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Some punters remain wedded to the idea that you should back or lay a horse and take whatever comes once the tapes go up.

But a growing number of Betfair users now use the flexibility of the exchange to back and lay horses with a view to saving their stake or better once the In-Play action begins.

The "keep bets" facility is the ideal device for those like me who don't feel inclined to take on those with the edge of fast pictures and the following points might be worth noting as regards Friday's Cheltenham card.

1: Garde Champetre might well trade at longer than his Betfair SP in the cross country chase at 14:20. After all, he needs to negotiate 32 fences during more than eight minutes of bewildering action and his hold-up style gives layers every chance to push him out if he does get briefly outpaced.

However, the salient point about this race is that it looks the weakest Cheltenham cross country chase Garde Champetre has contested for quite some while and possibly ever. If he touches 3.0 in the run - and he might well do - then the price is well worth taking.


2: It beggars belief that a race like the 16:05 can't be found a slot in the C4 schedule but we'll have it live on RUK and the clash between Cue Card, Grands Crus and Champion Court is a classic case of saving the best until last.

Most people will rate this as a match between Cue Card and Grands Crus and my view on things is to side with the latter while also edging towards opposing the former in-running.

Cue Card beat two smart rivals on his Chepstow chasing debut, but his exuberance and a penalty could get the better of him up that unforgiving Cheltenham hill.

In any case, he may well face a very hard day's work conceding weight to Grands Crus. David Pipe's grey developed into a top-class hurdler last season and his powerful galloping could be the deciding factor provided he jumps fences as accurately as he tackled hurdles.


3: Jockeyship is bound to play a significant role in the amateurs' handicap chase which opens the card and my interest in runaway Kelso winner Bescot Springs may well go on hold given that it looks like his rider is having his first ride over jumps.

But that's not to say there isn't an angle or two worth exploring here as Swing Bill and Sound Stage both make some appeal as potential back-to-lay vehicles.

Swing Bill ran a cracker when second in this last year and his overall record here suggests there is a strong chance he will go close again, while Sound Stage didn't show much after a long break over hurdles last month but is another with strong Cheltenham form and a smooth travelling style which could easily catch the eye of the inplay brigade.


4: Sometimes you look at a race and thought of trading the race as an in-play medium take a distant second place behind the obvious claims of one horse.

And that's the case with Steps To Freedom in the 14:55. Former smart Flat racer Prospect Wells is bound to corner support after his fluent winning hurdles debut at Chepstow, while Ericht brings good bumper form to the table.

However, Steps To Freedom was a cracking bumper horse who has since developed into a very useful Flat performer and a highly promising novice hurdler.

Granted, he was receiving 8lb from Sailor's Warn at Punchestown last time, but there was a huge amount to like about the way he quickened past him and that form sets a standard which the rest will do very well to match here.

Friday's Recommended Bets
13:10: Back Swing Bill and Sound Stage with a view to saving the stake at half the original price
14:20: Back Garde Champetre if he touches 3.0 in-running
14:55: Back Steps To Freedom
16:05: Back Grands Crus and lay Cue Card at evens in-running

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