Cheltenham Tips: Forgiveness is the theme at HQ on Wednesday

Cheltenham stages its penultimate meeting - The April Meeting - of the season this week, with seven-race cards on Wednesday and Thursday to enjoy.

There's a clear theme around my Cheltenham tips for the opening day - forgiveness.

13:30 - Encanto Bruno @ 2/1

Nine go to post for the opener - a novices' hurdle over 2m4½f - with Irish raider ENCANTO BRUNO fancied to come out on top.

Things haven't gone to plan for Gavin Cromwell's six-year-old this season. After bolting up over course and distance back in October last year on his first outing for the County Meath handler, the son of Mahler was beaten out of sight in two starts either side of Christmas back in Ireland.

However, both runs can be forgiven for one reason - conditions.

Plain and simply, this is a good ground horse. His form with that four-letter word in the going description reads 111P1, while it's 089 when featuring soft or heavy.

The only time he's ever been beaten on a sound surface was at Galway last summer, when reported to have "stopped quickly" after "blowing hard". Again, fair excuses on paper.

There's an extra degree of risk to backing a horse as inconsistent as he, but this is no stronger than the race he made a mockery of earlier in the season. In fact, it's probably even easier with the exception of Peaky Boy, as on official ratings he's well over 10lbs superior to his other seven rivals.

Nicky Henderson's runner is the danger, but nicer ground is a question mark for him and I'd rather chance Encanto Bruno who on his peak form would be tough to beat in these circumstances.

17:00 - In This World e/w (5 places) @ 11/2

I also suggest taking a chance on Dan Skelton's IN THIS WORLD in the last - a 0-135 handicap hurdle over 2m1f for conditional/amateur jockeys.

Tristan Durrell gets the ride on this lightly-raced six-year-old, who looked a juvenile of huge potential when bolting up on his UK debut at Warwick back in November 2021, having already beaten subsequent Triumph Hurdle runner-up Fil Dor on the level in France.

However, it's not been plain sailing since. The son of Saint Des Saints had issues following that six-length success over two years ago and struggled greatly in a couple of handicaps in the spring of 2023 after almost 500 days on the sidelines.

Gelded later that year, he's had a clearer run this term, completing in three handicap hurdles between November-January and emerging with a fair amount of credit.

His fifth, beaten just over two lengths, in a competitive handicap hurdle over course and distance a couple of weeks before Christmas is good form. His finishing effort was particularly pleasing, suggesting he's back to something like his best.

I don't think he stayed the trip when tried over 2m4f at Musselburgh subsequently, so he's well worth another go back down over a more suitable distance off a further reduced mark (119) in a weaker event.

At current prices and with Betfred paying five places instead of four, this one's an each-way suggestion.

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