THE two-day Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham will start at the time of writing on Thursday afternoon with a dry day on the Friday and good to soft going. This is certainly a competitive way to start the season at the home of jump racing, with some big fields and a very open look to some of the races.

I’m looking forward to presenting across the two days at my local course and it will be great to be back.

Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.35 Cheltenham – Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 7½f)

Black Poppy finished off last season with victory in the Swinton Hurdle, with a little in hand at the finish as well, and in the spring she really looked like a horse that had got the hang of things with her easy win here at the April meeting when she was never stronger than up the final hill another indicator of her strong chance here. Nemean Lion won first time up for the Kerry Lee yard when taking the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las a couple of weeks ago, a good indicator Black Poppy may well be ready to go today.

2.45 Cheltenham – Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle (2m 4f)

Mel Monroe struggled a little, in truth, on her first two starts but came back from an absence in the spring to win very easily at Downpatrick in June and show what we thought she was capable of in her two previous short-priced defeats. It might be she doesn’t want the ground too deep, which won’t be a problem here as it continues to dry out, and now she knows what’s required, she’ll continue to improve with experience and as she goes up in trip.

3.20 Cheltenham – 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Moon Hunter (nap) is an exciting prospect over fences this season and he can win on seasonal debut as he did last season when having his first start over hurdles at Wetherby beating Hitching Jacking in good style, with the runner-up winning twice subsequently to give the form a good look. He progressed again when running better still under a penalty and given a beating to the useful Theatre Man at Doncaster next time up.  He disappointed in the very heavy ground in the Grade 2 Leamington at Warwick and was down the field at Aintree on his final start. He is bred for fences and with no rain forecast the good to soft going will be in his favour so expect a bold show.

4.30 Cheltenham – Close Brothers Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (3m 1f)

Innisfree Lad has an interesting jockey booking for this amateur contest with Finian Maguire in the plate. Innisfree Lad ran poorly on his reappearance at Newton Abbot but that was also the case last year and he only needed the one run to bounce back to form when second next time out, so every chance he’ll improve plenty for the Newton Abbot effort. He was fifth to Madera Mist at Cheltenham in a deep race at the April meeting, so has track form. Innisfree is now 5lb lower than his win earlier in the year and will be staying on with conditions in his favour when others have had enough.

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5.05 Cheltenham – Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f)

Serious Operator is one of three runners for Lucinda Russell tomorrow and could be overlooked having won three of his five races last season, with today’s pilot Patrick Wadge claiming three pounds having won two of those starts. Serious Operator’s win at Ayr on his final appearance in April, when beating Hunters Call in a quality handicap, certainly indicated there is plenty more to come and he has each way claims.

The Wine Tipster’s Fivefold

The champagne corks could well and truly be popping at HQ if this one romps home!

Roll all five selections from our red-hot tipster into an acca and that currently pays 38531/1 – £5 each way potentially returns £193,246.86 if they come in!

Click the image below to add directly to your betslip!

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