The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham is the first chance in the new National Hunt season for Festival hopefuls to gain valuable experience of the jumps racing. Held towards the end of October before Halloween, this two-day event can provide pointers for the future.
All Cheltenham meetings matter to horse racing betting sites, even a more modest one like this. The Showcase begins on Friday, 25 October and concludes the following day. Our experts assess and preview the best of day one action.
Headlining the card is the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, transferred to this fixture last season. Although an early trial for the Supreme come the Festival, it can also be informative for the valuable Greatwood Hurdle – a Premier Handicap over the same course and distance in November…
The Showcase Cheltenham Preview Day 1
1:15 – 2m 4f Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
Race-fit horses have an excellent record in this. The two in-form this autumn are Nicky Henderson inmate In The Air, who runs for third time in less than a month seeking his hat-trick, and Callin Baton Rouge on a four-timer.
The latter has improved from a low base of 84 to the tune of two whole stone since joining current connections. It is fellow joint-bottom weight LETTERSTON LILY who looks worth another chance. She unseated at the first hurdle around Chepstow under an inexperienced rider the last day.
Sean Bowen is back aboard his father’s four-year-old filly, whose form ties in with Sharp Novices’ Hurdle favourite Gale Mahler and subsequent Persian War heroine Flying Fortune. The latter also hails from the yard. Letterston Lily looks well-weighted and the step back up in trip should suit.
Others to consider for the Cheltenham Showcase opener include course winner American Sniper, who had a pipe-opener at Chepstow. Racing off the same mark he won off here last November over further means he could be dangerous for David Pipe.
Of those making their reappearance, Henry Daly’s Listed April Meeting third Wyenot could be well-handicapped. Off an unchanged mark of 123, her placed effort behind the 143-rated Golden Ace, who previously won a Grade 2 at the Festival, reads well.
Push The Button is probably better than his course and distance fourth from The Showcase at Cheltenham 12 months ago. That form has worked out well and he beat a useful mare in Cherie D’Am next time out, but hasn’t raced since for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies.
1:50 – 2m Class 2 Novice Chase
Almost certain to go an Irish horse. Four of the five runners hail from the Emerald Isle, but Gordon Elliott’s SHECOULDBEANYTHING, who holds an alternative entry at Clonmel on home soil the day before, looks the one to be on.
She has done little wrong since switching to fences and, although penalised for Grade 3 success last time, holds fitness over main market rival Path D’Oroux. That one ran third in the Grand Annual over course and distance at the Festival for Gavin Cromwell.
Although Path D’Oroux receives 1lb in weight from Shecouldbeanything under the race conditions, he’s 0 from 10 in this sphere. The Elliott mare meets Joseph O’Brien runner San Salvador off the same terms as their Galway encounter.
He has since landed a Grade 3 after landing another subsequent scorer at that level during the Listowel Harvest Festival. Everything about 2023 Fred Winter winner Jazzy Matty, meanwhile, suggests he wants further than this if wins around Wexford and Sligo are any indicator.
Noble Anthem reversed past form with Dream Jet when scoring at Sedgefield last time out, but is in very deep water now. Adrian Keatley has other more obvious chances on The Showcase Cheltenham card than this.
2:25 – 2m Class 2 Handicap Chase
Triple Trade is one of two engaged for Joe Tizzard and back down to his last winning mark. That came at Ascot, however, where he jumped the last five lengths down and Harper’s Brook pulled himself up in front.
Harry Cobden rides Triple Trade, while stable jockey Brendan Powell is on Silver Trophy third Scarface. He may the need run, but drops back in trip from that placed effort at the April Meeting.
Two younger horses to note here are the locally-trained Matata for Twiston-Davies, plus Nicky Henderson five-year-old mare Arclight. Both have good bits of form, but the latter’s frontrunning style found him wanting here on New Year’s Day. Arclight has never raced left-handed over fences before.
3:00 – 2m Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle
She just keeps on winning for Keatley and can make this a magnificent seventh success on the spin. Gale Mahler is odds-on but very difficult to take on.
