A mare seeking a seven-timer and a chaser with bags of talent - find out who has been declared as Cheltenham returns on Friday

Gale Mahler will bid to continue her winning run for Adrian Keatley when she lines up in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle (3.00) at Cheltenham on Friday.

A winner of six of her seven starts, and a perfect four from four over hurdles, the five-year-old mare is one of six declared for the first Graded contest of the season at the track. She was last seen successfully stepping up to Listed company at Galway's summer festival in July.

Her opposition includes the Paul Nicholls-trained Brave Knight, who is unbeaten in three starts since joining the yard from Sir Mark Prescott earlier his year. The four-year-old completed a hat-trick when scoring at Newton Abbot in August.

The Highclere-owned Valgrand will attempt to complete a hat-trick for Dan Skelton after reeling off back-to-back victories at Uttoxeter and Bangor in May.

Last-time-out winners Strong Foundations and Imaginarium will take their chance in the race, with the latter making his first start for Olly Murphy, while the Ian Williams-trained Dancing In Paris is set for his hurdling debut.

Arclight: returns at Cheltenham for Nicky HendersonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Promising Arclight heads strong field in £100,000 handicap chase

Arclight will look to build on her first season over fences as she is among a field of ten declared for the £100,000 2m handicap chase (2.25).

Trained by Nicky Henderson, the five-year-old mare won three of her four chase starts last term, included at Listed level, but she was pulled up in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase on her final outing at Kempton in February.

Her chief threat is likely to come from Henry de Bromhead's Dancing On My Own, who won this race for the same connections last year.

Dublin Racing Festival scorer Madara, who is now with Kieran Burke, will also make his first start of the season, while 2022-winning trainer Willie Mullins will saddle three-time chase winner Uncle Phil.

Grade 3 winner Scarface will feature alongside stablemate Triple Trade for Joe Tizzard, while Skelton's Calico, Matata, Coastguard Station, Sir Tivo and Royal Mer complete the list.

Other names to note on Friday

In The Air has quickly settled into life at Seven Barrows and will be out to complete a hat-trick for Henderson as he is one of 13 declared for the opening 2m3f handicap hurdle (1.15).

Meanwhile, the Gordon Elliott-trained Shecouldbeanything will return to Cheltenham for the first time since finishing sixth to You Wear It Well in the Mares' Novice Hurdle at the festival last year. The seven-year-old is one of five in the 2m novice chase (1.50) that also includes San Salvador and Path D'Oroux.

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