Horse Racing Tips: Frank Hickey’s four best bets for Cheltenham

13.50 – Count Meribel

Nigel Twiston-Davies had two winners last weekend on the TV and Count Meribel has some decent course form.

He won a decent Novice Chase here in 2018 beating Le Breuil – and he went on to win the National Hunt Chase at the Festival.

He had a very good season reappearance at Carlisle, where he was only two-and-quarter-lengths behind Lostintranslation.

He was a little disappointing at Cheltenham in November, but he’s been given a break and the yard is in good form so I think he’s got good each/way claims here.

14.25 – Santini

Santini was a little disappointing at Sandown even though he won scrambling home from Now Mcginty.

He’s had a wind op since and if you look back at the RSA last year he still ran a cracking race despite an interrupted preparation, coming second by two-and-a-half lengths to Topofthegame with Delta Work third.

He looks to be in solid form. I just think if the wind op has done the trick he’ll be too tough to beat.

Bristol De Mai is the one up against him, but I fancy Santini to progress past him.

Santini

15:00 – King Roland

This is the one I’m VERY keen on, in fact it’s my NAP of the weekend.

King Roland won a point-to-point very easily, and then easily in two Bumpers.

The first was at Uttoxeter where we won by 22 lengths. The second and fourth from that race are both now rated at 120, and he hammered them.

In his second Bumper start at Ffos Las he he was conceding a penalty and won by a length.

He was beaten on his hurdling debut at Newbury over two miles by Son of Camas but was very impressive winning at Exeter over two miles two and the step up here is bound to suit.

I think he’ll win this and lay down a marker for the Ballymore at Cheltenham in six weeks or so.