The return of the core National Hunt season means the Cheltenham Showcase 2025 fixture on Friday, 24 and Saturday, 25 October with fans flocking to the home of jumps racing. This two-day meeting is a beginning, if nothing else.
With talk in the build-up about moving the Cheltenham Festival schedule to a Wednesday through Saturday in future, debate rages. There’s tradition on one hand and moving into line with other major horse racing galas on the other. Big Flat fixtures like Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood finish on a Saturday, so why not the premier jumps action from Prestbury Park?
It divides opinion, but what isn’t in dispute is punters will hope to find some early 2026 Festival clues from the Cheltenham Showcase of 2025. We set our experts the task of looking at Friday’s card, plus some Saturday selections from the best of the action.
Over the two days, there is the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, four-year-olds only Masterson Holding Hurdle and lots of handicaps over both sets of obstacles. Combining form study with the prices available on Cheltenham betting sites gives you an idea of the horses to follow. Read all about our experts’ fancies below…
Cheltenham Showcase 2025 Day 1 Preview for Friday, 24 October
1:15 – 2m 3f 200y Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
It’s a comfortable winning handicap debut for Navajo Indy in the Gerry Feilden at @NewburyRacing for @symondsracing and @GavinSheehan92! pic.twitter.com/nQ2UbFdbDA
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 30, 2024
Value lies elsewhere, then, and Gerry Feilden scorer NAVAJO INDY fits the bill. Off just 1lb higher than his subsequent Newbury third to Joyeuse in another Premier Handicap, Tom Symonds’ charge also has a good record first time out after a break. Navajo Indy will probably be played late by Gavin Sheehan, but the step up in trip should also suit him, based on how he shaped last season.
French Ship fell at Chepstow a fortnight ago, but can’t be worse for the tumble as he turns out quickly. Philip Hobbs & Johnson White replace Micheal Nolan with Ben Jones in the saddle, and he poses a big threat. Grand Annual winner Jazzy Matty went close at this meeting 12 months ago over fences and, on the pick of his chasing form, looks well-treated over hurdles for Irish handler Cian Collins.
Fellow Emerald Isle raiders Bowensonfire and Montecam have less to recommend them. Emma Lavelle books Harry Cobden for the ride on Classic King, meanwhile. Lower down the handicap, The Expensive One has an attractive weight for the local Twiston-Davies yard. Dan Skelton runs two in Service Minimum and Supreme Yeats.
1:50 – 1m 7f 199y Class 2 Novice Chase
The King 👑
Favourite King Of Kingsfield stays on best to land the Grade 3 @BetVictor Novice Chase and make it three wins over fences.
Hard work, but he got there! 👊@gelliott_racing | @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/UOc96U0vPe
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 15, 2025
Relieved Of Duties also represents Cullentra House on Cheltenham Showcase 2025 day 1 here and landed his own chasing bow at Fairyhouse. Jack Kennedy rides King Of Kingsfield, however, with Danny Gilligan taking over on the stable’s second string. Uttoxeter 1-2 Alnilam and Country Mile meet again with Olly Murphy’s charge 5lb worse off with the Skelton runner.
That swing in weight should bring the pair closer together with the latter stripping fitter for the run. Gavin Cromwell, who won this in each of the last two seasons, has a runner here too in Addragoole. He’s improved with each of his outings over fences, bumping into a useful one at Galway on his penultimate outing in Stayers’ Hurdle fifth Rocky’s Diamond.
Cloonaira is yet another Irish raider, but she didn’t fire at this meeting 12 months ago when a distant fourth to Potters Charm. Bottom weight off the back of a successful bow over fences around Listowel doesn’t hurt her chances, though. Centara has made hay over the summer with five wins in this sphere, but it’s a different ballgame to Newton Abbot.
