Cheltenham Showcase: Irish Winners in Season Opener

The new season at Cheltenham got up and running with the traditional two-day Showcase Meeting on Friday and Saturday.

As always, the return of racing at the Cotswolds venue was warmly welcomed and signalled another notable road-stop as the National Hunt campaign builds pace.

There were two Irish winners from a plethora of runners across the two-day Cheltenham curtain raiser for the season, with Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead both hitting the target.

Willie Mullins, the champion trainer in Ireland and in Britain, sent just one horse to the Cotswolds and was out of luck with Chart Topper but don't be surprised if the Closutton maestro is living up to that billing by the time the spring rolls around again.

Three Card Brag finally pays off

The Elliott-trained Three Card Brag had run some big races in defeat over fences but still had just a Navan beginners' chase to show for his efforts despite mixing it with Grade 1 performers like Corbetts Cross and Spillane's Tower as he lined up at Cheltenham for the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase on Saturday.

He's finished 11th in the Aintree National in the spring and was eighth in the Galway Plate before finishing second in Kerry National on his three most recent starts.

Jack Kennedy always had Three Card Brag in a good position in this three-mile-one-furlong contest and they challenged three fences from home before seeing out the journey in good style to defy a handicap mark of 149 in an Irish-trained one-two as Emmet Mullins' Backmersackme finished second — with The Short Go (Henry De Bromhead) and Dunboyne (Ian Donoghue) making it four of the first five home for Ireland.

Three Card Brag picked up more than £50k in prize money and his owner, Max McNeill, suggested a return to Aintree in the Grand National would be on the cards, as well as mentioning next month's Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

Elliott, however, was holding fire but hugely encouraged by what he saw.

"We ran him in the Grand National and he didn't get home," the trainer said. "We'll get him back and see how he is but there are plenty of options and we'll choose where we go. He is a year older and he definitely looked to stay better there."

Three Card Brag is a general 40/1 chance with bookmakers for the Grand National on April 4th, 2026.

Across the two days, Elliott ran 11 horses at Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting, with the likes of Relieved Of Duties, Bowensonfire, Beaufort Scale, Pied Piper and Sporting Glory all running well in defeat for the Cullentra handler.

Zurich comes up trumps for De Bromhead

Henry De Bromhead also got on the scoresheet as Zurich won the William Hill Each Way Extra Novices' Limited Handicap Chase under his new stable jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.

With Rachael Blackmore now retired, O'Keefe is set for a major role this season at the Knockeen stable.

Zurich had opened his account over fences on seasonal return at Killarney earlier this month getting the verdict in the stewards' room, and he handled the step back up trip nicely to score from a 7lb mark (125), beating Anthony Honeyball's Crest Of Fortune into second spot.

The lightly-raced French import has scope for better and appears an improved model following his summer break.

"We felt, and hoped, this trip would suit him better. I was surprised at the price he was," said De Bromhead.

"He made a mistake with a circuit to go but, other than that, he looked brilliant and he was always in the right place. We will enjoy and discuss a plan afterwards."

Elsewhere, De Bromhead saw Jasko Des Dames finish second in the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, while The Short Go was an honourable fourth as Three Card Brag won the big handicap chase on day two.