Cheltenham Festival tips: Johnny Dineen's Friday nap

Its On The Line
4.10 Cheltenham

One of my strongest fancies of the week is the Emmet Mullins-trained Its On The Line, who bids to go one better than last year in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase. Only a dozen go to post and the two to concentrate on are Its On The Line and fellow Irish-trained seven-year-old Ferns Lock.

They have identical ratings of 142 and there is little or nothing between them from their latest meeting at Down Royal over Christmas. Ferns Lock may travel and jump the sweeter of the pair but, if it does come to a struggle, I’d be strongly expecting Its On The Line to wear him down at the latter stages of the race.  Cheekpieces go on for the day that really matters and I’m very sweet on him to gain his fourth win in a row this season.

Its On The Line16:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mr Derek O'Connor Tnr: Emmet Mullins

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