One trainer, one horse, one jockey and one race to watch at Cheltenham on Friday

Trainer

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls was without a winner at the Cheltenham Festival and the course's meeting last month but that disappointing run is likely to end at some point during Friday's action.

Skatman is 2-2 from over hurdles having beaten Presentandcounting (now rated 145 over fences) and Yggdrasil, who won on his chase debut at Bangor on Wednesday.

The six-year-old could get Nicholls, who received an OBE earlier this week, off to the perfect start in the November meeting by completing the hat-trick in the opening Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (1.10).

Magic Saint won the 2020 Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase (1.45) and having dropped to last year's winning mark, should make a bold bid to defend his crown under useful claimer Angus Cheleda.

Gelino Bello and Harry Cobden seek to follow up Aintree success last monthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Gelino Bello runs in the same colours of Magic Saint and delivered on promise shown in bumpers when cruising to a debut win over hurdles at Aintree three weeks ago and leads the market for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.30).

Horse

All eyes will be on the Dan Skelton-trained My Drogo as he makes his eagerly anticipated debut over fences in the 2m4f novice chase (2.20).

An unbeaten Grade 1 winner over hurdles, it will be fascinating to see how one of Skelton's stable stars takes to fences in what is likely to be a tactical affair, facing only Gin On Lime after Fancy Foundations was taken out on Thursday.

Jockey

My Drogo is one of four rides on the day for Harry Skelton who has live chances with each of his mounts starting with yard favourite Hatcher in the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase (1.45).

The eight-year-old has won 14 times and ran a blinder under a huge weight at the course in October to finish third and should go close if replicating that performance.

Kayf Hernando (black): one of four rides for Harry Skelton on FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Kayf Hernando stayed on stoutly under Skelton up the Carlisle hill to score on his hurdle debut and lines up in an intriguing Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.30) where all but one of the seven runners won on their last start.

Topweight Percy's Word (4.00), who beat subsequent Grade 2 winner Camprond in September, completes a strong book of rides.

Race

They are back over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham for the first time since Tiger Roll claimed victory against Easysland with a demolition job in March for a remarkable fifth win at the festival.

Not running under level weights like the March contest, this 3m6f test (2.55) features Grand National runner-up Balko Des Flos, who carries top weight under Rachael Blackmore and leads the market despite unseating the jockey over the course at the festival.

Irish National winner Freewheelin Dylan and former Welsh National winner Potters Corner are other entries of interest.

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