Friday Racing Tips: Harry Wilson's Picks at Cheltenham and Bangor

Harry Wilson returns with his advice for all seven races on day one of Cheltenham's December meeting on Friday – plus the two ITV races at Bangor . . .

12.10 Cheltenham
British EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle, 2m1f

Harry's tip: That's Nice

Palacio is unlikely to get as easy a lead as he did when making a winning debut and Wingmen probably wants to go right-handed, so this looks to concern Country Mile and That's Nice. The former was a good second in a Grade 2 at Haydock last month and just about sets the standard, but the latter barely came off the bridle when seeing off a subsequent Listed scorer on her Warwick debut and looks a smart prospect. She will be hard to beat in receipt on 7lb.

That's Nice12:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Nico de Boinville Tnr: Nicky Henderson

12.40 Cheltenham
SSS Super Alloys Novices' Chase, 2m4½f

Harry's tip: Springwell Bay

Caldwell Potter and Jango Baie both won Grade 1 novice hurdles, but I can't back the latter on his chasing debut at a track like this, while the former jumped well but didn't beat a lot on his first start over fences and is too short for one unproven at the trip. I'll be with Springwell Bay, who merely needed to be pushed out to gain a comfortable success in a Listed contest on his chasing debut at Chepstow in October. He jumped well but was too keen when not seeing out the three-mile trip on the Old course here last time and can regain the winning thread returned to this shorter distance.

Springwell Bay12:40 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jonjo O'Neill Jr Tnr: Jonjo & A J O'Neill

1.15 Cheltenham
Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle, 2m1f

Harry's tip: Valgrand

Valgrand had strong bumper form without winning, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting that has produced loads of winners. He built on two odds-on successes in maiden hurdles when romping home by 17 lengths in a 2m½f Grade 2 on the Old course here in October before not seeing out 2m5f as strongly as the classy Potters Charm last time. He looks perfect for the County Hurdle and looks underestimated by a mark of 139 dropping into handicap company for the first time.

Valgrand13:15 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Skelton Tnr: Dan Skelton

1.50 Cheltenham
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase, 3m2f

Harry's tip: King Turgeon

Chianti Classico produced an impressive weight-carrying performance when winning the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot last month and may well be defy a 5lb rise. However, I've been taken with how King Turgeon has jumped in his two wins since having wind surgery and I'll take a chance on him at the bottom of the weights. He stays this trip and his two wins have been in the manner of one with plenty more to offer.

King Turgeon13:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jack Tudor Tnr: David Pipe

2.05 Bangor
Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Maiden Hurdle, 2m3½f

Harry's tip: Kevin's Pride

Kevin's Pride didn't always jump with fluency on his hurdling debut at Carlisle last month but went down by just a neck. The form has already been franked, with the nine-length third winning since, and he should be hard to beat if his jumping has sharpened up.

Kevin's Pride14:05 Bangor-on-Dee

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Jky: Brian Hayes Tnr: John C McConnell

2.25 Cheltenham
Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Handicap Chase, 2m4½f

Harry's tip: Shan Blue

Shan Blue hasn't won since taking a Grade 1 novice chase at Kempton in 2020 and isn't the force of old, but he's now very well handicapped and has shown in recent efforts that he can pick up a race of this nature. He was a close third behind an in-form winner and a subsequent winner at Ascot last December before filling the same position there in the Swinley Handicap Chase in February. His run at Bangor on ground too soft last month smacked of one that would bring him on and he'll be a major force back in trip in veterans' company for the first time.

Shan Blue14:25 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Skelton Tnr: Dan Skelton

2.40 Bangor
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle, 2m7f

Harry's tip: Thanksforthehelp

Thanksforthehelp romped home by six-and-a-half lengths in a Pertemps qualifier at Chepstow in February last year before finishing 12th in the final at the Cheltenham Festival that March, when sent off as the 100-30 favourite. He followed up in a Southwell novice afterwards, but had been out of form since before finishing a good fourth in a Cheltenham handicap last month. He's just 1lb higher than for that qualifier success and this represents a drop in class, so he should go close if handling the ground.

Thanksforthehelp14:40 Bangor-on-Dee

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Jky: Kevin Brogan Tnr: David Pipe

3.00 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase, 3m5½f

Harry's tip: Three By Two

David Cottin won this in 2019 with subsequent Cheltenham Festival scorer Easysland, who arrived on the back of success in the Grand Steeple-Chase-Cross-Country de Compiegne, the race won en route by this year's hopeful Iceo Madrik. He deserves plenty of respect, as does last year's winner Latenightpass, but I can't believe you can get 22-1 about Three By Two, who is a confident each-way selection. She's out of the handicap, but she thrives in this type of race, as she showed when a narrow second in the La Touche Cup in May, and is 4lb better off with Stumptown for her two-and-three-quarter-length defeat last time.

Three By Two15:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Sam Twiston-Davies Tnr: Denis Paul Murphy

3.35 Cheltenham
Citipost Handicap Hurdle, 3m

Harry's tip: Doyen Quest

Long Draw and Wonderful Eagle, second and third behind the well-handicapped Hamsiyann in a 2m5f handicap hurdle on the Old course here last month, are open to improvement at this trip, but Doyen Quest was an impressive winner when upped to this distance on the same card and can make light of a 10lb rise. He did well to win from where he was, given they didn't go fast in front, and is still unexposed at the trip.