2:25 – 2m 87y Class 3 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
8/1 WINNER! 🚀
King William Rufus wins the last at Cheltenham under a great ride from Charlie Maggs! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/LhZm1VqGIA
— Andrew Finn | FinnDog (@FinnDogTips) April 16, 2025
Others to consider in this conditional jockeys’ event on Cheltenham Showcase 2025 day 1 include those who contested a similar race on the New Course in April. King William Rufus just did enough off an effective 9lb lower mark then, so that brings nearest at the finish fifth Liverpool Knight into consideration. Fergal O’Brien has daughter Fern taking 3lb off and he’s 2lb lower in the weights now.
Just behind Liverpool Knight that day was Norman Fletcher for the Twiston-Davies team. He’s down a couple of lbs too and wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow on reappearance. James Turner’s claim is down to 3lb now, though. James Owen’s Summer Handicap Hurdle hero Cavern Club ran a blinder in defeat at the November Meeting last season.
His staying on fourth back around Market Rasen suggests he could go well here under stable conditional Alex Chadwick. Charging Thunder also represents the same stable, while Cian Collins runs a couple too. From that pair, Torquay Road is the horse in form following consecutive wins at Sligo and Galway. He’s up 18lb with the BHA handicapper, though.
3:00 – 2m 87y Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle
Run For Mahler held off a decent fellow female in Qualimita, twice third in Listed company including at the Dublin Racing Festival. Prior to that Thurles battle, she chased home Carrigmoornaspruce on her hurdling debut around Listowel. Other British runners have a lot more on their plates than before here as well with Fergal O’Brien inmate Jack Hyde down in trip after disappointing in the Persian War.
Murphy pitches the four-year-old Sir Galahad in these deep waters as well. The Last Cloud has won races up north for Patrick Neville, meanwhile, but has a big step up in Class now. John McConnell sends Jackson Lamb over on a hat-trick, but his form doesn’t match the selection’s at home in Ireland. It looks a big ask for the remainder.
3:35 – 1m 7f 199y Class 2 Handicap Chase
Henry De Bromhead often sends one over from the Emerald Isle for this race on Cheltenham Showcase 2025 day 1. In Jasko Des Dames, he has the Grand Annual fifth and one who finished behind Unexpected Party for Skelton at the Festival. That one lacks a recent run and Harry Atkins takes 7lb off with his claim. The yard also has last season’s winner Calico back to defend his crown off 4lb higher.
Neither of Skelton’s runners has the potential for further progress still open to six-year-old Jasko Des Dames, though. Elsewhere, Anthony Honeyball saddles Brookie, who scored first time out over fences last term and held his own in Grade 1 novice events in the spring. Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore send Traprain Law down from Scotland, but he has ground to make up from the Grand Annual.
4:10 – 2m 3f 200y Class 2 Novice Hurdle
DIFFERENT GEAR 🌬️
Davy Crockett, a son of Annie Power, maintains his unbeaten record with considerable ease.
How high can this boy fly? 🟩🟨⬜️@ListowelRaces | @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/NCDZkn1FRi
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 24, 2025
Worcester Fixed Brush Novices’ Final winner Don Virginia represents Jonjo O’Neill, meanwhile, but has different obstacles to jump on Cheltenham Showcase 2025 day 1. He made virtually all in a rout in the West Midlands under Richie McLernon last time, but does have a penalty here. So does Collins’ Sporting Glance, who could be worth forgiving a first flight fall last time.
Dalston Lad makes hurdling bow for the Skeltons, meanwhile. Percy Shelley walked over last time, so there isn’t much jumping experience on show from among the home team apart from the O’Neill runner and Martin Keighley’s De Temps En Temps. Etna Blanco and Leader Crik also make their debuts and are best watched.
Cheltenham Showcase 2025 Day 2 Preview for Saturday, 25 October
1:45 – 2m 7f 203y Class 2 Novice Hurdle
Pour Les Filles made all in a Downpatrick maiden earlier this month over 2m 6f, but could have even more to offer over another quarter of a mile. John McConnell targets this meeting every season, so Minella Supreme could be a big threat if building on his Kilbeggan victory here. Catchintsavo finished ahead of Conman John in an extended Punchestown Festival bumper.
