Cheltenham’s November meeting returns on Friday afternoon. Grade 2 action and some competitive handicaps headline Friday’s card before the Paddy Power Gold Cup takes centre stage on Saturday.

Day one of the meeting features a six-race card that includes the return of Jonbon, who could secure back-to-back renewals of the Grade 2 Shloer Chase.

Our expert, Colm Doyle, has picked out his best bets for day one, including an each-way play in the Cross Country race.

Friday’s tips

• 1.10 Cheltenham – Young Lucy @ 16/1 
• 2.20 Cheltenham – Edwardstone @ 7/2
• 2.55 Cheltenham – Busselton @ 6/1

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1.10 Cheltenham – 2m5f Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

The first race on Friday’s card is one of the more attractive betting heats on day one and with 20 confirmed at the declaration stage, it’s worth looking for a value bet.

One of the more appealing runners is the Irish raider Young Lucy, who hasn’t been seen in this sphere for a while but there are a few reasons to think she might go well from near the bottom of the weights.

The shrewd Tony Martin got a bumper win out of this horse last year and while she lost her way, both on the level and over jumps in the interim, there have been definite signs of a return to form in her recent Flat starts.

The latest of those was a fifth in a competitive 20-runner Flat handicap at Navan and there’s a suspicion that a mark of 105 for this bumper winner could be on the lenient side back in this sphere, particularly with the talented conditional rider Daniel King claiming a valuable 3lb off her back.

After those encouraging recent signs on the Flat, she looks worth chancing on ground that we know that she will appreciate, as she won her bumper in good style on ground described as yielding.

Selection: Young Lucy

2.20 Cheltenham – 2m Shloer Chase (Grade 2)

Jonbon was an impressive winner of the Shloer Chase last year but he’s not always the most reliable sort, particularly at this venue where he’s suffered three defeats (hasn’t lost at any other track over obstacles). At prohibitive odds, he may be worth taking on and it’s also worth noting that the yard is not fully firing just yet.

The one that appeals most is Edwardstone, who was running a mighty race in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before coming down late and his subsequent run behind Jonbon at Sandown was at the end of a long campaign for him.

He’s won on a couple of previous seasonal reappearances and this might be the right time to catch him.

Selection: Edwardstone

2.55 Cheltenham – 3m5½f (X-Country) Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

Friday’s cross country race might be a good chance for Busselton to get back on track.

He looked like a potential long-distance sort when fifth in the Hennessy a few years back and while he was pulled up on his sole start at this sort of trip in the Irish National, he made a couple of mistakes early. 

He gives the impression that he may take to these fences and looks worth chancing in an open heat.

Selection: Busselton

*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change

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