Free Cheltenham Festival tips: Best bets for every race on Friday including the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup

1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y

David Ord - ALLMANKIND

Allmankind is a headstrong character but clearly extremely talented and I really liked how he got the job done in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow when last seen in December. He's proven at Cheltenham already from earlier in the season and it's impossible to ignore just how highly the Skelton team rate him.

2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y

Mike Cattermole - STOLEN SILVER

I really liked the way Nigel Twiston-Davies' novice Stolen Silver finished off to take eighth in the Betfair Hurdle after a slow start and he has further improvement in him. There are a host of potentially well-handicapped horses near the top of the market but this one appears to have been overlooked slightly.

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y

Ed Chamberlin - THYME HILL

Thyme Hill is something of a forgotten horse now but the promise he showed earlier in the campaign should not be forgotten. He's got a Grade One win on the board already having won the Challow at Newbury and his trainer Philip Hobbs stated back then that he'd probably keep him fresh for the spring Festivals as he goes well after a break.

3.30pm Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y

Simon Holt - AL BOUM PHOTO

With a few of last season's staying novices in the Gold Cup field - Santini, Delta Work, Lostintranslation - it's possible that this year's renewal will be a bit more competitive but the defending champ Al Boum Photo does seem to have the right blend of speed and stamina required.

4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y

Matt Brocklebank - BILLAWAY

It's been a frustrating week in many ways for Willie and Patrick Mullins but Billaway looks a good prospect in the hunter chase scene and he's relatively lightly-raced in the context of this race. He won very impressively when last seen and looks primed for a huge run in this event. His turn of foot late in the piece could be decisive.

4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y

Oli Bell - ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU

Gordon Elliott's novice Eclair De Beaufeu came good with a tidy performance at Leopardstown's big meeting and although up in the weights now, the booking of 5lb claimer Sean O'Keeffe looks a shrewd move. He can follow up for the Gigginstown team.

5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y

Ben Linfoot - FLASH THE STEEL

Flash The Steel is a fascinating contender for Dan Skelton in the Festival finale as he clearly goes well fresh and the form of his win at Chepstow right at the start of the season could hardly have worked out any better subsequently. He didn't stay on bad ground at Haydock before Christmas but this sort of test might suit him ideally and based on the Chepstow effort he's still very feasibly treated.

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