Friday’s Racing Tips – David Pipe has a couple of solid chances on Day 1 of the December Cheltenham meeting

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The poor run over the last week continued on Thursday with a faller and a very tired Malfoy Manor.

Below The Radar made a couple of early mistakes. I looked away from the racing stream and saw that he had fallen. Hopefully, he is okay, and it doesn't affect his confidence in the future.

Malfoy Manor was given a positive ride from the front. The problem was that he was too keen, and when the going got tough, he found little.

Kingston Queen 7/4 (1pt) – Cheltenham 12.05

It's always risky going with the favourite in races like this at Cheltenham in the novice races, as every horse is unexposed and a huge level of improvement can happen at any moment.

However, I was very impressed by Kingston Queen's first run over hurdles at Chepstow. She jumped well, showed her great turn of foot, which she showcased in her bumper runs last season, and put the race to bed easily.

The form of the win at Chepstow has been boosted by the runner-up and third-placed horse.

Also, because she is a mare, she gets the weight allowance from the male horses. David Pipe might have a very talented mare on his hands, and winning this race will be on the route to the Cheltenham Mares' Novice in March.

King Turgeon 11/2 (1pt) – Cheltenham 1.50

I will be hoping that David Pipe and Jack Tudor have a very good Friday, as both of my selections for today come from the same yard.

King Turgeon won this race last year off a 2lb lower mark, and I think he has a solid chance of doing the back-to-back.

He returned to action with a solid effort to finish sixth in the Becher in November, and if that has stripped him fitter, he must be going close in today's race.

I think the handicapper has done him a small favour by dropping him 1 lb for his recent outing, as I don't think his handicap mark should have been altered.

We know he handles the track, stays the trip and gets in this race off a low weight. There's not much against him for this.

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