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

Trainer

While the presence of Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and John McConnell head a dangerous Irish challenge on the opening day of Cheltenham's November meeting, it may be worth keeping an eye on a trainer closer to home.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is based just half an hour from the course and could bag a local winner thanks to three short-priced chances on Friday's card.

Super Six makes his second start over fences and carries bottom weight in the SSS Super Alloys Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2.20). Twiston-Davies won the race before it was converted to a handicap back in 2018 with Count Meribel.

At the other end of the weights is popular veteran Ballyandy, who heads the field and represents the trainer's best chance of the day in the veterans' chase (2.55), which was brought in to replace the cross country chase due to ground concerns.

Twiston-Davies could cap the day off in fine style with Weveallbeencaught, who makes a bold step up in class on his hurdles debut in the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.30).

Add on a short-priced favourite for Market Rasen's Listed mares' chase (3.15) in Zambella and Twiston-Davies could be in for a lucrative afternoon.

Ballyandy: one of three runners at Cheltenham for Nigel Twiston-DaviesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Jockey

Harry Cobden has been in scintillating form of late, with an impressive strike rate of 64 per cent so far this month.

He has just one ride booked on Friday but it comes in Cheltenham's feature race of the day – the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.30) – for the in-form yard of Paul Nicholls.

With four big rides the following day, Cobden will be eager to get the ball rolling on Friday and could extend his hot streak as he gets the leg up on the progressive Hermes Allen, who made all to win at a canter on his reappearance at Stratford last month.

Horse

The Alan King-trained The Glancing Queen knows her way around Cheltenham.

At the November meeting four years ago she got up to score a winning debut under rules and has since made a further six appearances at the track.

Course form is a good indicator for Cheltenham and when you consider her second-place finish to L'Homme Presse in January's Grade 2 Dipper and her win over course and distance in April, there is plenty of evidence to suggest she can get her nose in front over the two-mile trip on Friday (1.45).

The Glancing Queen: set to make her seventh start at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Race

The jumps season has truly kicked into gear and the quality race is undoubtedly the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (3.30) at Cheltenham.

Concerns over Irish dominance come March could be put to the test here as Willie Mullins, who has become increasingly selective with his raids to English shores, saddles the favourite Hubrisko against the Paul Nicholls-trained Hermes Allen.

Last-year's Cheltenham champion jockey Paul Townend takes the ride on Hubrisko and Gordon Elliott is also likely to be involved with Music Drive, who was third at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting last month.

With Coneygree, Thyme Hill and Blazing Khal among the list of prior scorers, this 2m5f contest is sure to throw up a noteworthy winner.

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