Cheltenham Showcase 2026: Racecards, Key Races and Betting Markets

Jumps racing returns to Cheltenham this week, as the Showcase meeting opens the 2026/27 season on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October. Fourteen races are staged on the Old Course over the two days, giving an early look at horses who may be aimed at the 2027 Festival. Below are the key races on each card in running order, with start times, which are the same in Ireland as in the UK.

Cheltenham Showcase 2026: Dates, Course and What to Expect

The Cheltenham Showcase meeting is the starting point on the road to the 2027 Festival, and one of five meetings at Jumps HQ before the four-day spectacle in March. The action gets underway at Cheltenham on Friday, 23 October, with a seven-race card including the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle.

Seven races also make up the card on Saturday, 24 October, including an ever-competitive Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong. All races at the Showcase meeting will be run on the Old Course, with a total of 14 overall (seven on Friday, seven on Saturday) being staged.

Cheltenham Showcase Racecards: Friday 23 October Races

Handicap Hurdle (1:15 PM)

A new season at Cheltenham gets underway with a Handicap Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. It could be an informative race: last year’s winner French Ship went on to win a valuable handicap at Newbury before finishing third in the Grade Two Select Hurdle.

East India Express fell in this race 12 months ago but is a previous Cheltenham winner, having won a handicap on the New Course in April 2025. Jamie Snowden’s Handlethekettle arrives with the benefit of a recent run.

Grade Two Novices’ Hurdle (3:00 PM)

Friday’s feature is the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and half a furlong, the first graded race of Cheltenham’s season. It was the starting point last season for Fortune De Mer, now one of the leading names for next year’s Arkle Chase.

Planters Punch is a highly regarded contender from the Nicky Henderson yard, having won three-from-three over obstacles and rounded off last season with a seven-length win at Chepstow. Champion Trainer Dan Skelton will be represented by recent Chepstow winner Cooltobecareless.

squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (3:35 PM)

The first competitive handicap chase of the Cheltenham season is set for 3:35 on Friday. Last year’s winner Calico will be back to repeat his success for the Dan Skelton team, but a 6lb hike at the weights could limit his chances as a likely regressing ten-year-old.

JPR One will carry top weight, but he typically goes well fresh, as in 2024 when he beat the very talented Djelo in the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup. Several unexposed contenders will also tackle this challenge, including Traprain Law for the Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore team and Irish raider Sky Lord.

Cheltenham Showcase Racecards: Saturday 24 October Races

Novices’ Hurdle (1:45 PM)

The second race on Saturday’s card could be an interesting contest for novice hurdlers, with a stamina-sapping three miles covered. Conman John was an excellent winner of the race 12 months ago, before finishing a close third in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in December.

Irish domination at Cheltenham could come earlier than March, with Willie Mullins sending Mr Hollywood over to the UK. Gordon Elliott is also set to run a couple of challengers, including the progressive Flying Ace. Cian Collins saddles Kashchei, while British hopes could hinge on Road To Wembley for Olly Murphy.

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (2:20 PM)

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle has direct implications for the Festival, with the first four home qualifying for the Final in March. Ma Shantou won last year’s edition before ultimately running in the Stayers’ Hurdle after winning Grade Two honours on Trials Day in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Gowel Road will be back at Cheltenham after finishing 21st in the Pertemps Final in March, but the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies runner is a previous two-time winner at the track. Ace Of Spades will represent the all-conquering Dan Skelton yard, while Seaniecon will represent the Jonjo & A J O’Neill team after finishing fifth in a red-hot Punchestown handicap at the end of last season.

Handicap Chase (2:55 PM)

Saturday’s card also includes a handicap chase over three miles and a furlong. One-time Gold Cup contender Myretown will be looking to bounce back after failing to make an impact in any of his five starts last season. He won the Ultima Handicap Chase emphatically in March 2025.

The Short Go will be a leading chance for Henry de Bromhead, having finished fourth in this race 12 months ago off 3lb lower. Mt Fugi Park looks like an unexposed contender for the Jonjo & A J O’Neill team, having quickly racked up back-to-back wins over fences during the summer.

Diamond Dealer could also be on a lenient mark after previously winning over two miles and seven at Kelso and Chepstow, before a no-show in the Scottish Borders National over an extended four miles.

Cheltenham Showcase and the Festival: What Punters Can Learn

It may be an early-season meeting, but the Showcase has proved crucial in pinpointing Festival winners since 2008, with 21 horses going on to win in March. That includes horses that have later landed the biggest prize of all, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Imperial Commander set his season in motion with victories at the Showcase in 2006 and 2007 before winning the Ryanair Chase in 2009 and the Gold Cup in 2010. Rule The World was runner-up in the bumper at the Showcase in 2012 before landing the Grand National four years later.

Early-season form should be treated with caution though, as many of the top contenders for Championship races next March won’t appear until winter ground is more prominent.

Irish trainers will be well represented this weekend, with Henry de Bromhead boasting a particularly impressive record at the Showcase and November meetings at Cheltenham. He runs The Short Go in Saturday’s 2:55 PM. The nine-year-old ran with credit for a long way before tiring in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival.

Gordon Elliott will also send a big team, including Bowensonfire, who won a big handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Willie Mullins is no stranger to success at Cheltenham and will also bring a team, headlined by Mr Hollywood in the Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday.

Cheltenham Showcase Betting Markets: Win, Each-Way and Place Terms

TonyBet will offer a wide selection of betting markets for the Cheltenham Showcase meeting. A rundown of what each market entails can be found below:

• Win: Bet on a horse to win a race; if the selection is the official winner, the returns are paid.
• Each-Way: Bets can be placed on a selection to win or place in the each-way market. Bets are paid out at ¼ (2 places) and ⅕ (3 places) odds for selections that place, depending on the field size.
• Place Betting: You can bet on a horse to finish in the first three. If a horse achieves this, returns are credited.
• Accumulator: Bets can be placed on multiple horses from different races to create one longer-form wager. All legs must be correct to get returns.

Responsible Gambling

Gambling should always be entertainment, never a way to make money. Set a budget and stick to it. If gambling is becoming a problem, free and confidential support is available at gamblingtherapy.org.

18+ | Play Responsibly | gamblingtherapy.org | T&Cs Apply