Cheltenham Tips: 4/1 Nap is Owen’s Chief fancy for Friday

The two-day Christmas Meeting, or December Meeting, gets underway at Cheltenham on Friday with a seven-race card featuring five handicaps. Plenty of opportunity for punters, then.

I've studied the card and landed on three Cheltenham Tips - including a 4/1 Nap in the most lucrative event of the afternoon.

13:15 - Kel Du Large @ 8/1

After an encouraging return to action at Exeter last month following 621 days on the sidelines, KEL DU LARGE is fancied to run a big race in this handicap hurdle over 2m1f.

The five-year-old son of No Risk At All for Jane Williams, who's operating at a 25% strike rate in the past fortnight, was unbeaten going into Devon, courtesy of winning a couple of bumpers - including at Listed level at HQ in January 2024 - and a junior hurdle at Hereford.

That Hereford form has worked out pretty well, too. The runner-up Don Virginia is now rated 128, and he was five lengths clear of Kalif d'Airy (113).

I find it very interesting the selection was backed into 8/13f on his reappearance, despite some decent rivals - including Joe Tizzard's Lisbane Park who goes in the opener at Cheltenham on Friday - in opposition. Clearly, connections think a lot of him.

He's entitled to take a big step forward and an opening mark of 114 could underestimate him. I think he's got a much better chance than his current price suggests.

13:50 - The Doyen Chief @ 4/1

My Nap of the Day is THE DOYEN CHIEF in a handicap chase over the Gold Cup course and distance.

L'Homme Presse, who was fourth in the Blue Riband event in 2024, is the headline act on his return from 300 days off, but he's 10-rising 11, his trainer's out of form and he concedes stacks of weight to his eight rivals.

The selection, trained by Alan King and ridden by Tom Bellamy, is coming into his prime at eight and looks set for a career-best performance.

His seasonal reappearance at Bangor last month was pleasing, finishing behind a nice type of Christian Williams' and over 15 lengths clear of a fine yardstick in Richmond Lake.

He wasn't without his supporters ahead of the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury the other week, either. The formbook says he was pulled-up, but it may as well say non-runner, for his effort lasted about five seconds after losing many lengths at the start.

Connections divert him to Cheltenham instead of Ascot for the more competitive Howden Silver Cup for around the same prize pot - a wise decision as far as I'm concerned - and I'm expecting him to make a bold bid.

As well as the aforementioned L'Homme Presse, there's question marks about the majority of his opponents. Herakles Westwood is nine pounds out the handicap, The Short Go wants better ground and is becoming expensive to follow, Henry's Friend's big day might have already been and gone.

There's lots to like about The Doyen Chief's chances.

15:35 - Lihyan each-way @ 18/1

Why is LIHYAN available at 18s for the final race on the card - a three-mile handicap hurdle - when Tranquil Sea is the 10/3 favourite? Answers on a postcard, please.

The former was just under nine lengths in front of the Dan Skelton runner at Newbury in early November and then just half-a-length behind, staying on best, when reopposing at Market Rasen later on in the month.

The pair race off identical terms at Prestbury Park on Saturday afternoon, conditions are similar, and the longer trip arguably favours the selection.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have an issue with Tranquil Sea being shorter. He's a couple of years younger, it's his second run since undergoing wind surgery and the Skeltons are deadly, but the different in their prices is far, far too big.

I can't let Rebecca Menzies' seven-year-old go unbacked - each-way - at that price.

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