Graham Cunningham's In-Play Blog: Friday at Cheltenham

More Cheltenham glory for Balthazar King?

You know the jump season is hitting top gear when the stars come out for Cheltenham's Open Meeting. The next three days will help shape a series of markets for the big races to come this winter and Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham has donned his best tweeds and corduroys to pinpoint four horses worth having on your side in the in running markets.

Talk about opening the show with a bang. The curtain raiser for Cheltenham's Open Meeting this Friday features a clash between two of the most exciting chasing prospects around and I'm hoping Dynaste can outspeed Fingal Bay at the end of a race which has been won by Gold Cup winners like Imperial Commander and Denman in recent years.

Granted, Fingal Bay brings a highly impressive record on his first visit to Cheltenham and it's likely he would still be unbeaten but for an overly aggressive ride at Aintree last spring. A tendency to idle in front was clear to see again on his Chepstow chasing debut - so the best is probably still to come - but he has to give 5lb to Dynaste and that could be a tall order.

Dynaste thrived over hurdles last season, storming clear in a hot Haydock handicap before running two blinders behind the mighty Big Buck's. Granted, he failed to fire in the World Hurdle on his final start, but he's sure to be well tuned up after his break and the way he jumped hurdles augurs very well for his chasing prospects.

Plenty of punters are still very wary of betting in cross country chases, but in-play regulars will be well aware that they tend to throw up some very solid trading opportunities with several horses going short as the field jockey for position in the dash up the straight.
 
The first point to make about this Friday's renewal at 15:00 is that the freewheeling Wedger Pardy looks bound to blaze the trail and make it a solid test of jumping and galloping.

And the second point to make is that Balthazar King has a very bright chance of picking him off in the latter stages.

Unlike so many before him, Balthazar King has been given the chance to switch to cross country races while still in his prime and he beat Wedger Pardy and Sizing Australia with authority here at the Festival in March.

A vibrant success over the traditional Cheltenham fences from a BHA mark of 139 suggests that he has come back better than ever and this likeable and uncomplicated gelding has a great deal to recommend him as a back to lay proposition.

The other two races screened live on C4 this Friday won't be easy to solve but I suspect there might be some mileage in Silver Roque and Court Minstrel as back to lay candidates in the 13.50 and 14.25 respectively.

Silver Roque looks to have thrived for the move to the up-and-coming Fergal O'Brien judged on a fluent Bangor success and a fine Aintree second on very deep ground behind the subsequent Ascot scorer Gus McRae.

I suspect this sounder surface will help Silver Roque progress again, in which case he's capable of going very well in a wide open handicap.

Dodging Bullets is the clear form choice for the Grade 2 hurdle which follows, but I'm not wholly convinced at shortish prices and Court Minstrel is a viable alternative.

This five-year-old came from last to first in very smooth fashion to beat a fair field with ease here last month. More is needed in this much higher grade but Court Minstrel is a notably strong traveller when on song and that's always important when looking for successful trading angles.

Friday Recommended Bets
Back Dynaste in the 13:15 at Cheltenham and lay off at 1.68/13 in-running
Back Silver Roque in the 13:50 at Cheltenham and lay off at 3.55/2 in-running
Back Court Minstrel in the 14:25 at Cheltenham and lay off at 3.02/1 in-running
Back Balthazar King in the 15:00 at Cheltenham and lay off at 2.56/4 in-running