Cheltenham Showcase: Important Information

With the 2023 Showcase getting underway on Friday, here we take a look at all you need to know ahead of the racing getting underway.

The 2023 Cheltenham Showcase is just a matter of hours away from finally getting underway at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday afternoon. This race meeting takes place over two days, from Friday 27th October to Saturday 28th October 2023.

Excitement and anticipation is growing ahead of this event for various reasons. The racing will be enthralling, and there will also be experienced horses and rising stars going head to head for glory in every race, making it even more exciting and enjoyable to watch.

This event will effectively be the curtain raiser for the jump racing season. There will be seven races taking place on both Friday and Saturday. Friday will begin with the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle before concluding with the Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle.

As for Saturday, the EPIC Value at William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase will get the action underway, with it being the Cheltenham & South West Racing Club Open National Hunt Flat Race that will end proceedings not only for day two but also the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase as a whole.

Here, we will look at all of the races set to grace the famous Cheltenham Racecourse over the course of Friday and Saturday this week, starting with the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race on Day One.

The Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race (Friday, 13:35)

This will be the race to get day one of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase underway. In 2022, Soul Icon, ridden by Harry Kimber, won the race ahead of competition from Calico and Nayati, who had to settle for second and third place, respectively.

18 horses will take part in the 2023 edition of this race. They are: Afadil, Shetland Tony, Black Poppy, Teddy Blue, Royal Eagle, Castel Gandolfo, Alien Storm, Our Champ, Clarens, Glorious Zoff, Ballygeary, Bukhill, Coolnaugh Haze, Feel The Pinch, Great Bear, Jason The Militant, Elham Valley and Ithaka.

The squareintheair.com Novice’s Steeple Chase (Friday, 14:10)

The Novice’s Steeple Chase will follow as Friday’s second race. Straw Fan Jack, ridden by jockey Sean Houlihan, secured victory in the most recent running of this race in 2022, and it was Ash Tree Meadow and Sole Pretender who rounded off the race’s top three.

For 2023, 4 horses will take part, and they will be as follows: My Mate Mozzie, Jetronic, Al Zaraqaan and Walk In Clover.

The Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle (Friday, 14:45)

The third race on Day One of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase will be the Novices’ Hurdle. Back in 2022, Luca Morgan, on board Mofasa, won the most recent running of this race after successfully fending off competition from The Wounded Knee and Music Drive in second and third place, respectively.

9 horses will be going head to head for victory in the 2023 edition of this race, and they will be: El Elefante, Tag Man, Encanto Bruno, Mel Monroe, Isaac Des Obeaux, Katate Dori, Push The Button, Everyonesgame and Here Comes Georgie.

2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Friday, 15:20)

The next race on Day One will be the 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. Back in 2022, the winner of this edition of the Handicap Chase was Found On, ridden by Jockey Sean Bowen. Champagne Gold and Pull Again Green provided competition but finished in second and third place.

Now, in 2023, no less than 11 horses are set to take part, and they will be as follows: Ginny’s Destiny, Moon Hunter, Passing Well, Idalko Bihoue, Atlanta Brave, Hurricane Bay, Way Out, Downtown Queen, Mr Saxobeat, Railway Hurricane and Latino Fling.

Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle (Friday, 15:55)

The Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle is set to be the third to last race for Friday. Seddon, ridden by Ben Harvey, won the most recent running of this race back in 2022. Fontana Ellissi and Onagatheringstorm filled the remaining spots in the top three.

This year, 8 horses will take part in the 2023 edition of this race, and they will be: Toto Too, Kamsinas, Williethebuilder, Act Of Authority, Lookaway, Idy Wood, Parade Away and Enthused.

Close Brothers Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Friday, 16:30)

Now we move on to the penultimate race of day one of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase, which will be the Close Brothers Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. In 2022, Jimmy The Digger, ridden by Alice Stevens, emerged victorious, with Anightinlambourn and Cardboard Gangster settling for a second and third place finish, respectively.

Now, in 2023, no less than 20 horses will be taking part. They will be what follows: Strictlyadancer, Mole Court, Tim Pat, Arctic Ambition, Bells Of Peterboro, Bella Bliss, Destiny Is All, Herewegohoney, Menindee, One True King, Court Master, Jony Max, Almazhar Garde, Enemenemynemo, Good Work, Wick Green, Innisfree Lad, Light Flicker, Midnight Our Fred and Calipso Collonges.

Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap (Friday, 17:05)

The seventh and final race of Day One (Friday) will be the 2023 Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle. Simon Torrens rode Fennor Cross to victory in the 2022 running of this race, followed by Deere Mark and Commander Of Ten, who finished second and third in the final standings, respectively.

