Cheltenham NAPS: A 7/1 shout tops our Traders’ Friday tips for Day Four

Paddy's traders are back for the final day of Cheltenham 2025 after a winning pick on Thursday.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 2 weeks ago

Cheltenham NAPS

PADDY POWER TRADERS PICK THEIR FRIDAY TOP TIPS

13:20 – East India Dock (Niall O’Reilly)
14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Joe Logue)
14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Ryan McCue)
15:20 – The Big Westerner (Adrian Galvin)
16:40 – Shearer (Sean O’Sullivan)

13:20 – East India Dock (Niall O’Reilly)

I’m really keen on EAST INDIA DOCK here, who rates as my biggest fancy of the week. He’s put up some huge times for a juvenile, both at this track, which bodes well for his chances. He’s an incredibly slick jumper over hurdles, as good as you’ll see at the festival, and I just think nothing will be able to live with him. The one I’m afraid of is Lulamba, as I have no real handle on how good that one can be. His only run and win in the UK came at Ascot, and Ascot form historically does not translate well to Cheltenham (very different tracks), while he also looks more of a chasing type to me too, so I’m thinking there are enough negatives there to opt against.

14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Joe Logue)

After winning last year’s running of the Fred Winter, LARK IN THE MORNING was sent off 9/4 at Haydock in the Swinton hurdle as a 4yo against older horses. That was off a mark of 130. I can forgive him for that run and he was a big eye catcher on his only run this season when also sent off favourite at Leopardstown at Christmas. He looks like he’s been laid out for this and will be suited by the going. He is only 8lbs higher than his mark for winning at last year’s festival and is now a 5yo and should still be improving. He’s very interesting for a yard and owners who target Cheltenham festival handicaps.

14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Ryan McCue)

Winner of the Fred Winter last year at this meeting, we haven’t seen much of LARK IN THE MORNING since, but he looks laid out for this race off his quiet run at Leopardstown at Xmas. There lots to like about his chances here off a lovely low weight and I think he can win at the Festival for the second season running.

15:20 – The Big Westerner (Adrian Galvin)

A big field that perhaps lacks the quality of other years. THE BIG WESTERNER bids to be the first mare to win the Albert Bartlett, but she’s a half sister to Stay Away Fay, who won this race in 2023. An easy winner of a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas, that was run at a very sedate pace, an end to end gallop should be more to her liking here.

16:40 – Shearer (Sean O’Sullivan)

In fine form of late, scoring on his last four starts, this will certainly have been the goal all year for SHEARER. While this race is no penalty kick, he has form to go close, and as I look for horses to back today this is the first one on my team sheet. I’m backing jockey Olive Nicholls to be on the ball and hopefully come 5pm its her father Paul lifting the Cup.

Cheltenham NAPS

PADDY POWER TRADERS’ FRIDAY BETTING TIPS

13:20 – East India Dock (Niall O’Reilly)
14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Joe Logue)
14:00 – Lark In The Morning (Ryan McCue)
15:20 – The Big Westerner (Adrian Galvin)
16:40 – Shearer (Sean O’Sullivan)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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