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- Cheltenham Showcase Day One: Key Irish Runners
Cheltenham Showcase Day One: Key Irish Runners
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© Healy Racing Photos
Cheltenham’s first fixture of the season kicks off on Friday and there is a significant amount of Irish representation on Day 1, with 19 Irish-trained horses across the seven races.
Most of the big guns are represented and there’s some decent prize money on offer.
We’ve selected four of the most interesting runners and we’re going to assess their chances of coming out on top. These include a 2025 Cheltenham Festival winner and one Gordon Elliott runner with a massive chance.
1.15 - Jazzy Matty
Cian Collins’ stable star JAZZY MATTY provided the trainer with a first Cheltenham Festival winner in the Grand Annual here in March and that was a second Festival success for the horse, who had previously won the juvenile handicap hurdle for Gordon Elliott two years before.
Course form is a big factor here at Cheltenham, as the stiff finish doesn’t play to the strengths of every horse.
Clearly Jazzy Matty is a fan, however, and it also helps that he’s able to perform over fences and hurdles, as well as at different trips.
He struggled a bit at the Punchestown Festival and was outstayed in the Galway Plate, but this looks like a much more suitable task and his hurdles mark is much more forgiving.
1.152m. 3f. 200yds. 20 Declared.
William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 ) of £25,000.00 3-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €13,202.00 2nd - €6,075.00 3rd - €3,038.00 4th - €1,520.00 5th - €758.00 Going - Good to Soft.
Formscan - This has gone the way of a five-year-old in three of the last five renewals and FRENCH SHIP is fancied to improve that trend. The son of French Navy was well in contention when falling just after the third-last in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow earlier this month and goes off an unchanged rating. East India Express bolted up at this venue when last seen, to make it three wins from his last four starts, and has to be respected. Jazzy Matty and The Expensive One are just two others to consider.
Odds Shortening 
Odds Lengthening
- Odds
4/1
4/1
4/1 10:25
4/1 4/1 10:20
7/2
4/1
4/1
4/1
4/1 4/1 10:00
4/1
9/2
4/1
9/2
15/4
4/1
4/1
4/1
4/1 9/2- Odds
9/1 8/1 10:379/2 8/1 10:2015/2 7/1 11:48
6/1 11/2 12/1- Odds
12/112/1 14/1 09:3010/1 18/1 16/1 20/1 14/1 18/1- Odds
20/1 20/1 12:4918/1 20/1 10:5018/1 18/1 12:48 33/1- Odds
25/1 20/1 09:2533/1 25/1 09:5025/1 25/1 10:00 40/1 28/1 50/1 50/1 100/1- Odds
100/1125/180/1 66/1 11:481.50 - King Of Kingsfield
© Healy Racing Photos
The conditions of this race suit KING OF KINGSFIELD nicely and he was a comfortable winner in Grade 3 company at Punchestown earlier this month.
Used primarily as a pacemaker for Brighterdaysahead last season, he’s a talented horse in his own right and looks like the one to beat.
Gordon Elliott’s gelding has won three of his four starts over fences this summer and couldn’t be in better form.
Jack Kennedy heads over to take the ride and victory looks there for the taking. Country Mile is the biggest threat on ratings and there apparently isn’t much in it.
1.501m. 7f. 199yds. 7 Declared.
Holland Cooper 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2 ) of £40,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €21,784.00 2nd - €10,036.00 3rd - €5,016.00 4th - €2,512.00 Going - Good to Soft.
Formscan - Alnilam beat Country Mile by over three lengths on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter, making every yard of the running, and Olly Murphy's charge can confirm that form to go close. However, KING OF KINGSFIELD struck in Grade 3 company at Punchestown on his most recent start and sets the standard. Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old has finished in the places at the top level over the smaller obstacles and could be a class above.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  Open->Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 1st | Alnilam | 7/2 9/4 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 2/1 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 9/4 |
6 | 3rd | Country Mile | 9/4 | 9/4 | 11/4 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 2/1 | 11/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 9/4 | |
2 | p.u. | King Of Kingsfield | 10/3 | 4/1 | 3/1 | 3/1 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 9/2 | 7/2 | 4/1 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 3/1 | 7/2 | 7/2 | 3/1 18/5 | |
7 | 5th | Cloonainra | 18/1 15/2 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 15/2 | 9/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 17/2 | 17/2 | 17/2 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 | |
3 | 4th | Addragoole | 13/2 10/1 | 11/1 | 11/1 | 8/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 | 11/1 | 11/1 | 11/1 | 10/1 | 11/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 | 9/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 | 9/1 10/1 |
5 | 2nd | Relieved Of Duties | 8/1 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 10/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 | |
1 | p.u. | Centara | 18/1 25/1 | 22/1 | 28/1 | 18/1 | 22/1 | 22/1 | 28/1 | 22/1 | 22/1 | 37/1 | 28/1 | 25/1 | 28/1 | 28/1 | 22/1 | 22/1 | 22/1 | 20/1 28/1 |
| Betting Percentage | 114% | 112% | 117% | 114% | 114% | 113% | 116% | 115% | 115% | 115% | 114% | 114% | 114% | |||||||
| Each-Way Terms | 2 1/4 | 3 1/5 | 2 1/4 | 2 1/4 | 2 1/4 | 2 1/4 | 3 1/5 | 2 1/4 | 3 1/5 | 2 1/4 | 3 5 | 2 1/4 | 2 1/4 | |||||||
9/4 18/5- Odds
8/1 8/1 13:258/1 9/1 13:408/1 8/1 13:36 10/1- Odds
11/111/1 10/1 13:4011/1Centara 8 28/1- Odds
22/1 25/1 08:3728/122/1 25/1 11:132.25 - Torquay Road
Cian Collins is forging an impressive reputation for himself and he’s highly regarded amongst the Irish training ranks.
