Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase tips: Back Barters Hill on fences debut

Barters Hill odds attractive ahead of much-anticipated return

The Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase (14:05) rates as the highlight of Friday’s schedule at Cheltenham, with a talent-laden field lining-up in the third of a six races on The Open meeting’s first day card.

A class 2 contest open to four-year-olds and above comes over a two-and-a-half-mile trip. Of the seven runners predicted, Barters Hill odds have him at the head of the market to make a winning debut over the bigger obstacles.

Ben Pauling’s six-year-old looks every inch a worthy favourite, having already proven himself over this distance, coming home ahead of the chasing pack in the Grade 1 Challow Novices Hurdle at Newbury on soft ground.

With a CV reading seven wins from eight career starts, Barters Hill is bound to be popular among punters in the pre-race Cheltenham betting.

Jockey Bass fishing for compliments at Cheltenham

Barters Hill was seen suffering his first defeat in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival back in March, ending in a disappointing fourth when widely expected to do better.

Unowhatimeanharry was the people’s champion on that occasion, but the return has been noted in the diary of racing enthusiasts for a while now and the big, strong gelding will attract attention in the parade ring alone.

The selection looks well in at the weights, with only a couple at most potentially better-treated and, with David Bass back in the driving seat, Barters Hill is sure to take all the beating.