3.10pm Cheltenham Tips & Betting Preview 27/10/2017

3.10pm Cheltenham tips for Friday’s Class 3 race. Fantastic to get racing back at Cheltenham again, the feel that the jump season proper is really underway. A big field in a competitive handicap hurdle here, with a little over £7,500 to the winner. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: KK LEXION won first time up last season and can repeat the dose. His Wincanton win then suggests that this mark will be well within his grasp and is still unexposed. Eaton Hill looks the main danger having beaten Grade 1 winner Mount Mews last season, a mark of 126 looks more than fair on the back of that. The Mighty Don is another to have won on his seasonal return last season, he should be capable of making himself felt at this level, while Potters Story looks a smart recruit, he has an each way chance despite his yard being out of form.

1 KK LEXION – Won fresh last season as well as dotting up in what had looked a competitive handicap prior to the race at Wincanton. A little disappointing the last twice, but back on better ground he is worth another chance to confirm the impression he made when winning.

2 RUACANA – Formerly very smart, he has slipped a long way in the last year. Best recent efforts have all come on soft ground so he is passed over despite the tempting mark on his return.

3 THE MIGHTY DON – Hit hard by the handicapper for a Fakenham win, he ran respectably in the EBF Final at Sandown when last seen. The return to a better surface will suit, he won first time up last season so an interesting each way contender.

4 CREEP DESBOIS – Ran creditably on his handicap debut from this mark without looking as if he could cash in. This stiffer test at the trip should suit better than that Kempton small field so entitled to do better, but will need to.

5 POTTERS STORY – Promising recruit, showing solid hurdling form last season despite not looking in love with deep ground, This step up in trip to two and a half looks in his favour, the yard however are having a quiet spell so no more than an each way shout.

6 GET HOME NOW – Notched up a hat-trick already this season having tumbled a long way in the weights prior. Back to a career high mark now in stronger company so makes limited appeal on this occasion.

7 MIZEN MASTER – Shown some solid form in novice hurdles since he was last in a handicap. He’s sixteen pounds higher than when getting beaten in a softer contest that this at Bangor in August so he needs considerably more.

8 CAKE DE L’ISLE – Things clicked with him on his fourth outing his first on decent ground. Described by his trainer as a “big, weak horse” and “a chaser in the making” he may well find this a little hot to handle on his return from a stiff enough looking opening mark.

9 RIGHTDOWNTHEMIDDLE – Only a 3/51 record under rules, it’s more than two years since his last win. Remarkably is only a pound below his last hurdling winning mark which came in February 2015. A better chaser, this looks a run to blow away the cobwebs.

10 EATON HILL – Hasn’t quite fulfilled what looked likely having beaten Grade 1 runner-up Mount Mews on his hurdling debut. Better ground saw him score again when last seen, his opening mark looking more than fair on his initial win. Looks a big player in this field.

11 HALLINGS COMET – Formerly recalcitrant for his old yard, a move to Shaun Lycett has breathed new life into him. This demands a lot more away from his favoured Worcester, but with conditions to suit, it’s folly to completely disregard him.

12 MR MCGUINESS – Another who has shown the best of his form at Worcester over the summer. Looks weighted right up to his best in a field with a number of unexposed rivals, this could be beyond him.

13 NATHANS PRIDE – Lost his consistency as he has got older, still two pounds above his last win which came in May 2016. Stopped to nothing when last seen when behind Mr McGuiness at Worcester, not easy to support with any confidence.

14 BUCKLE STREET – Sole win came at two miles but has proved himself adaptable with a pair of solid three mile efforts in July. One of only three four-year-olds in the line-up, he is entitled to further improvement, but he needs it to get involved.

15 VIVAS – Appreciated the step back up in trip when winning at Uttoxeter last  time. That has put him on a career high mark in a deeper contest so he is going to have to take another step forward if he is to cope with this rise in class.

16 GOLAN FORTUNE – Embryonic chaser has already scored in an Irish point to point. The fitting of cheekpieces saw him produce his best form last time out, this opening level looking fair on that if they work as well a second time.

17 ONE FORTY SEVEN – Another who will be a better chaser in time, he lost a race at Uttoxeter this time last year through disqualification. Not seen since November, he’s entitled to come on for the outing from a fair enough starting level.

18 MASTER DANCER – Well beaten in a similar contest over course and distance last November, he was a wide margin scorer in a recent flat outing. This mark looks fair on his new flat rating, but he lacks the scope of a number of these.

19 COTTERSROCK – Pulled up three times in his last four starts, he is very hard to support with any confidence. His current handicap racing is well within his level if on a going day, but those are few and far between of late.

20 FOOL TO CRY – Needs decent ground to be seen at her peak, she produced her best effort over hurdles last time when stepped up to nineteen furlongs. This is further again on a stiffer track so she has to prove her stamina once more, but she is progressing the right way.

21 TRANS EXPRESS – Both wins have come at Exeter thus far over two and a quarter miles. Has shown ability at Sandown so a stiff track is clearly to his liking, but this is flying too high. Looks to have a tough task on his plate.