The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Friday afternoon

BIG-RACE BANKER

Elegant Escape (2.50 Chepstow)

Extremely consistent staying chaser who is at his best in testing conditions over stamina-sapping trips. Won this race last year off 11st 8lb having being well supported into 3-1 favouritism after a fine placed effort in the Ladbrokes Trophy. It could be much the same this time around as Colin Tizzard's seven-year-old finished in the money at Newbury once again (third, beaten just two lengths by winner De Rasher Counter) and will be suited by the step up in trip. Blinkers were applied for the first time in the Ladbrokes Trophy and are retained for this race, in which he seems the clear and obvious victor in a sub-par field.

GOOD THING

Tavus(1.35 Chepstow)

I can't be having keen-going favourite Allmankind in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle and there are question marks over the form of chief market rival Cerebus, so the door could be wide open for Tavus to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles for trainer Jedd O'Keeffe. The smart son of Pour Moi was a real improver on the Flat this summer, recording form figures of 331121 in low-grade handicaps, before moving to the O'Keeffe yard. He relishes heavy ground and has plenty of stamina, which he proved when beating the promising Navajo Pass (won since) on his debut in this sphere last month. He doesn't have to improve too much on that form to go close and 11-2 is too big.

EYECATCHER

Fitzhenry(2.55 Leopardstown)

Owner JP McManus does well in the Paddy Power Chase and unsurprisingly has a whopping eight of the 28 runners set to go to post. The best of those could prove to be Fitzhenry, who often finishes placed but tends to find it hard to win. However, that might not be the case today as I'm certain trainer Paul Nolan has targeted him the race since he finished a strong-staying third 12 months ago, and the fact Barry Geraghty is on suggests he could be the number one string. He was given a quiet ride out the back last year before powerfully sticking on to take some prize-money, and more aggressive tactics will see him to better effect. Recent efforts hint that he is ready to win and his mark of 137 is workable.

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