The new season at Cheltenham starts with The Showcase on
Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 and Hampshire trainer Emma Lavelle
is targeting the two days of exciting action at the Home of Jump Racing.
Saturday's
seven-race card features a pair of £50,000 handicaps, including the Equus-Fine
Dining At The Festival Handicap Chase (2.35pm) over two and a half miles, which
Lavelle is going for with last year's runner-up Easter Meteor.
The
lightly-raced seven-year-old found subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup third Nadiya
De La Vega two and a half lengths too strong 12 months ago, but followed up in
emphatic fashion over just short of two and a half miles at Doncaster in
December.
After
that success by four and a half lengths, he returned to Cheltenham in April and
finished fourth behind Champion Court in the Grade Two MacMillan Cancer Support
Silver Trophy over two miles and five furlongs.
Lavelle
said: "Easter Meteor will run in the Equus-Fine Dining At The
Festival Handicap Chase. He was second in the race last year and it looks an
ideal place to start him off.
"He
came back from his summer break very well and it has taken a little bit of time
to get the weight off, but he looks great and seems to be working nicely.
"My
horses weren't right for a lot of last season and he needs nice ground, so
consequently he had a light campaign.
"He
is rated 144, but I think he is a nice horse and hopefully he will be
competitive. He also loves Cheltenham and galloping tracks like that seem to
suit him best."
Lavelle
is also considering the £20,000 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3.15pm), one
of the highlights of Friday's card, for last season's Pertemps Final runner-up Captain
Sunshine. The seven-year-old ran a number of fine races in defeat last
term, but has not won since taking a novices' hurdle at Cheltenham in April,
2012.
Lavelle
added: "Captain Sunshine will probably run in the Pertemps Network
Handicap Hurdle.
"Touch
wood, he seems to be in great order and, like Easter Meteor, he prefers better
ground - he ran a blinder in the Pertemps Final on nice ground.
"We
will see how he gets on next week, but afterwards he could go on and compete in
conditions' hurdles over three miles."
About
The Showcase
Cheltenham's
October meeting was renamed The Showcase in 2007 and moved to its present
Friday/Saturday slot. The popular two-day meeting, takes place on October 18
and 19, offering record prize money of £288,000 (up from £275,000 last year).
The Showcase is a natural starting point for horses returning from their summer
breaks and is often used in preparation for The Open (Friday, November 15 -
Sunday, November 17 inclusive) at Cheltenham.
Saturday's
card is headlined by two £50,000 handicap chases - the Equus-Fine Dining At
Festival Handicap Chase (2.35pm), which takes place over a similar distance as
the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open, plus the Ryman The Stationer
Handicap Chase (3.45pm), run over an extended three miles.
The
Showcase gives racegoers the chance to go behind the scenes and find about more
about Cheltenham and Jump Racing. There will be guided tours of the Parade Ring
and Weighing Room before racing, as well as various activities and displays in
Hurdlers' Hall.
The
gates open at noon on both days. The first race is at 2.10pm on Friday and
2.00pm on Saturday. Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk and
through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing
About
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham
Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town
of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for
the world's pre-eminent Jump Racing meeting, The Festival, which takes place in
March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds,
Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the
highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.
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