Day two of Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting takes place on Saturday 25th October, and the seven race card should throw up some sparkling betting heats. Our GG tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form and picked out his best Cheltenham tips for the stellar Saturday card.
1.15 Cheltenham – William Hill Each Way Extra Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
A winning Irish pointer, NEWTON TORNADO finally broke his duck under Rules at the fifth time of asking when landing a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las back in April. Now, the Rebecca Curtis-trained six-year-old will make his first start over fences in the opening Cheltenham contest at 1.15pm, and it’s this discipline that he can really sparkle in this season. Handed an official rating of 120, he will be up against some more experienced novices in this contest, but if he can improve for the switch to the larger obstacles then he could be more than capable of landing this competitive-looking curtain-raiser.
2.20 Cheltenham – William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase
When he landed victory in the Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase at Newbury back in November 2023, INCH HOUSE looked to be a hugely progressive staying chaser for Paul Nicholls, but whilst he put up a bold effort when second to Stumptown at Cheltenham on his following run, he’s since then been hugely disappointing. Last seen pulling up at Newbury in December, the Ditcheat inmate will make his return to the track for this time, and if he can recapture some of that old form then he looks very attractively handicapped off a mark of 132. He will face some proven performers in this event, but a return to the undulations of Prestbury Park should bring on improvement and he could be a shock each-way contender at massive odds. Nicholls has already suggested he feels he warrants an entry in the Coral Gold Cup, so he has to run well to earn his right to line up there.
2.55 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen have been in absolutely tremendous form in recent weeks and the deadly duo can team up again on Saturday with LONG DRAW, who can bound to victory in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at 2.55pm. An impressive two-length winner at Cheltenham two outings ago off a mark of 128, he takes his chance off 138 for this contest, but he showed when third in a top 3m handicap hurdle at Newbury off 134 that he’s still on the upgrade. He rocketed up the hill at Cheltenham back in April, and he could be one that continues to improve over hurdles this season, and he can kick off his campaign with a win.
4.05 Cheltenham – William Hill Extra Places With BOG ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase
A strong Irish contingent will take their chance in the penultimate novices’ chase at 4.05pm with the triumvirate of Pied Piper, Anyway and Intense Approach all looking notable challengers. However, this contest can go the way of Britain and Paul Nicholls, who can land the prize with WELCOM TO CARTRIES. Runner-up in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster earlier in his career, the seven-year-old was deemed good enough to compete in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Fourth that day, he was last seen finishing fourth over hurdles back in March, but Nicholls has elected to return him to fences and he could bounce back to form here. This is certainly a lot easier than that Kempton contest, where he was a little rushed off his feet at times, but with a slower pace expected here he can get into a decent rhythm and show his class in the closing stages.
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