All’s Well for flying Williams

BURTONS WELL is fancied to give Venetia Williams a New Year winner by landing the 2 mile five furlong handicap chase (2.00) at Cheltenham.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned eightyear-old ran a cracker on his only start of the campaign when a neck second to Roman De Senam at Stratford in October.

My selection has gone up 3lb in the handicap as a result, but has had just five tries over the larger obstacles and should have more to offer.

Williams’ team ended 2017 in good style, and Burtons Well’s ability to handle give underfoot is a big plus after heavy rain in the Cotwolds.

Successful in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle here last March, WILLOUGHBY COURT can take his tally to three from three over fences in the Dipper Novices’ Chase (1.25).

His debut in the new discipline, at Huntingdon in November, was a bit harum scarum, but his three-length call over Yanworth at Newbury last time was much more polished.

Nico De Boinville’s mount should confirm his superiority despite a 5lb turnaround in the weights.

Widely tipped to be one of the stars of 2018, Bryony Frost has an excellent chance of making a flying start aboard boss Paul Nicholls’ OLD GUARD in the Relkeel Hurdle (3.10).

Nicholls’ former assistant Dan Skelton has a live candidate for the Handicap Hurdle (2.35) in recent Southwell scorer RED RISING.