Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for Friday

This is a competitive handicap but one full of similar types who may not be achieving quite what they had once looked like doing.

Olly Murphy’s five-year-old jumped the second last looking like holding on to second in a good race at Sandown last time but he stopped quickly and faded to fourth.

The hurdles course at Sandown provides an extreme test in the winter, so I am prepared to forgive Dr T J Eckleburg and put that down as a really good run (second-placed Iceo has since won the Imperial Cup).

He will certainly get a decent pace here and no stable is in better form than Murphy’s, so I am expecting a good run.

This horse has been favourite and duly won all his starts away from the Grade One Challow Hurdle. He looks a bright prospect over three miles, probably over fences as well as hurdles given he is already an eight-year-old.

Anthony Honeyball does not waste too many bullets and though it was clear Kilbeg King was not ready for the Challow he has since had another confidence boosting hurdle win and now runs in his first handicap off what looks a winnable mark of 125.

His pedigree has horses who stay 3m on both sides so I am sure this step up in trip will be of benefit.

Had a 78-day break before his last run at Wincanton and it certainly looked as though some work had been done on his jumping as it was much better and enabled him to win nicely. It could also be Michael Nolan taking over in the saddle for the first time freshened his approach.

Jumping had previously held him back and he has been an underachiever for some time. He certainly looked more assured last time and, just 4lb higher, he looks sure to be in the frame if he can repeat that form.