After a chilly week it looks as though racing will go ahead at Cheltenham today ahead of the December meeting at Prestbury Park.

With tomorrow’s Boylesports Gold Cup and International Hurdle undoubtedly the highlights of the meeting, there’s plenty of racing betting to get stuck into on Friday and we’ve picked out some prospects from three of today’s races.

In the 12.45pm, the 3 mile handicap hurdle throws up a few interesting runners. Top weight Fair Along has gone up nearly a stone after his victory last time out at Cheltenham and this consistent front runner warrants respect at 7/1 with totesport. Probably totesport.org’s finest moment was tipping up Carracciola in the Cesarewitch at a massive 50/1 a few months ago. The Henderson trained veteran runs again here today and despite the trainers claims that he’ll have the stamina, there are concerns over the going unless things brighten up. At time of writing you can back Carraciola at 13/2 (second favourite) with totesport.

In the 1.20pm, we see another installment of the Cross Country saga with Enda Bolger fielding three runners at the head of the betting. Top weight and favourite Garde Champetre fell in this race last year when carrying a featherweight, but followed this up with three straight wins, including the cross country at March’s Cheltenham Festival. This has seen a significant rise in the weights and although unlucky to lose here last time out he could be taken on at 5/2. Bolger’s other runners at the top-end of the market include L’Ami (11/2) and Drombeag (7/1). The former, a runner in both the Gold Cup and Grand National looks to be one paced lately and couldn’t be backed with any confidence after its plodding fourth back here in November. Drombeag is a different kettle of fish though and taking a stone off the favourite, has serious claims here. A win and two places so far this season, everything seems to be in its favour, the only question mark being Nina Carberry’s decision to ride the favourite instead!

The big race of the day is the 1.55pm, with 10 runners going in this 3 mile 1f listed handicap chase. Plenty of the field will have entries next year’s Grand National and it includes last years National winner Comply Or Die (25/1). Mon Mome looks an interesting runner after finishing like a train at Haydock last time out, losing by a neck to another of today’s runners Possol. Both horses look well in at the handicap coming here and you can back Mon Mome at 8/1 and Possol at 15/2 with totesport. At a bigger price Irish Raptor could be excused its poor run on bottomless ground last time out at Aintree and at 18/1 could be worth an each-way shout.

For all your horse racing betting at Cheltenham, bet with totesport.