Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Tips: Express delivery at Cheltenham on Friday

As has been the theme with most handicaps run at the Cheltenham Festival this week, a maximum field of 24 has been declared for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, the concluding race of the four-day spectacular from the Prestbury Park venue. 

The race has been won by some notable names in its relatively short history, including subsequent dual Gold Cup hero, Galopin Des Champs and Banbridge, who has won three times at the highest level over fences since. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have both enjoyed four victories in the race, with the latter named landing the last two runnings. Read on for my Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap tips.

Express to deliver

The Nicky Henderson-trained EAST INDIA EXPRESS hasn’t had a great deal go right for him since winning at this track last April, the seven-year-old an early casualty on his seasonal return at Prestbury Park and out of luck in two heavy defeats at Newbury, the last of which was on unsuitable soft ground.

However, his last run during the Winter Millions Festival at Windsor in January represented a return to something like his best form for the gelding, who was unfortunate not to have  won, having been shuffled back in some scrimmaging soon after making eyecatching progress on the inside after jumping the third-last.

He was up against it from that point, but he gradually worked his way back into contention under today’s rider Freddie Gordon and emerged as a big threat jumping the last, pulling clear with the forwardly ridden Listentoyourheart on the run-in and going down by a neck.

He was nicely ahead of subsequent Doncaster winner Guard Duty and Olly Murphy’s Act Of Authority, that latter reopposing this afternoon, and while he’s gone up 4lb for that to a career-high mark of 137, he remains relatively lightly-raced over hurdles and has an exceptional record on good ground (one defeat in five starts on the surface).

Allen could go well on return

Both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are strongly represented with four runners each and, considering their past record in the race, all of what they run deserves respect.

The eye is drawn to Mullins’ lightly-raced JUMP ALLEN, who hasn’t been seen since winning on the final day of last season at Sandown in April.

The seven-year-old has won three of his seven outings to date, with a good second behind the Paul Nicholls-trained Quebecious (third in the Ultima here on Tuesday) at Ayr sandwiched between his last two successes.

Anna McGuinness, who has partnered two winners from her five rides during the past fortnight, is a good booking for the gelding, who has attracted notable support in the betting in recent days.

He’s 1-1 on good ground and is sure to give a good account off a mark just higher than when winning at Sandown.

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