Cheltenham Tips: Rory Delargy's 6 picks for Friday

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17 November 2023

Cheltenham Tips: Rory Delargy's 6 picks for Friday

Rory Delargy’s Cheltenham Racing Tips

13:10 High Stakes
13:45 Madara
14:20 Mighty Tom
14:55 Delta Work
15:30 Captain Teague
16:05 Showman

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

A tough opener in which Skytastic and HIGH STAKES make some appeal after abortive chasing careers. The former has left Sam Thomas after a poor time over fences last term and is well treated on his novice form when fancied for a Grade 1 at Aintree.

High Stakes is also on a good mark based on the pick of his hurdles form and can be forgiven a mixed bag over fences last term with his stable struggling. He can go well fresh and might get the run of things in front under Lily Pinchin, so is a hopeful choice.

I’d prefer to see an in-form front runner in this field as those tactics are suited to the surprisingly sharp 2m on the old course, and while Triple Trade has claims on his second here last month, he only got going late and it could be the same scenario here with less pace in evidence.

MADARA is around three times the price of Triple Trade but was in front of him and going fine when giving Ciaran Gethings a soft unseat at the third-last here, and the youngster is getting a handy 8lb allowance.

Any of the quartet could win, and the market has probably overreacted to JPR One’s impressive chase debut at Newton Abbot. He jumped well there but all his rivals here were better than him over hurdles, and that must be factored in.

I came down narrowly in favour of MIGHTY TOM, who caught the eye in both the Galway Hurdle and when second to Letsbeclearaboutit on chase debut. He’s a headstrong sort but has lots of talent and could win if Danny Gilligan can keep a lid on him.

It would be wrong to consider this a match, but Galvin and DELTA WORK are a cut above most in this sphere and can dominate despite their big weights. Delta Work looks slightly more at home here and can confirm Festival form with Galvin despite a turnaround at the weights.

I’m not convinced that The Big Doyen will enjoy the Cheltenham undulations, and even if he does, he has work to do to beat CAPTAIN TEAGUE, who was very impressive despite taking time to warm to his jumping on hurdles bow in the Persian War. An excellent third in the Champion Bumper, he has class in spades and should outclass his rivals.

Eamonn Fitzgerald gets a good tune out of SHOWMAN and Peter Fahey’s gelding is fancied to outrun his odds in the finale.

A big eye-catcher in a Listowel maiden hurdle in September, he won well at Roscommon turned out quickly, and battled back gamely when headed by Conyers Hill on handicap debut at Cork last time. He can keep progressing, and Fitzgerald’s 7lb claims is a help in this competitive handicap.