Conditional jockey Eoin Staples has had an excellent campaign thus far and he is set to take the ride on TORQUAY ROAD, offering up a 3lb allowance.
Torquay Road has really turned a corner recently and he returned to winning ways with a cosy success at Sligo in August.
Staples was on board when the gelding followed up at Galway earlier this month and it would be unwise to rule out further progress here.
2.252m. 87yds. 12 Declared.
Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3 ) of £20,000.00 3-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €10,562.00 2nd - €4,860.00 3rd - €2,430.00 4th - €1,216.00 5th - €606.00 Going - Good to Soft.
Formscan - Rubber Ball progressed in each of his first five starts under Rules before finding Grade 1 company too big an ask at Aintree in April. He now makes his handicap debut and needs considering, but the vote goes to KING WILLIAM RUFUS. The eight-year-old was successful in this grade here when last seen and returns off just a 4lb higher rating. If he is ready to go, he could prove hard to beat. The hat-trick seeking Torquay Road and Cavern Club aren't ruled out either.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening
9/2- Odds
4/1 11/2 14:019/29/2 11/2 14:01- Odds
9/2 4/1 14:139/2 9/2 14:109/2 9/2 14:01 9/2- Odds
9/2 7/1 14:015/1 8/1 14:109/2 15/2 14:12 6/1 7/1- Odds
7/1 5/1 14:017/1 11/2 14:007/1 5/1 14:12 10/1 33/1 20/1 28/13.35 - Jasko Des Dames
Henry de Bromhead is sending just one runner over to Cheltenham on Friday and he won this race back in 2023 with Dancing On My Own.
JASkO DES DAMES ran an absolute cracker to finish fifth in the Grand Annual on just his fifth start over fences.
We can probably expect further progress this year with that in mind and he finished second on seasonal debut at Listowel last month.
The six-year-old is likely to step forward for the run and he has a great chance to take home a large slice of the £100,000 prize fund.
3.351m. 7f. 199yds. 9 Declared.
squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2 ) of £100,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €52,030.00 2nd - €23,920.00 3rd - €11,960.00 4th - €5,980.00 5th - €2,990.00 6th - €1,490.00 Going - Good to Soft.
Formscan - The value may lie with BROOKIE, who took his form to a new level when runner-up in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree before ending his season with a respectable fourth at the Punchestown Festival. The last time he tackled a handicap, Anthony Honeyball's charge scored comfortably at Doncaster and, despite being 19lb higher, he can get back to winning ways. Calico had Matata narrowly behind when landing this contest last year and he should be able to uphold that form in receipt of 18lb from the top-weight. Jasko Des Dames will need to improve on the jumping front, but he showed up well when second on his return at Listowel.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Open->Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 2nd | Jasko Des Dames | 2/1 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 9/4 | 5/2 9/4 | |
1 | 7th | Matata | 4/1 5/2 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 3/1 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 11/4 | 5/2 11/4 |
5 | 1st | Calico | 4/1 11/2 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 9/2 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 6/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | 5/1 | |
3 | 3rd | Brookie | 11/1 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 9/1 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 13/2 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 11/1 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 9/1 | 7/1 | 7/1 | 11/1 7/1 | |
8 | 4th | Traprain Law | 13/2 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 7/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 8/1 | 8/1 | 15/2 | 7/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 6/1 | 15/2 | 15/2 | 13/2 15/2 | |
6 | p.u. | Third Time Lucki | 10/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 11/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 16/1 | 14/1 | 10/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 10/1 | 14/1 | 14/1 | 10/1 14/1 | |
2 | 5th | Unexpected Party | 14/1 22/1 | 20/1 | 18/1 | 16/1 | 22/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 22/1 | 16/1 | 22/1 | 16/1 | 18/1 | 22/1 | 16/1 | 16/1 | 22/1 16/1 |
4 | p.u. | Uncle Phil | 16/1 33/1 | 20/1 | 66/1 | 40/1 | 25/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 50/1 | 40/1 | 89/1 | 40/1 | 28/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 22/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 25/1 40/1 |
9 | 6th | Dr T J Eckleburg | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 33/1 | 49/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 | ||
| Betting Percentage | 121% | 114% | 116% | 117% | 116% | 116% | 116% | 118% | 116% | 118% | 116% | 116% | 116% | |||||||
| Each-Way Terms | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | ||||||
9/4Matata 8 11/4- Odds
5/2 5/2 15:1311/4 11/4 15:1011/4 5/2 15:12Calico 10- Odds
5/1 11/2 14:495/1 11/2 14:405/1 15/2 14/1 16/1- Odds
20/1 20/1 14:1318/116/1 22/1 15:24 40/1- Odds
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