Friday horse racing tips: Betting expert Dave Nevison shares his best bets

He reappears over hurdles here and could well be a very well-handicapped horse from a mark of 131, especially if his comfortable beating of (odds-on) Langer Dan is the yardstick. That horse is now rated in the high 140s after Sandown and Cheltenham runs.

Garry Clermont’s record this season might have looked completely different had he not blundered at the second-last in a very competitive novices’ chase at Carlisle in October. That mistake seemed to jolt his confidence when next seen in November and he has not been out since.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is in very good form at the moment so I am not too bothered about the three-month absence, and he could be a price in a very interesting handicap.

He might be finally running at a track that suits him perfectly, because he doesn’t seem ideally suited by the likes of Taunton and Wincanton where he has mostly been seen so far.

Newbury would seem perfect for this long-striding galloper and, given the way he finished off after getting out-paced last time, the step-up in trip could well bring about significant improvement.

He has to jump the fences, but I am hopeful that he can get into a rhythm and jump well on this galloping track. Although he is a seven-year-old, he still looks green and inexperienced but I feel he can begin to realise his potential under ideal conditions.