3.10pm Cheltenham Tips & Betting Preview 28/10/2017

3.10pm Cheltenham tips for Saturday’s Class 2 race. Deeply competitive contest over two miles next up on ITV racing, a very strong field to work through. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: DOUBLE W’S loves a decent surface, giving the impression when winning at Aintree in the spring that he is going to be better still this campaign. Some Plan was lucky to take home a Grade 1 as a novice, but he has plenty of solid form from similar marks over hurdles to consider him here. It’s interesting to see Mr Fiftyone sent over from Ireland, He has the form in the book from the past to give him a solid chance in this contest. It’s a while since he’s shown that level but he is an interesting one for the brave.

1 VANITEUX – Talented but quirky, it will be fascinating to see if the move to fresh surroundings helps him. Undoubtedly has the ability to be competitive here from this perch but isn’t the easiest to trust completely.

2 EASTLAKE – Twice a winner at Cheltenham, he has a habit of popping up out of the blue. His six best efforts over normal fences have all come here (two on the Grand National course smart as well) so needs consideration, just two pounds above his last winning mark.

3 SIZING PLATINUN – Chased home Fox Norton at a respectful distance on his return last season, winning on his comeback this time around. His form regressed last campaign so has a little to prove that he isn’t just to be caught when fresh.

4 SOME PLAN – Fortunate to win a Grade 1 as a novice, but has form from similar marks to this in handicap hurdles. This is the first time he has run in this discipline over fences, it looks a workable level with conditions to suit. Interesting each way contender.

5 LE PREZIEN – Won a pair of smart novice chases last season in small fields, he was well beaten both at the Cheltenham Festival and at Punchestown when surrounded by more rivals. That gives him a little to prove for now in another sizeable field.

6 DOUBLE W’S – Good ground is important to him, winning from three pounds lower at Aintree. This is his trip, giving the impression last season that he is going to be capable of better still this time around. No issues first time up with sound runs in the past, looks the one to beat.

7 THEFLYINGPORTRAIT – Won seven of his last thirteen starts, he has continued to defy the handicapper. Conditions will be perfect for him, but this is by a long way the deepest field that he has taken on, needs more again.

8 FOXTAIL HILL – Took home a big prize at this track in January, that was over a two miles and five furlongs. The drop to this trip is a concern, but he is a front runner so at least he can make this into a proper test from the front.

9 MR FIFTYONE – Long time since he last got his head in front, struggling to make an impression in lesser races of late. Has form back in the day that would make him tempting, each way shout with the cheekpieces back on.

10 DOITFORTHEVILLAGE – Progressed well at a lesser level last season, the cobwebs should have been blown away over hurdles last time. Generally a safe jumper, he needs a little more to take this prize but he looks capable of further progression.

11 COBRA DE MAI – Eighteen pounds higher than his last handicap chase win, he has dominated small field novice chases of late. Pulled up with a fibrillating heart in June, that’s a slight concern in a much better race.

12 POKER SCHOOL – Smooth traveller, he is a sound jumper despite not being the biggest. All six of his wins have come right handed so despite running with credit at Worcester last time, that is a doubt over a trip short of his best.

13 UN BEAU ROMAN – Pair of smart runs here at the back end of last year, he has struggled since. Four pounds out the weights, he is going to have to run an awful lot better than when last of five last time to have a say here.

14 LORD BALLIM – Ran up a sequence over further in the spring. The drop back to this trip doesn’t look an obvious positive, a lot on his plate on this occasion.

15 EXITAS – In good form at his level with a pair of recent wins, this is too tough for him from a long way out of the handicap. Would be a huge shock if he were to win.

16 LORD BEN – Veteran is seventeen pounds out the handicap, has absolutely no chance in this contest.