Which horses will be suited by testing ground on day four of the Cheltenham Festival?

The going at Cheltenham is soft, heavy in places on the chase course and heavy all over on the hurdles track ahead of Friday's day four card. We've identified four likely types who might appreciate the give underfoot on the fourth day of this year's Cheltenham Festival.

• Cheltenham Festival day four updates: going returns to heavy in places after overnight rain 

Cheltenham Festival free bets: William Hill offer

Friday's Cheltenham Festival day four race schedule

• 1.30pm - Triumph Hurdle
• 2.10pm - County Hurdle
• 2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
• 3.30pm - Cheltenham Gold Cup
• 4.10pm - St James's Place Hunters' Chase
• 4.50pm - Mares' Chase
• 5.30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Magical Zoe

2.10 Cheltenham: BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle

Forecast odds: 11-1

Form figures on ground described as soft or heavy read 12122, which includes a closing second in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle on the New course at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

Comfortably won a Gowran Listed race on her reappearance before forcing Irish Point to pull out all the stops in the Grade 3 Bottlegreen Hurdle at Down Royal in November.

That rival won his next start before finishing runner-up in the Champion Hurdle and Magical Zoe, who hit the front too soon and wasn't helped by the third drifting into her in a handicap last time, should have more to offer.

SMART VIEW: our horseracing experts have done all the hard work for you – crunching the numbers, picking out the key pieces of data and giving each runner a score of up to 100.

• Highest scores in the County Hurdle on soft ground according to Smart View: 98 Westport Cove, L'Eau Du Sud, Magical Zoe

Magical Zoe14:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: A P Heskin Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Jungle Boogie

3.30 Cheltenham: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

Forecast odds: 25-1

Is very lightly raced, having had just five starts in three and a half years, but he's won four of those and his sole defeat came behind El Fabiolo over two miles after 708 days off the track.

Appreciated the return to further when turning over Classic Getaway in Tramore's New Year's Day Chase when last seen and is very unexposed over staying trips.

• Highest scores in the Gold Cup on soft ground according to Smart View: 99 Jungle Boogie, 98 Nassalam

Jungle Boogie15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Rachael Blackmore Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Marsh Wren

4.50 Cheltenham: Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase

Forecast odds: 25-1

Has a terrific strike-rate, with eight wins from just 13 starts, and has produced her best Racing Post Ratings when encountering soft or heavy ground.

Was too good for Grade 2 scorer Harmonya Maker in a 2m6f Listed event at Thurles last time and her proven stamina is a big asset.

• Highest scores in the Mares' Chase on soft ground according to Smart View: 100 Marsh Wren, 99 Allegorie De Vassy, Harmonya Maker

Marsh Wren16:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Ciaran Gethings Tnr: Stuart Edmunds

Yeats Star

5.30 Cheltenham: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Forecast odds: 16-1

Hadn't shown a great deal in four starts on better ground, but his form has really picked up since encountering soft ground and he is yet to finish out of the first three in six starts in those conditions.

Followed a comfortable maiden hurdle win with victory on his handicap debut and has since finished third in a Listed handicap hurdle at Leopardstown.

Assured stamina is a big plus and he gets the services of talented conditional Shane Fitzgerald.

• Highest scores in the Martin Pipe on soft ground according to Smart View: 100 Yeats Star

Yeats Star17:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Shane Fitzgerald Tnr: Gordon Elliott

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Read these next:

David Jennings' Cheltenham Festival tips on Friday: 'Everything about him screams Martin Pipe winner' 

Paul Kealy's Cheltenham Festival day 4 racing tips: Friday's play of the day 

Cheltenham Festival day 4 tips: five horses to back on Friday 

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