Cheltenham Showcase runners who have gone on to Festival glory

The two-day William Hill  Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham on Friday and Saturday will be a starting point in the campaigns of many of the runners. But don’t be mistaken in thinking that the early skirmishes at Prestbury Park will count for little as the season unfolds.

Since 2008, when The Showcase assumed its present format, 21 runners have gone on to score at The Cheltenham Festival in the same season.

So the chances are that at least one runner in action on either Friday or Saturday will return to triumph at the biggest meeting of the year in five months' time.

One race you must keep in mind is the Grand Annual Chase. Since 2009, six winners of that race had previously run at the October meeting – Oh Crick (2009), Pigeon Island (2010), Oiseau De Nuit (2011), Rock The World (2017), Le Prezien (2018) and Jazzy Matty (2025).

And don’t rule out seeing a future Gold Cup or Grand National winner in action.

Imperial Commander, who scooped chasing’s blue riband in 2009, made a winning debut at the Showcase in 2006 and 2007, while Rule The World was second in the 2012 bumper on his way to glory at Aintree in 2016.

Below are a selection who ran in the Cotswolds in October on their way to Festival glory.

October 2024: 2nd in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices' Chase at 17-2

March 2025: won the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 15-2

Jazzy Maty had won over hurdles at the Festival in 2024 and returned in the autumn to be beaten a head by Path D’oroux (rec 8lb) in the novices’ chase, having had five runs over fences during the summer.

His connections then gave him just one more run, over hurdles, before returning to the Festival to win off a mark of 135.

Jazzy Matty will again be in action on Friday, in the opening handicap hurdle.

October 2022: won the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle at 10-1 

March 2023: won the Plate Handicap Chase at 20-1 

Supporters of Seddon in the 2022-23 season ended up in clover.

He won easily at double-figure odds at Cheltenham in the autumn, over hurdles, and returned in March to show what he could do over fences, this time at even bigger odds.

In between, he had won at Leopardstown over Christmas at 7-2, and after his win at the Cheltenham Festival he went on to the Punchestown Festival and won there, too, at 13-2. Is October too early to see a multiple big-race winner in action? Clearly not.

October 2021: won the William Hill Novices’ Chase at 2-1 

March 2022: won National Hunt Chase at 7-2 

Gordon Elliott immediately nominated the National Hunt Chase as Galvin’s big-race objective after he was a decisive winner of the 3m 1f novices’ chase and he duly returned five months later to take the honours, having not raced again in the interim.

Elliott evidently views Saturday’s long-distance novice event as a perfect stepping stone to the Festival in March. His Chicago Grey won the 2010 edition before going on to score at the Festival, while Tiger Roll was third  in the 2016 edition before landing the National Hunt Chase later in the campaign.

He has Pied Piper and Sporting Glory entered this time. 

October 2014: won the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars National Hunt Flat Race at 11-4

March 2015: won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at 9-2

There were few more impressive winners at The Showcase meeting in 2014 as Moon Racer, making his British debut, made all for an emphatic 12-length win under Tom Scudamore.

More fragile than most, Moon Racer did not reappear until the Festival meeting and he was left playing catch-up after fluffing the start. David Pipe’s charge kept on strongly, though, to prevail by a length and a half.

October 2011 and 2013: won at the Showcase Meeting at 3-1 and 7-2

March 2012 and 2014: won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at 11-2 and 4-1

The hugely popular Balthazar King won at the Showcase meeting three years on the spin and twice went on to score again at the Festival in a career that included eight Cheltenham victories.

In 2011, he won a three-mile handicap chase in October off a mark of 136 and later in the season dug deep to win the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.

Balthazar King won the £50,000 Showcase Trophy in the autumn of 2013 and followed up at Cheltenham the following month before reclaiming his cross-country crown in March, when beating Any Currency by a short head.

October 2013: won Foundation Developments Ltd Maiden Hurdle at 8-13

March 2014: won the County Handicap Hurdle ay 11-1

Lac Fontana belatedly opened his account over hurdles at the October meeting, making all for a decisive success.

He also won on Festival Trials Day in January before getting the better of 27 rivals in the County Hurdle at the Festival.

Lac Fontana subsequently won in Grade One company at Aintree, too.

October 2012: won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle  at Evens

March 2013: won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (yes, the same name!) at 7-2

A slight error at the final flight could not prevent The New One defying a penalty on his second start over hurdles at the Showcase meeting 13 years ago.

He kept on progressing that winter and returned in March to beat Rule The World by four lengths. The runner-up would go on to win the Grand National in 2016.

The New One ran at Cheltenham 16 times, winning on six occasions, before being retired last season.

October 2010: won the Mick Turner A Lifetime In Racing Novices’ Chase at 13-2

March 2011: won the National Hunt Chase at 5-1

Gordon Elliott’s stayer had an 8lb penalty to shoulder at the Showcase Meeting but it did not stop him staying on stoutly to beat the Paul Nicholls-trained Picture This by six lengths.

He showed that day stamina was his strong suit and come March was sent off favourite for the National Hunt Chase under Derek O’Connor. The combination bided their time before moving easily through the lead and beating Beshabar by four and a half lengths.