France. On her first run then for Nicke Henderson in February she churned out a relatively poor run at Market Rasen.

But she remains on an interesting mark for this contest, and has had plenty of time now to acclimatise herself in the UK under Henderson.

We think she warrants enough interest from 7/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 05:27 GMT on Thursday, 22nd October 2020).

The other pick for the shortlist will be WILD MAX. He has a similar profile to that of NANABELLE really.

Wild Max got a win on his debut in Germany before coming over to win over the hurdles at Taunton in his second effort. But then he had a disappointing run last time out.

The potential is there and he has been away for 8 months, again similar to Nanabelle.