Five horses who caught the eye at Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting

Race: Second in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle (1.15, Friday).

This six-year-old contested some hot handicaps last season, including when finishing third in the William Hill Hurdle off a rating of 128 where he again hinted a step up in trip would suit.

He also won the The Gerry Feilden last year, the form of which worked out well, and it was no surprise he was unleashed over 2m4f for his seasonal debut on Friday. It's also worth noting he was set to run over three miles at Aintree in April but was declared a non-runner.

Given this was his first start since February, Navajo Indy will almost certainly improve for this outing, and found only the progressive French Ship, who had a fitness advantage, too good. 

With an abundance of useful handicappers in opposition, this race looked a strong one one paper, and I expect the form to work out well.

The Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle over a furlong further at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 15 is now a potential target for Navajo Indy who looks a handicap hurdler to keep on side this season, with further progress highly likely.

Race: Third in the Holland Cooper 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (1.50, Friday).

It was hard not to be impressed with Country Mile's effortless victory in a novices' hurdle at Cheltenham in December last year where he cruised clear of Wingmen, who was placed at Grade One level on his next two outings in Ireland.

Dan Skelton's charge failed to land a blow in the William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle next time out, but the ground went against him there, and connections have said better going suits.

That ended up being his final start last season, and he looked in need of the outing on his chasing debut in October (his first start for 283 days) when second behind Alnilam, and was expected to get much closer to that rival here. However, a mistake at the second last, when still travelling well, ended any chance he had. 

His jumping needs to improve (he only scored 6.4/10 on RaceiQ's Jump Index metric) but he was in the process of running another promising race, and can only improve with more experience.

He's worth adding to your Racing TV Tracker, and it would be no surprise if the Skelton team aim him at a valuable prize this season.

Race: Third in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (2.20, Saturday).

Although Hoe Joly Smoke has run well on his seasonal debut for the past three years, he does tend to improve for an outing, and it looks as though that will be the case again this term. 

After making steady headway from the rear on the final circuit, the seven-year-old travelled powerfully into contention before challenging Three Card Brag at the final fence. The lack of a recent run soon took its toll, though, and he weakened quickly towards the finish, with the winner and runner-up both having the advantage of race fitness.

This effort signalled he will strip fitter for his exertions and, given he won twice over three miles at Sandown last season, a race over that course and distance could be on the horizon again. 

He’s also only had six starts over fences, and his rating may underestimate him, based on this evidence.

Race: Fourth in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (2.55, Saturday).

Long Draw finished second over 2m5f on the Old Course last season but, given his style of racing, he is better suited by the New Course, and is unbeaten in two starts over three miles on that track. 

His effort here is therefore worth upgrading as he also lacked a recent run, and was unable to get involved after making brief headway before the turn for home. 

He has now qualified for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, and Olly Murphy told us that is his long-term aim this season (link to stable tour below). If of any interest, he's a best-priced 25-1 with Unibet for that contest, which he forced to bypass last season after missing the cut by one. 

It will be interesting to see how he is campaigned now ahead of March, and it would not surprise me if he is given a break at some point before a prep run ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, especially as he's suited by better ground.

The six-year-old was thoroughly progressive last season and, with age on his side, further improvement is likely this term.

Race: Second in the Oddschecker Open National Hunt Flat Race (4.40, Saturday).

This youngster was unlucky to bump into a Willie Mullins-trained debutant when second in a class two bumper at Plumpton in April where he displayed signs of greenness under pressure and, with three previous winners in behind, that looks a useful piece of form.

Sent off favourite, the four-year-old raced exuberantly throughout on his return to action here and made eye-catching headway entering the straight, but was unable to catch a race-fit rival.

Le Beau Madrik's early exertions, and lack of experience, probably caught him out again, and he can only improve for this experience.

His pedigree also suggests he may be suited by further in time (his sire won three times over 2m2f, and his dam is a half-sister to useful three-mile hurdler One Big Bang).

Another trip to Cheltenham for the Listed bumper, which the Skelton team won last year with Fortune De Mer, on Sunday, November 16 could be next, and he's an exciting prospect.