Sam King returns with two selections on Friday.
Cheltenham's two-day December meeting gets under way this afternoon, with the first notable wager coming in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (1.15).
Recent course winner Fortune De Mer must be feared but he needs things to drop exactly his way and doesn't look like the most solid proposition given he should have won at Ascot last time out.
With that in mind, the bottom weight Kel Du Large gets the vote to come out on top. Jane Williams' five-year-old has already won three of his four starts to date and shaped as though he desperately needed the run on his return from 621 days off, racing keenly in the early stages before plugging on at the one-pace to finish a creditable third in novice company.
A winner of a Listed bumper at Cheltenham back in January 2024, there's no doubt that he has the ability to go close off this opening mark of 114 and with further progress certainly not out of the equation, Jane Williams' unexposed five-year-old looks fair value to make a winning handicap debut.
Kel Du Large – 1pt Win
Odds – 7/2
Henry De Bromhead saddled a welcome winner in Listed company at Punchestown yesterday and whilst there is still a slight question mark over his current form, I'm happy to take a chance on The Short Go in the following Turners Handicap Chase (1.50).
The high-class L'Homme Presse commands respect off a winnable mark following 300 days off but he's got to carry 12 stone here and that might just find him out in the closing stages, whereas The Short Go should be spot on for a bold bid on the back of a pleasing comeback here last time.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained eight-year-old only flattened out late on when fourth over a similar trip here, while the form was done no harm when the third went on to fill the same position in the Paddy Power last time out.
A mistake at the second-last also looked to knock the stuffing out of him slightly and I'm fairly certain he's capable of putting in a smoother round of jumping. He might not have bundles in hand off a mark of 136 but the first-time tongue-tie could help eke out some extra improvement and with a good reappearance under his belt, there's no reason to think that he will not be right in contention in this competitive three-mile handicap chase.
The Big Short – 1pt Win
Odds – 11/2
