Newsboy's best bets for Friday's ITV4 racing at Cheltenham and Bangor

Newsboy fancies Minella Indo to bounce back to form in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and is also rates White Rhino a good thing on the same card

MINELLA INDO (3.00) can find his old sparkle in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has failed to shine much since that famous day, but did win on his return this season in a Punchestown Grade 3.

Last time out was not so encouraging, trailing in a well-beaten last of four behind King George VI Chase fancy Gerri Colombe in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The 10-year-old may have fallen out of love with the job, but a switch to the cross country discipline could well rekindle his interest. If it does, as the class act in this 13-runner field he will be tough to beat.

PAJARI (1.15) was a decent performer on the Flat in Germany and looks promising as a hurdler for Paul Nicholls.

He won on his most recent run in a novice event, and is an interesting prospect on his handicap debut in the 2m 1f Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle.

MAD ABOUT SALLY (1.50) bounced back after two low key efforts at the end of last term with a dominant win at Chepstow three weeks ago.

In an open-looking Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares' Handicap Chase over two miles, four and a half furlongs, she can improve further despite a 9lb rise.

LE LIGERIEN (2.25) joined the Joe Tizzard yard last season and went on to win three on the bounce.

After an indifferent start this season when pulled up at Chepstow, he ran in a veterans’ event at Kempton last month and won well.

A 5lb rise should not be a hindrance in the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase.

WHITE RHINO (3.35, nb) has won four handicap hurdles in six starts. He only found one too good for him last time in a 20-runner affair at Prestbury Park.

The three-mile Citipost Handicap Hurdle looks his for the taking.

At Bangor HOLD THAT TAUGHT (1.30) can score a second successive win for Venetian Williams in the three-mile handicap chase, and BUTLER’S BRIEF (2.05) can defy top weight in the 2m 7f handicap hurdle.

Friday's selections

DONCASTER
11.25 IONTACH CHEVAL
11.55 ZAIN NIGHTS
12.30 BEN LILLY
1.05 PRAIRIE WOLF
1.40 MIKHAILOVICH
2.15 EGBERT
2.50 MAGICAL ANNIE
3.22 FIDUX

CHELTENHAM
12.05 DYSART ENOS
12.40 TRELAWNE (NAP)
1.15 PANJARI
1.50 MAD ABOUT SALLY
2.25 LE LIGERIEN
3.00 MINELLA INDO
3.35 WHITE RHINO (NB)

BANGOR
12.20 BALLYBEG BOSS
12.55 FAKIR
1.30 HOLD THAT TAUGHT
2.05 BUTLER'S BRIEF
2.35 CLASSIC LORD
3.10 COSHESTON
3.42 JOSIE ALICE

SOUTHWELL
5.00 RODBOROUGH
5.30 COTAI VISION
6.00 MATTELLA
6.30 COOL PARTY
7.00 SANDRET
7.30 SYDNEY BAY
8.00 TOM TULLIVER
8.30 VITALLINE

DOUBLE: TRELAWNE and WHITE RHINO