Cheltenham tips for Friday: Impressive Tiger Roll can roar to success

Tiger Roll can roar to victory

The 3m novices chase due off at 15:55 looks to be the stand-out of a competitive Friday afternoon of jumps racing at Cheltenham, with Tiger Roll taken to do the business.

Gordon Elliott’s progressive six-year-old gelding has already demonstrated his love for the trip, winning over the three miles with plenty left in the tank in the Munster National in Limerick on his last appearance earlier this month. Punters will remember that was done off a monster starting price too.

That effort was the latest in a long line of impressive form shown by Tiger Roll and, since getting rid of Bryan Cooper in the Guinness Harp Novices Chase over a shorter trip in Galway in the summer, he’s finished in the top two in each of his five starts since.

This son of Authorised was also seen winning around here a couple of years ago over hurdles in the Triumph Hurdle and that familiarity and form is sure to make him a popular choice in the betting ring pre-race.

Another plus has to be the booking of jockey Jack Kennedy, who won back-to-back races on the selection earlier this year and, with the yard firing at the minute, if he shows anywhere near the kind of form as he did on his last outing, then he’s sure to take all the beating.

Wishful Dreaming of success

Wishful Dreaming is another who should enjoy track and trip and rates as a shrewd bet in the final race of the afternoon, the Racing UK Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle decided over the 2m trip.

The Philip Hobbs representative was last seen winning over this distance around Chepstow less than a fortnight ago. Despite making his fair share of mistakes early in the race, the five-year-old recovered when it mattered to take the contest with plenty in hand, seeing nearest rival My Manekineko come home five-lengths behind in second.

This well-bred gelding was hit with a 7lbs rise as a consequence for winning so handily but jockey Ciaran Gethins claims a good chunk of that, making him a sensible option against some of his main rivals who appear to have been more harshly treated.

Followers of our pick will know the course will come as no surprise either, having won around here on his second career start over a shorter trip. Hobbs boasts an eye-catching record of seeing his horses come home in front over hurdles when supported in the market and that looks likely to continue.