Tom Stanley's top tips for Friday: Story can have happy ending

It feels like the jump season proper is back and I was lucky enough to be at Cheltenham last week ahead of the Showcase meeting.

It’s an arena that never fails to get the hairs on the back of the neck standing on end and I can’t wait for racing to get underway on Friday.

They'd just had rain when I was there but the ground had clearly taken it well and I'm not sure there's been any since. I wouldn't be surprised if it rode pretty quick.

The Cheltenham action is complemented by some excellent Flat racing too and the Newbury card features a horse I've backed a few times of late.

Grageelagh Girl had some good bumper form but I’m not sure really lived up to potential in that sphere.

She then won her first two hurdle races before a disappointing effort at Perth back over two miles.

Perhaps it wasn’t just the trip that beat her that day and she does need a big step up on that form but I like the return to further and think she’s pretty talented. She’s certainly a bigger price than I thought she’d be at 12-1.

Saeed Bin Suroor remains in excellent form and I’m sure this is a well treated son of Farhh.

He has been a bit of a revelation since dropping in trip from the Craven meeting but things haven’t gone to plan since his Thirsk win.

Too keen and poorly positioned at Kempton, the drop to six didn’t work at Haydock last time.

The ground on Friday looks to be in his favour; he returns to a more suitable trip and I like the fitting of a hood to hopefully settle him down in this big field.

His draw also looks favourable given what we’ve seen at Newbury this year and the 13-2 makes plenty of appeal.

Now Sebastopol brings some good form into this and is the right favourite but I’m keen to back the selection 7-2.

A well-backed bumper winner on debut last May for this yard, he’s one of a few exciting horses who will carry these colours for Olly Murphy this seasonand when at the yard for Racing UK a few weeks back he was the subject of positive reports.

His bumper form has worked out and I think and hope he could be quite smart.

Named, I believe, after the owner’s children, he had some good form last term when splitting Golan Fortune and Bastien (under today’s jockey) who both progressed through the handicap ranks.

He has had only the one run since and was a beaten favourite on ground softer than ideal.

Conditions on Friday will suit and he has the pace for this trip, for all his winning has come over further.

I know it’s a big ask in a competitive race on reappearance but he’s won fresh before and is a massive price at 33-1.