CHELTENHAM NH OCTOBER MEETING DAY TWO - SATURDAY 26th OCTOBER

TWO DAY CHELTENHAM 'SHOWCASE' MEETING
26th OCTOBER 2019

Day Two of the opening season fixture at the home of NH racing, yes the wait is finally over as the days begin to get shorter and the crisp mornings return, so what will Saturday bring us with the many already looking ahead to March and the Festival itself, what clues will this weekend give us. Coverage will be on ITV during the afternoon, after we've had the rugby on earlier, so a full day of sporting action to enjoy. 

With jockeys, trainers, owners and racegoers alike making their season debut at The Showcase meeting, it is like Christmas has come a few months early as the famous gates open on for day two on Saturday 26th October and we are set fair for another extraordinary season.

We will get underway on Saturday at 2pm with a Handicap Chase over 3m 1f+ and should conclude around 5:30pm with a NH Flat race over 2m.

2:00 The ‘Matchbook Betting Exchange’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
3m 1f [20 runners]
The opeing event on Saturday has a field of twenty, will be run at a decent pace and could go to any of them, THE YOUNG MASTER [Non Runner] goes well here, also best when first time out too while Dan Skelton runs three of his the best of which appears to be top weight COBRA DE MAI [Non Runner] with Harry Skelton booked to ride. At a decent price MINDSMADEUP also makes plenty of appeal in a wide open race.

Winner - THE CONDITIONAL 14/1.

2:35 The Masterson Holdings Hurdle Race (Class 2)
2m ½f [9 runners]
Good quality 4yo hurdle event up next for us to review, Paul Nicholls always to be feared on the Saturday and he has QUEL DESTIN [WON 7/2] a five time winner last season including here should be well schooled to start his 4yo campaign and support in the betting would enhance that. 

Danger comes from the likes of TORPILLO the Nigel Twiston-Davies has already shown his well being winning first time up and has top connections too.

Winner - QUEL DESTIN 7/2.

3:10 The Randox Health Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
2m [11 runners].
A very open contest now where they go 5/1 the field and that market is headed by McGROARTY for trainer Dr Richard Newland, won his last three, will certainly be popular. Paul Nicholls runs both CAPELAND a three time winner last season but only eighth in the JLT Novices Chase here at the festival, and also runs BRELAN D'AS. . 

Winner -  SAINT CALVADOS 5/2f.

3:45 The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 2)
3m [13 runners]
The usually reliable SYKES was unfortunate not to win this race last year and clearly likes the course so seems to have another outstanding chance to shine, while the 6yo Scottish raider AYE RIGHT  [Non Runner] travels south on the back of two wins with Richard Johnson in the saddle who again has been booked to ride. 

The bottom weight NEVERBEEN TO PARIS gets all the weight allowances going as a 4yo and is fit from a summer campaign while Bryony Frost in the saddle is also a plus.

Winner - TOBEFAIR 8/1.

4:20 The Randox Health Novices’ Hurdle Race (Class 2)
3m [5 runners]
Just the five runners for this Novice Hurdle and a race where I expect a strong run from THE BUTCHER SAID has won last four contests and up 21lb as a result but the run might not come to an end just yet and three miles should be within this 6yo's grasp. The Irish challenger MACGILONEY could be the one to give the selection most to think about and has had a busy summer campaign with regular wins, probably not come here for the weather.

Winner - RAMSES DE TEILLEE 8/11f .

4:55 The Matchbook Best Value Betting Exchange Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 2)
2m 4f [9 runners]
SECRET INVESTOR [Non Runner] represents a major player from a top yard while the small race WHATMORE won at Market Rasen at least shows he's in form and fit to run another sound race for Henry Daly.

Winner - SLATE HOUSE 3/1.

5:30 The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Standard Open NH Flat Race (Class 2)
2m ½f [20 runners]
Our finale here is a bumper, not usually a race I'd be that interested in but with the big yards sending in the likes of THE NEWEST ONE and TIME FLIES BY [WON 13/2] the future might be clearer once these go over hurdles. For me a race to watch maybe take a few notes but not a betting proposition yet.

Winner - TIME FLIES BY 13/2.

That's all for this meeting but the racing comes around quickly and we will be back here at Cheltenham in about three weeks for their November 'Countryside' meeting which starts on Friday 15th November and also includes the Bet Victor Gold Cup on the Saturday and a family themed day on the Sunday with the Greatwood Hurdle the feature.