Cheltenham

GO DANTE is a very fair price at 15/2 to get amongst it in the TV opener at Cheltenham on Friday (1.15pm). He ran an excellent race in a very competitive Greatwood Hurdle here, a race which has already yielded a couple of strong form boosts. A reproduction should put him on the premises at least, while he could reasonably expected to come on for that. Unlike some at shorter odds, he has plenty of soft ground form.

MALAITA makes appeal in an open mares’ event (1.50pm) at 6/1. She lacks a gear or two, but tries hard, doesn’t mind soft ground, and should get into a nice rhythm near the sharp end. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes up in distance again, but this should be a decent test at the trip.

TOP VILLE BEN might have his day again in the Veterans’ Chase (2.25pm) at 15/2. Although nowhere near the force of old, he’s still very handy, as he showed when third at the Dublin Festival off the same mark. The spring Festivals didn’t present a suitable target, but he was going with plenty of his old zip when tipping up on his seasonal debut. The booking of Harry Cobden is clearly significant.

FRANCKY DU BERLAIS can at least get a piece of the pie at 14/1 in the Cross Country (3.00pm). He posted another really solid effort here last time, will like the ground a notch or two softer and is a few pounds better with Late Night Pass. He might be a bit closer to the pace this time with that all important run under his belt.

GYENYAME is a pretty hopeful shout in the finale (3.35pm) at 5/1. He’ll be unfortunate to run into one as talented and well treated as Springwell Bay again this season, and he did really well anyway, as he did a shade too much near the head of affairs. Lightly raced and improving, he could be a threat to all here.

Bangor

ITV cameras are also at Bangor, where conditions will be decidedly testing – FIRST LORD DU CUET (1.30pm) and CHRIS COOL (2.05pm) look best equipped to deal with them.