15:05 Cheltenham

Based on the saying “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck”, the same theory applies to A PLUS TARD (best price 3-1) in this season’s blue riband.

Winner of the competitive Close Brothers Handicap Chase on his first visit to Cheltenham two years ago, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding tried valiantly to maintain his unbeaten record at the track in last year’s Ryanair Chase, only to come up a little short in the latter stages. Beginning this season over two miles, connections then pitched him into the white-hot Saville’s Chase over a full mile further and in what turned out to be a brutal affair, he came through with flying colours. Staying on extremely strongly in the final half a mile, the son of Kapgarde wore down his prey on the climb to the line and on the evidence of that display, it makes you wonder why on earth he’s been running in and around the minimum trip for most of his career. Time figure-wise and on pure form, that race at the Dublin venue works out easily the best race of its kind either side of the Irish Sea this season (both Kemboy and Allaho won since) and hailing from an outfit for whom this meeting has been the stuff of dreams, this popular seven-year-old winning would be the icing on the cake for all concerned.

20:00 St Etienne vs Monaco

MONACO (best price 5-6) still harbour title hopes in Ligue 1 and a win here will but the pressure firmly on PSG, Lyon and leaders Lille. They’ve generally had to relying on plenty of goals from Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland up front, but their impressive defensive returns of late make them a safer proposition for punters. Les Monagasques have won 6 of their last 7 on the road and a Sainté side with just 1 win in their last 11 at base look thin on the ground this season. The visitors quality should tell on Friday night.