The Jumps is back! The winter game of hurdles and chases returns with all eyes as usual looking forward to the middle of March for The Cheltenham Festival.
This Friday and Saturday sees Cheltenham Racecourse raise the curtain as they hold their traditional Showcase Meeting, this time sponsored by William Hill. 
We check out the key races for Friday and Saturday with best bets and top odds from our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports.
FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER
1315 Cheltenham: The William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle
This opening race of the meeting could be a big field with twenty-six entries currently declared. The current favourite is East India Express who can win on occasion but was outclassed in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle last season.
Before that he won over course and distance back in April 2025. Better value is found elsewhere however, and this can come from Handlethekettle, trained by Jamie Snowden who should step up from an encouraging run at Worcester recently and comes here match fit. 10/1 best odds with Bet365.
1350 Cheltenham: The Catesby Estates "Chasing Excellence" Novices' Chase
Fairly open looking novice chase. These novice chases at this stage of the season are notoriously difficult to call and this is no exception. Gordon Elliott, Dan Skelton, and Willie Mullins are all represented here and surprisingly none of the field feature in the ante-post betting for The Arkle on Day One of The Cheltenham Festival.
Passing Diamond trained by Anthony Honeyball looks to have far better form than any of the lofty reputations carried by the big trainers and comes here with five wins from his last six outings and deserves a pick despite the major up in grade to this level. Best odds of 11/1 with Bet Victor.
1425 Cheltenham: The Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Another incredibly open looking race with two vying for favouritism. The Dan Skelton trained Loriko heads the market but needs to give weight away all round.
However, he has not been out of the frame in his last six outings, so a bold show is expected. Consistency is also the name of the game for the Jonjo O’Neill trained Gower Prince who has notched up a couple of wins recently and looks well handicapped for this contest. Best odds of 17/2 with William Hill.
1500 Cheltenham: The Oddschecker Novices' Hurdle
The top race of the day with the added bonus of some Cheltenham Festival hopefuls involved. Cooltobecareless the current favourite has a quote of 66/1 (William Hill, Bet Victor) for The Supreme Novices Hurdle on Day One of The Cheltenham Festival.
The Dan Skelton trained charge’s odds for that race will certainly tumble if he obliges in this valuable Grade 2 novice hurdle. He was mighty impressive last time out at Chepstow so should come on for this. Planters Punch for Nicky Henderson however also has a quote of 50/1 (William Hill) for the Supreme Novices but may lack Cooltobecareless’s match fitness.
The Skelton horse just edges it for us. Cooltobecareless is best odds of 9/4 with Bet365 and William Hill.
SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER
1310 Cheltenham: The William Hill Epic Boosts Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
Our opening race for the Saturday has an Irish raider in the form of Rockonliam, trained by Henry De Bromhead. The horse has built up a hat-trick of wins and will no doubt come on for this run.
However, Spectacularsunrise from the Twiston-Davies yard shaped up well in a recent Perth handicap chase, staying on impressively over 2 miles 4 furlongs. He would not need to improve too much on that to figure prominently here. Best odds of 9/2 with Bet365.
1420 Cheltenham: The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
Massively competitive qualifying heat for the big race on Day 4 of The Cheltenham Festival. Plenty in with a shout. The James Owen trained No More Bolero looks well handicapped and come into this seeking a hat-trick after decent wins at Hereford and Stratford and is our pick to run into a place at 12/1 best with William Hill.
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