The entire field must give her a little bit of weight and her 135 rating sets a clear and obvious standard. Gale Mahler could go on from here into handicaps or even be back here in March for the Dawn Run.
If there’s to be an upset during The Showcase at Cheltenham, then the market suggests either Valgrand or Brave Knight.
Dan Skelton had the former in various other races at the meeting, but has decided to chance his arm in graded company. Valgrand won both of his hurdles outings in the spring after a good fourth in this grade in the Aintree Bumper.
Brave Knight, meanwhile, has hit a ha-trick over obstacles over the summer and saw the form of his latest success around Newton Abbot franked by the runner-up, Dodger Long. That one came out and landed a four-year-olds only handicap hurdle at Chepstow earlier this month.
Perth maiden winner Imaginarium makes his stable debut for the Olly Murphy yard here. He’s Flat-bred and from that sphere. The others make little appeal with Dancing In Paris tackling hurdles for the first time, but Ian Williams’ charge surely wants further.
3:35 – 3m 1f Class 3 Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Trappy. The obvious starting point is jockey bookings with Derek O’Connor partnering course winner Are U Wise To That, who won first time out over fences last season. He’s only 2lb higher than when landing a race on the New Course in December for Jonjo O’Neill.
John Gleeson, meanwhile, partners The Boola Boss, who has race fitness on his side. Rebecca Curtis’ charge should come on for his reappearance around Stratford earlier in the month. That makes The Boola Boss an each way contender at The Showcase.
Ross O’Sullivan sends CEANNDANA over from Ireland, however, and he did really well to win over a trip that was far too sharp the last day. A 9lb rise for Sligo success is largely offset by the booking of L P Shanahan, who takes 7lb off with his claim.
Any number of others are worth a look. Last year’s winner Mole Court has 10lb more on his back now for Ben Pauling and Jack Andrews. Kerry Lee’s Atlanta Brave has more to offer in staying handicap chases, meanwhile.
The Newest One is back over fences off his last winning mark for Twiston-Davies with Landen Calling only 1lb above Lincolnshire National success. Jacks Parrot is still a young horse and Strictlyadancer could take a big step forward for his reappearance fourth at Chepstow.
4:10 – 2m 4f Class 2 Novice Hurdle
Opposition include yet another local horse in the Twiston-Davies’ Worcester scorer Potters Charm. His unusual rear leg action is a slight worry. Elliott sends Minella Sixo over from Ireland, but he jumped right at Fairyhouse and the form has been let down.
First Confession makes his Rules debut for Tizzard here after winning an Irish Point. Cloonainra jumped poorly when beaten at Downpatrick over slightly further, so it’s the comeback trail for John McConnell’s mare here who previously showed promise.
4:45 – 2m Class 3 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
The Greatwood Hurdle, rather than The Showcase at Cheltenham, is a target for Fiercely Proud. He won’t get a penalty for winning this “boys’ race” under 10lb claimer Callum Pritchard. The Pauling runner looks sure to be a warm order to land this en route to next month’s Premier Handicap. Fiercely Proud also has Aucunrisque framing the weights.
At bigger prices, HERE COMES GEORGIE looks of each way interest. Patrick Neville’s dual Perth winner in recent months has some good pieces of form from last term. They include when chasing home subsequent Aintree Grade 1 third Bugise Seagull around Catterick, but also lowering the colours of Morebattle Hurdle hero Cracking Rhapsody at Carlisle.
Fergal O’Brien has a good record in this race, so Castel Gandolfo and Oslo will both have their supporters after a busy summer. Fils De Roi has a lengthy absence to overcome, though. Impero arrives at Cheltenham off the back of a win for Cian Collins, but also a savage rise from the handicapper.
Norman Fletcher is another Twiston-Davies inmate running at the yard’s local track, but this is no easier than the similar race he was seventh in during the April Meeting. Inca De Lafayette would appear better suited to running right-handed, meanwhile.
