F EATURE 22-23 OCTOBER 2021
Just imagine howwarm the welcome will be as crowds return to this meeting
at The Festival after running at The Showcase in the last 12 years. Galvin was the latest to add his name to that list when striking in both the Matchbook Better Way To Bet Novices’ Chase for Cullentra House Stables in October and again in March in the Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase. Another winner at last year’s Showcase meeting who has made waves in the sport since is Captain Tom Cat. Trainer Dr Richard Newland was so taken by the five year old’s victory in the squareintheair. com Handicap Hurdle he sent him over the larger obstacles, where he had three victories on the bounce at Aintree in May and Worcester twice in June this year. While last year’s Showcase was like no other for different reasons, this year’s curtain-raiser to the season at Cheltenham promises to deliver both on and off the track.
to date – the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Tasked with giving over a stone to the field last October, Frodon was scintillating from the front under regular partner Bryony Frost and it was clear afterwards how much the victory meant to trainer Paul Nicholls. He said: “That was an amazing performance. I thought he would probably need the run a little bit. He loves Cheltenham, but I thought he had it all to do with that weight.” Victory then and his subsequent Christmas heroics were enough for Nicholls to hand him his chance in the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Ultimately the horse affectionately known as ‘Frodes’ was not able to repeat his success on the biggest stage of them all, but his exploits at The Showcase prove just how important ‘Cheltenham form’ can be. In fact, no fewer than 16 horses have won
and riders might have travelled from far and wide to take their places at the most prestigious jumps track of all, there is a distinctive ‘local’ feel to the fixture. Old friends and acquaintances look forward to The Showcase as a kind of reunion in normal times, so just imagine how warm the welcome will be as crowds return to this meeting for the first time in two years this autumn. And it is not just the spectators who will be glad to be back. The unique nature of Cheltenham’s Old and New Courses gives horses with a real love of the place the opportunity to return to strut their stuff. That rings especially true for the ever-popular Frodon, who seems to come alive at Cheltenham. One of the best chasers in training, his victory at The Showcase last year in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase was the springboard to his greatest triumph
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