William Hill Showcase: Full betting guide from Cheltenham

For lovers of National Hunt racing this is the moment they have been waiting for-the return of action at Cheltenham. 

While the two-day Showcase Meeting might be one of the more low-key events staged at the track, it still presents ample opportunity for jockeys and trainers alike to secure a winner at the home of jump racing. 

The rain has arrived just in time to ensure that the field sizes have held up and that horses expected to pay their way over the winter have been declared at a meeting, which can sometimes offer mixed signals. 

With plenty of competitive handicaps on offer - along with what could be some informative novice events over both hurdles and fences - it promises to be a meeting well worth taking note of for future pointers. 

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William Hill Showcase Day One

The highlight of the opening day of the meeting is undoubtedly the Grade Two Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle, which has attracted a healthy field of 12 runners. 

If there is to be a potential star on show for the day it could be the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained Un Sens A La Vie, who created a big impression when winning recently at Market Rasen. 

Among the highlights on the supporting card is the Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase, which features Grade Three winning chaser King Of Kingsfield from the yard of Gordon Elliott. 

It wouldn't be Cheltenham with a puzzle or two to crack, and things are kicked off with a tricky 20-runner handicap hurdle. They end on a similarly difficult note with an 18-runner amateur jockeys’ handicap chase. 

FIRST.com’s top tip Country Mile to win the Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase @ 9/4 with Coral

Country Mile could not quite reel in the re-opposing Alnilam when the pair clashed at Uttoxeter earlier this month; however, the tables can be turned here. 

On that occasion Alnilam was not for catching out in front, but a less-than-fluent jump at the last didn’t help Country Mile’s chances of finishing closer. 

Armed with a five-pound swing in the weights, he can gain compensation here and add to his impressive win at the track over hurdles on the New course at the track in December. 

Ed Quigley offers his three picks for opening day at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting. You can find Ted's tips for Day 2 here.

Day One extra tips

French Ship was still travelling well when coming to grief at the third last on his seasonal return at Chepstow earlier this month. 

The Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained gelding was very progressive as a novice last season in winning two of his four starts over hurdles. 

Not only that, but in one of his two defeats last season, he was beaten just over five lengths behind dual Grade One scorer The New Lion at Newbury in November. 

He has been left unchanged on a mark of 128 which he looks capable of exploiting here. 

French Ship to win the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle @ 7/1 with Coral. 

Calico enjoyed his sole success at this meeting last year, and he is fancied to register back-to-back wins in the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase. 

The Dan Skelton-trained runner often runs well fresh, looking back through his record from previous seasons. 

Although he is running from a mark four pounds higher than last year, he should still be able to make his presence felt, providing conditions do not become too soft. 

Calico to win the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase @ 11/4 with Ladbrokes.

Ted's Talk: Find out what Ben Pauling had to say when Ed Quigley caught up with him earlier this week.

William Hill Showcase Day Two

There might be no graded races on show, but there could be plenty of horses that develop into candidates for those types of races later on in the campaign. 

The feature race on the card is the £100,000 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase, which includes plenty of smart staying types. 

Among them is Rock My Way, who finished second in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. 

The Masterson Holdings Hurdle, which is restricted to four-year-olds, includes the promising Give It To Me Oj for the Gary & Josh Moore team.

And the opening William Hill Each Way Extra Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase has the potential to throw up some early Festival clues as well. 

FIRST.com’s top tip Newton Tornado to win the William Hill Each Way Extra Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase @ 8/1 with Ladbrokes. 

Rebecca Curtis will be expecting big things from her stable star, and last season’s Irish Grand National hero, Haiti Couleurs, but Newton Tornado could now be one to keep an eye on, switched to fences. 

He makes his chasing debut off just a pound lower than his better-known stablemate off a mark of 121, and he looks to have a similar profile in his hurdles form, albeit over shorter trips, having been campaigned relatively low-key last season. 

There should be plenty more to come from the gelded son of Cokoriko, and he can make light work of his opening mark here with a clear round of jumping on conditions that should be fine.

Read: Jamie Snowden discusses his top stable stars

Day Two extra tips

Ballycamus is on a career high mark of 127 after finishing second at Chepstow earlier this month, but at the age of eight, he should be reaching his peak now. 

In seasons gone by the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained gelding has often needed his first run back, so you can expect him to strip a lot fitter here. 

This is likely to be a starting point for other things, and Ballycamus can put his race fitness to good use off a relatively light weight. 

Ballycamus each-way in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase, five places @ 14/1 with Betfred.

Emma Lavelle has her string in fine form at present and Ma Shantou can keep the ball rolling in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle. 

The son of Shantou ended his season finishing seventh, upped to Grade One company in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

While he has a way to go to reach the exploits of former stablemate Paisley Park, he could develop into a smart stayer this season. 

With Harry Cobden booked for the ride he can take this on route to bigger and better targets. 

Ma Shantou to win the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle @ 8/1 with Ladbrokes.

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Odds correct at the time of writing.