There’s No Place Like Cheltenham
The October Showcase meeting is the starting point of the season. All the big tracks are kicking things off, but when you walk through those gates at Cheltenham there’s a different buzz, a different energy.
That’s nothing against the other tracks, it’s just different here.
Even though it’s a smaller meeting, every winner at Cheltenham is cheered home like a champion. For jockeys, trainers and owners, it doesn’t matter what meeting it is, a winner at Cheltenham is like nothing else.
I remember winning the opening race on the Friday of the October meeting a few years on Carnardier – it’s always such a buzz.
I often get asked which of my winners at Cheltenham meant the most, or gave me the biggest thrill, but that’s like picking between your children. Sprinter, Moscow, Kicking King, Bobs Worth, Epatante, Champ…they were all so special.
The Jumps is back!
— 888sport (@888sport) October 21, 2022
And there's no better @cheltenhamraces fixture for winning favs than the 888sport Showcase meeting, with 36% of jollies obliging since 2017.@BarryJGeraghty, who are you backing on today's card? pic.twitter.com/FUGzkhA31r
The Ground
Everyone knows how dry it’s been this summer and autumn, so hopefully they get some of the rain that’s forecast.
They’ve been watering for weeks and things can always go either way with the elements.
Cheltenham is so well drained that you pay for it when there’s a dry spell, but they’ve done absolutely everything they can and I’m really looking forward to what I’m sure will be some great racing.
Constitution Hill
I have a soft spot for all my old horses who are still racing like Epatante, but we have a really special family connection with Constitution Hill.
He’s as close as a pet to us that you can get. I went down to see him this summer with his owner Michael Buckley and he looked great.
He’s definitely strengthened up; he’s improved physically and hopefully that will translate to improvement in his ability. We’ll never forget his Supreme Novices’ win, what a day!
Cheltenham Friday Tips
The squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (2:10) is an interesting race where you can give chances to a few of them, but I would side with JETOILE.
He was only just touched off by Aucunrisque at Uttoxeter earlier this month and he’s 5lbs better off here.
Ash Tree Meadow was fourth in the Galway Plate two starts back, which is very strong form, but I wonder if he’s better over further than two miles.
In the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (2:45), SHE IS ELECTRIC looks like she will be hard to beat. She won well at Gowran the last day, likes decent ground and gets 4lbs off Music Drive.
All five have got some sort of a chance in the 888sport Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3:20), but you’d have to be impressed with what HANG IN THERE has done.
He’s four from five over fences and couldn’t have done it any easier at Newton Abbot the last day. He has the match practice as well as fitness and well-being on his side, so he’s the one for me.
Cheltenham Saturday Tips
The opening 888sport Novices’ Hurdle (1:30) looks quite open, but SAINT PALAIS is rated 148 over hurdles and 153 over fences.
This will be his first start of the season, but he won first time up last year and with a mark like that, and his level of experience, it’s hard to oppose him.
THE HOLLOW GINGE was only beaten a head in last year’s 888sport Is Made To Play Handicap Chase (2:05) and I think he can go one better here.
He was disappointing for the rest of last season but he’s now 10lbs lower than 12 months ago. Don’t forget he was a fine fourth to Cloth Cap in the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy. He goes well fresh and the Twiston-Davies yard normally does well at this meeting.
In the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2:40), there is very little, in fact nothing, between Knight Salute and PIED PIPER based on their Aintree run where they dead-heated before Knight Salute was awarded the race in the stewards’ room.
But I’d say Pied Piper has a bit more size and is open to more progression. He’d be a pretty strong fancy.
The 888sport Handicap Chase (3:15) is always a good race and I like EDITEUR DU GITE. He’s on the verge of Graded level and had some great form last season.
He won at both the November and December meetings and was then a fine fourth to Global Citizen in the Grand Annual.
He’s the one to beat, but Effernock Fizz also offers some value. She has improved a lot since moving to Cian Collins and won the Welsh Champion Hurdle the other day.
Pertemps Qualifiers (3:50) are normally hard puzzles to solve, but even more so when there are 18 runners. The one who interests me here is AN TAILLIUR for Jonjo [O’Neill].
He was second to Marie’s Rock at Kempton over Christmas and then won well at Haydock in April. He has a good level of form, Jonjo’s horses are running well and as a six-year-old, he can still find some more improvement.
There’s a small but select field for the Jim Wilson Memorial Novices’ Chase (4:25). LIFE IN THE PARK has won all three starts this year and was very good in Listowel on his chasing debut last month.
Like a lot of Henry’s [De Bromhead], he looked to improve for going over fences. I like him but you also have to respect Mahler Mission who won a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January.
That probably wasn’t the strongest race, but John McConnell does well when bringing his horses over to England.
The finale (5:00) looks like an interesting bumper and I will be going with STRONG LEADER for Olly Murphy.
He bolted up on debut in Warwick in May and is very well bred by Westerner out of a mare who was a half sister to Hennessy winner Strong Flow.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 21st October 2022
