Showcase Cheltenham Tips 2023: Horse Racing Best Bets For Friday

Our Showcase Cheltenham tips 2023 on Friday cover all seven races at the Prestbury Park venue as jump racing returns to the home of National Hunt for the first time this season.

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Showcase Cheltenham Tips 2023: Jump Racing Returns To Prestbury Park On Friday 27th October 2023

In the world of horse racing, one of the common questions between fans is – do you prefer the flat or the jumps?

Yes, just like NOT leaning towards a favourite child, some will love both codes equally – however, there are also many that will pin their approval to one.

Here at SportLens we are, of course, not going to sway opinion – but what we can tell jump lovers is that we’ve the first fixture at the home of jumps racing this Friday and Saturday as the hedgehopping fans can lock themselves in for the Showcase Cheltenham Meeting.

We’ve seven races to kick-off the two-day fixture, with the Friday action starting at 1:35pm and running till 5:05pm and all shown live on Racing TV – to help we’ve listed our 1-2-3 Showcase Cheltenham tips below for all the Friday 27th October races.

All prices shown are with BetMGM and subject to change.

1:35 – Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger 2m Hurdle Series Qualifier) Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m½f RTV

• CASTEL GANDOLFO (e/w) @ 16/1 with BetMGM
• Afadil
• Shetland Tony

The Fergal O’Brien yard have a good record in this race – winning the prize in 2019 and 2021. They run two Glorious Zoff and Castel Gandolfo, with preference for the latter. This 6 year-old will head here fit from a spell summer jumping and has also hit the top three in 16 of his 23 races (70%) – plus the useful Jack Hogan rides to claim 3lbs in this conditional jockeys’ race. Paul Nicholls also has a fine record in this event and his Afadil and Shetland Tony, from the in-form Twiston-Davies yard, are also respected.

2:10 – squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m RTV

• JETRONIC @ 11/4 with BetMGM
• My Mate Mozzie
• Al Zaraqaan

Just the 4 runners and the Gavin Crowell-trained Mate Mozzie brings the best form to the table, but it would be a worry that he was a beaten odds-on favourite the last day at Fairyhouse on chase debut. So, a chance is taken on the Paul Nicholls French in-mate Jetronic, who won’t mind the ground having won on very soft in France and is sure have been well-schooled for this debut UK run.

2:45 – Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4f RTV

• ISAAC DES OBEAUX (e/w) @ 7/1 with BetMGM
• Tag Man
• Mel Monroe

This has been another Showcase Cheltenham meeting race that trainer Paul Nicholls likes to target – winning the pot three times since 2013. He goes again with Isaac Des Obeaux, who is a half-sister to their top-class King George winner Clan Des Obeaux. Three fair runs (1 win) in NH Flat races last season would have taught him plenty and has also had a wind op over the summer ahead of this hurdles debut. The Irish pair of Tag Man for Henry De Bromhead and Mel Monroe for Gordon Elliott can go well too.

3:20 – 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl3 (4yo+) 2m4f RTV

• ATLANTA BRAVE (e/w) @ 13/2 with BetMGM
• Hurricane Railway
• Mr Saxobeat

A chance is taken on the Kerry Lee runner Atlanta Brave with the yard having their horses in good order for this early part of the season and they often also do well with their runners over fences at Cheltenham (29%). This lightly-raced 5 year-old is a 2-time hurdles winner but is expected to make a better chaser and makes his debut over the bigger obstacles here. Jockey Richard Patrick also rides, and he’s got a cracking 6-from-17 (35%) strike-rate with riding over fences at the track.  Hurricane Railway and Mr Saxobeat, for Ireland, look sure to get involved too.

3:55 – Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m½f RTV

• WILLIETHEBUILDER @ 7/2 with BetMGM
• Toto Too
• Lookaway

The Dan Skelton runner Williethebuilder caught the eye of many after bolting up at Uttoxeter in September on his hurdles debut and looks the sort to stick with. He’s got age on his side at just 4, the youngest in the field, and also has past form in the locker on soft ground to suggest the conditions will be fine. Many other promising sorts with all the 8 runners having won their last races, but Toto Too impressed in Ireland last time and the Neil King runner Lookaway did well at the end of last season to make them the ones to give the main pick most to think about.

4:30 – Close Brothers Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) 3m1f RTV

• ARCTIC AMBITION (e/w) @ 9/1 with BetMGM
• One True King
• Strictlyadancer

20 runners heading to post here and many, many chances. Derek O’Connor is a top jockey booking for Tim Pat, so any market move here should be noted. However, the Gordon Elliott entry Arctic Ambition is chance with the useful Harry Swan, son of Charlie, coming over from Ireland to ride. This consistent 8 year-old, who has winning form on soft, has only been out of the top 3 once from 9 runs over fences and will be match-fit after running all through the summer in Ireland. One True King and the 2021 winner of this race Strictlyadancer are also of interest.

5:05 – Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m4f RTV

• LALLYLAG (e/w) @ 11/2 with BetMGM
• Kansas City Star
• Thirtyfourstitches

A super-tricky race to end the day one Cheltenham Showcase meeting, with 16 runners and cases can be made for the bulk of them. However, the Paul Nicholls team are starting to hit top gear and their Lallygag looks a fair option. Was last seen running third (of 13) here at Cheltenham in April and will come here knowing how to win with 3 successes from his 6 runs over the sticks. Freddie Gingell, who has won on the horse in the past, has also been booked to take off 7lbs. Thirsyfourstiches represents the Dr Richard Newland yard that have won this race twice in the past, while the consistent Kansas City Star for Gordon Elliott is another for the shortlist.

Note: Odds are subject to change.