Now, in 2023, a total of 16 horses are set to take part, and they are going to be: Lallygag, Rocky Man, Serious Operator, Angels Breath, Kansas City Star, Soul Icon, Bucko’s Boy, Rambo T, Stringtoyourbow, Arabian King, Building Bridges, Milkwood, Elogio, Thirtyfourstitches, Pinnacle Peak and Moneynabane.

Now we will look at the next 7 races that are set to take place on Saturday 28th October 2023, starting with the EPIC Value At William Hill Handicap Chase.

EPIC Value At William Hill Handicap Chase (Saturday, 13:15)

The second and final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase will open with the EPIC Value At William Hill Handicap Chase. Lord Accord, ridden by Richie McLernon, won in 2022 ahead of The Wolf and Captain Cattistock in second and third.

Now, in 2023, there will be 12 runners in this race, and they will be: Haddex Des Obeaux, Red Rookie, Before Midnight, Guy, Dancing On My Own, Triple Trade, Notlongtillmay, In Excelsis Deo, The Dasher Conway, Royale Margaux, Prince Escalus and Madara.

Masterson Holdings Hurdle (Saturday, 13:50)

The Masterson Holdings Hurdle will follow as the second race on day two, and the most recent running of this race at Cheltenham Racecourse was won by Pied Piper, ridden by Jack Kennedy, in 2022. Knight Salute and Bella Scintilla filled the other two spots in the top three.

There will be 8 runners for this year’s edition of the race in 2023, and they are going to be: Blueking D’Oroux, Spirit D’Aunou, Bois Guillbert, Punta Del Este, Mr Mackay, Chaos Control, Jilaijone and Bojak.

EPIC Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase (Saturday, 14:25)

The third race on Saturday will see 14 horses take to the Cheltenham track for the 2023 Handicap Chase. Rewind to 2022, and the most recent winner of this race is Dads Lad, who, ridden by Jockey Brian Hayes, managed to fend off competition from Effernock Fizz (2nd Place) and Editeur Du Gite (3rd Place) to claim victory.

Taking part in the 2023 edition of this race will be: Quick Draw, Lord Accord, Undersupervision, Amirite, Twig, Kinondo Kwetu, Brief Times, Hidden Heroics, Whacker Clan, The Wolf, Mister Fogpatches, Wayfinder, Yes Indeed and Swapped.

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Saturday, 15:00)

The fourth race on day two of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase Meeting is set to be the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle. In the 2022 running of this race, Shoot First, ridden by Jockey Philip Byrnes, took victory ahead of Botox Has and An Tailliur in second and third place.

Our very own Party Business, ridden by Charlie Todd, will be taking part in this race, as will: Bugs Moran, We’llhavewan, Hugos New Horse, Ringdufferin, Hyland, Dubrovnik Harry, Judicial Law, Bashful Boy, Gortmillish, Moonovercloon, Bangers And Cash, Hurricane Harvey, Spike Jones, Espoir De Romay, Jet Of Magic, Rock My Way, Willaston, American Sniper and Flight Deck.

William Hill EPIC Weekend Free Bet Novices’ Hurdle (Saturday, 15:35)

The 2023 Novices’ Hurdle is set to follow the Handicap Hurdle as the third to last race on day two of this year’s Cheltenham Showcase Meeting. Adrian Heskin rode Shearer to victory in the 2022 race, finishing ahead of Twig and The Moon Sea’s Me in second and third place, respectively.

Only six horses are participating in the 2023 Novices Hurdle: Butch, Lisnamult Lad, Antrim Coast, Reverend Hubert, Track And Trace and Thirtyfour Thirty.

William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices’ Chase (Saturday, 16:10)

Four horses will be taking part in the 2023 Novices’ Chase, which is set to be the penultimate race of day two and the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase Meeting as a whole. The winner of this race in 2022 was Chemical Energy, ridden by Jockey Davy Russell.

As for 2023, this year’s Novices’ Chase runners will be: Toss Again, Broadway Boy, Flooring Porter and Weveallbeencaught.

Cheltenham & South West Racing Club Open National Hunt Flat Race (Saturday, 16:45)

The seventh and final race of the 2023 Cheltenham Showcase Meeting is set to be the Cheltenham & South West Racing Club Open National Hunt Flat Race. Tom Scudamore, on board Encanto Bruno won the 2022 race ahead of Strong Leader and Thecompanysergeant in second and third.

Now, in 2023, the 18 runners in the final race of this year’s Cheltenham Showcase Meeting will be: The Kemble Brewery, Willsburg, Ballyvango, Call To Duty, Catch Yourself On, Celtic Dino, Hawk Stone, Highway One O Five, Itseemslikeit, Jackson Lamb, Martin Plage, Soir De Gala, Stay If U Want To, Strong Foundations, The Northernlights, Tout Sur Moi, Valgrand and Betty’s Tiara.

Excitement and anticipation for the racing that is set to get underway at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday afternoon is building.

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