Dave Nevison's Cheltenham tips: best bets for Saturday and Sunday

Sam Thomas has chosen this race from two entries this weekend, and I don’t believe Jubilee Express will be anything other than as fit as possible for his seasonal reappearance, given the form his trainer is in. 

Jubilee Express has a decent record after a break, anyway, and his effort in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on his first start last season would put him in with a real chance here. 

His rider, Harvey Barfoot-Saunt, has been getting plenty of opportunities, but rarely on fancied runners, and this race represents a serious challenge, and opportunity, for him. If Thomas thinks he is good enough, I am happy to believe the 7lb claim is likely to be telling in the last mile. 

This gelding might prove to be the best of two Henry De Bromhead-trained runners in this year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup. 

Coming Up Easy has been racing up the weights having won his past three outings, and it may well be significant that jockey Darragh O’Keeffe has chosen to ride this one for the first time, rather than promising mare Theatre Native, who he does know well.

Coming Up Easy has impressed with his jumping, and after just one mistake at the first fence, he jumped well to score comfortably after making most last time out. 

His running style is perfectly suited to winning a race such as this around Cheltenham, and the selection will hopefully get into a nice rhythm here on ground, and over a trip, that is ideal form him. 

This race looks one for Dan and Harry Skelton, and I believe Supremely West is the strongest favourite in the handicaps at The November Meeting.

Supremely West finished third in a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham in October, and finished three lengths ahead of market rival Long Draw plus is only a pound worse off now.

That was the first run for the yard, and the first time Harry Skelton has ridden him, so it would be a big surprise if improvement wasn’t forthcoming. 

It is also interesting that his new handler doesn’t believe the blinkers are necessary for Supreme West to show his best form, and if he does improve as expected, I think he could be a 'good thing' here. 

It is possible this race might be the latest stepping stone to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, which No Ordinary Joe finished second in at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. 

However, this year’s Unibet Greatwood Hurdle is a race where I don’t fancy too many runners at the front of the market, and it could pay to side with an outsider. 

One thing that's certain is that rookie trainer Faye Bramley has a plan for this horse, and it certainly wasn’t at Uttoxeter where he reappeared last time out. 

He was the subject of a running and riding inquiry, and the handicapper has left him on the same mark, despite the nine-year-old finishing ninth.

No Ordinary Joe usually runs over further, but his latest win came over this trip, and I think the drop down in distance might well be a positive. 

I am not risking much, but I am watching the trainer closely, and this contender will remain in my Racing TV Tracker, no matter what happens on Sunday afternoon. He's available at a best-priced 40-1, at the time of writing.