Lucky 15 Tips: Jumping HQ is open once again for business

Cheltenham's back! No prizes then for guessing where we're headed for our Lucky 15 tips on Friday. Racing starts at 13:15, and we've seven contests to look forward to. Lovely stuff ... and the first five on the card are on ITV.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

13:15 - Navajo Indy @ 6/1

The opening race for Cheltenham's first gathering of the season is a Class 3 handicap hurdle, with a maximum field of 20 expected. We're paying five places, which could well be of great interest.

The selection is Navajo Indy, with regular pilot 'Gorgeous' Gavin Sheehan booked by trainer Tom Symonds. The six-year-old Nathaniel gelding has been keeping some very exalted handicap company and has won four of his 11 starts under rules.

He's up there in career-high territory on a mark of 129 but goes well fresh and the yard could well have targeted this as an ideal start-point for what could be a big season. Fascinating affair.

14:25 - Cavern Club @ 7/1

Conditional jocks now, in a handicap hurdle at just over 2m.

Cavern Club is with James Owen at Newmarket, a yard very much on the scene over jumps and on the flat right now. The selection is a five-year-old Ribchester gelding in possession of a highly respectable seven-from-29 lifetime record.

This one has been busy of late and certainly won't want for any lack of fitness. When last seen 27 days ago at Market Rasen he finished second off 126 under Sheehan in a £21k event and won at the same venue off 120 in June.

Should be competitive today off 127 and could put the obvious talent shown, and fitness, to good use.

15:00 - Fortune De Mer @ 11/4

It wouldn't seem fitting if we didn't have a Team Skelton conveyance to cheer as jumping HQ gets underway for the new campaign, and here we have a novice hurdler that's already won a bumper on the hallowed Cotswolds turf.

Fortune De Mer is a five-year-old gelded son of King George winner Doyen, a high-class middle distance horse on the flat for Godolphin, and proving to be a fine NH sire.

Five runs have yielded one win so far, the aforementioned National Hunt flat race, and he made his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter 19 days ago. Decent effort, beaten 4.75l, and I'm sure there's plenty more to come.

15:35 - Jasko Des Dames @ 11/4

I don't take any persuading to back Henry de Bromhead here, indeed anywhere, and though Rachael Blackmore might not be doing the pushing anymore Darragh O'Keefe is a terrific replacement.

Jasko Des Dames is a six-year-old gelding with three wins under rules including a couple over fences. He was a respectable 7l fifth in the Grand Annual at the Festival in March and when last seen at Listowel on seasonal reappearance on September 21 was a fine second off 129, beaten just 2.25l.

His mark today of 136 is a bit steep but having had a run, and with that experience of the track under his belt, he can be very dangerous indeed for his outstanding County Waterford trainer - winner of so many huge prizes here in the past.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £810 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.