The latter has come out and landed a Kelso novice with Great Fleet back in third for the Skeltons. Winning Irish pointers Inishcorker and Kasino Des Mottes could make their Rules bows, while Island Bridge represents the Cheltenham local stables of Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls.
2:20 – 3m 1f Class 2 Handicap Chase
Disappointing start to the day, not sure Peaky Boy stays the 3 miles, a drop back suit him more. Fair play to the winner Haiti Couleurs jumped beautifully, Transmission shouldn’t be slept on either stayed on well from miles back pic.twitter.com/s5ZcgW6Dkr https://t.co/1ClN7CsDFR
— Frick’s tips (@frickstips) December 14, 2024
Although 3lb higher in the handicap now, Transmission twice bumped into one of the leading Cheltenham horses of last season in Haiti Couleurs and ran with credit when runner-up at the December meeting and fifth in the National Hunt Chase. On that latter occasion, he also finished behind Rock My Way for Joe Tizzard. It isn’t clear before final declarations if that yard intends to run both that one and The Changing Man.
Malina Girl has gone well in staying handicaps for Cromwell in the past, so isn’t out of it either for all she might need further. Other course winners include topweight Pied Piper (over hurdles), Moon D’Orange, Manothepeople and Lisnamult Lad. Most of their exploits have come over shorter trips, though.
3:30 – 2m 87y Class 2 Masterson Holdings Hurdle
Top-weight wins! 💥
Give It To Me Oj lands the @bet365 opener @Sandownpark for @gl_racing and @quinn_caoilin 🥇 pic.twitter.com/2zCAJqyhi8
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2025
Give It To Me Oj has rock-solid form from his juvenile hurdling campaign. He wasn’t far behind East India Dock (dual Grade 2 winner and Chester Cup hero) and Hot Fuss (fourth in the Fred Winter) on his bow in this sphere. As Give It To Me Oj then chased home Gibbs Island, who came out and scored in a Chepstow handicap earlier this month, his Victor Ludorum second from Haydock also reads well.
Not only that, but he beat re-opposing sixth Filibustering more than 20 lengths when fourth in the Grade 1 Anniversary at Aintree in the spring. Give It To Me Oj wasn’t done there, though. He’s won his next four across both codes including giving weight and a beating to older horses in the Novices’ Championship Final at Sandown. Based on how he shaped with consecutive victories on the level around Epsom, a left-handed undulating track holds no fears for Give It To Me Oj.
He’s thus a strong fancy to stamp his authority on horses of his own age. Off level weights, it will take an exceptional performance or below par display from the favourite to beat him. Others to consider include Hamlet’s Knight, an in-form horse for James Owen seeking a hat-trick. Recent Kelso scorer Caballo De Guerra can only improve on his successful hurdles bow, meanwhile.
4:05 – 3m 1f Class 2 Novice Chase
The Cheltenham Showcase of 2025 could be just the right time to catch him following a successful both over fences around Ballybrit during the Galway Races. Intense Approach looks to have been laid out for this ever since and won the staying novice hurdle earlier on the card 12 months ago. Paul Nicholls landed this very race in 2016 with Black Corton, so Welcom To Cartries could go well.
He’s still a maiden over fences, but ran in graded novice events last season. It was too much, too soon for a horse who looks like a chaser. A gentler introduction, for all the Irish contingent looks strong, might be more like it for Welcom To Cartries. Horses aged six or seven have the best recent record, so concentrating on them makes sense.
Double Powerful and First Confession could make their debuts over fences here. Both come from an Irish Point-to-Point background, so could improve for going steeplechasing. Baltic Bird also fits the age profile, but this stamina test might be beyond him. Honeyball’s Leave Of Absence won in the spring, but might need the run.
