Dan Skelton column: the inside track on my Cheltenham runners on Friday

Champion trainer Dan Skelton has five runners in four races at Cheltenham on Friday, and the Ladbrokes ambassador has shared the inside track on each of his contenders. Watch all the action live on Racing TV!

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1.10 Cheltenham: Glancing Jack

We start things off on Friday with Glancing Jack in a Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, he's a new horse to us but has got some pretty good form and we like what we've seen of him at home. Obviously this is really competitive stuff, but he looks great, and he's worked nicely ahead of this. I'd like to give him a chance here, even though there's so many runners. I think he'd definitely have an each-way chance here, at least.

1.45 Cheltenham: Kingston Narcissus

We then run Kingston Narcissus in a three-mile novices' chase, and he's a horse that we know quite well. He's had a few runs and he'll like the trip for sure. The step up in trip is definitely a good thing for him and he’s got some experience now, having been around over fences plenty. I think it might just suit him here. I wouldn't go as far as to say he'll definitely win, but I think he's got a fair squeak. I'm looking forward to getting him out there.

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3.30 Cheltenham: Divine Diva and Hitintheheadlines

Then we've got two in the novices' hurdle - Divine Diva and Hitintheheadlines. Both were winners last time out, and both of those wins came at Chepstow, at their first meeting. They've both done really well - Divine Diva obviously gets 7lbs for being a mare, but she won a pretty competitive looking mares' race at Chepstow, picking up late on. She beat two good horses that day. 

The form of Hitintheheadlines' race looks really good. I think there have been three winners to have come out of that Chepstow race already. It's nice to be able to run these horses without penalties, by running them in this grade. It means we don't have to worry about carrying more weight than the others, and obviously Divine Diva gets that 7lbs.

It'll be interesting to see how they get on here because they're both nice chances. It's hard to split them - I know Harry [Skelton] is riding one and not the other, but believe me, these two are very difficult to split.

4.00 Cheltenham: Sytadel

And then Sytadel sees out the day in the novices' handicap hurdle for us. He had a really good run last time out at Carlisle, and I think the complexion of this race will really suit him, with the stiff finish and the fast-pace we'll see here. That will really suit him. There are going to be a lot of runners to negotiate, obviously, but I think he'll have a great chance.

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