3 minute read

Trainer Tom George is looking forward to Cheltenham's opening meeting of the season, with Baby Mix and Triangular set to line up in two of the highlights of the second day of The Showcase on Saturday, October 20.

Baby Mix is due to return to the home of Jump racing for the extended two-mile £30,000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle (3.05pm) after coming home ninth on his latest start in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival on March 16.

The four-year-old had previously posted an impressive victory in the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton in February and made an exciting debut for George at Cheltenham with a seven-length win in JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at The International in December.

George revealed: "Baby Mix is a possible runner in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle. He's got an entry at Kempton on Sunday as well but we are leaning towards Cheltenham at this stage.

"He has grown a bit and strengthened up over the summer - he had been running on the Flat in France prior to last season and this was the first proper break that he has been given since he was a two-year-old. He looks stronger and bigger now.

"I think he just didn't get home in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. He was a bit too keen, he had been on the go for a long time and I think that he might have had enough for the season.

"We will play it by ear this season and see how he gets on in Saturday's race before deciding where to go next. He has been schooling over fences since he was a three-year-old, so we know he can jump, but we will stick to hurdles until we think we need to do things differently."

The 13 entries for the Masterson Holdings Hurdle also includes last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle fourth Dodging Bullets and Ranjaan, who both represent Paul Nicholls, and the Alan King-trained Vendor, who was third in the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival.

Triangular could make his seasonal return in the £50,000 BetVictor Trophy (2.30pm), a handicap chase over two and a half miles for which he is a 9/1 chance with the race sponsor.

The seven-year-old failed to cope with the demands of the Grand National fences on his most recent appearance as he was pulled up in the John Smith's Topham Chase on April 13 but recorded a facile success in a Newbury handicap chase on March 23.

George added: "Triangular is a possibility for the BetVictor.com Trophy. He didn't like Aintree and we will leave the tongue-tie off him on his next start because I have a feeling that he didn't like it in Topham Chase.

"He took a big hike up in the weights for winning at Newbury and he has to run in competitive races now so it won't be so easy for him.

"I hope that he has improved over the summer but he has had plenty of racing in France and it's hard to know whether he can be competitive off his current mark."

"We have also entered Lord Ryeford (40/1 with BetVictor). He hasn't got many options open to him but he needs good ground."

Havingotascoobydo and Astracad are BetVictor's 7/1 joint favourites for the Betvictor.com Trophy, with Rebel Du Maquis (10/1), Darna (10/1) and Prince Tom (10/1) also among the 35 entries.

The other feature race on Saturday is the £50,000 Ryman The Stationer Handicap Chase (3.40pm, 29 entries) with last season's Hennessy Gold Cup hero Carruthers set to line up in the extended three-mile contest.

The Showcase offers the chance to see, hear about and participate in some of the aspects of racing that are normally off-limits.

The weighing room and parade ring will be open to the public before racing and there will be chances to win some wonderful racing experiences, such as presenting a trophy, watching a race in the commentary box or seeing the jockeys weigh in after a race.

BetVictor.com Trophy

7/1 Astracad, Havingotascoobydoo, 9/1 Triangular, 10/1 , Rebel Du Maquis, Darna, Prince Tom, 12/1 Easter Meteor, That'lldoboy, 14/1 Mad Moose, Bobowen, Jamsie Hall, Spock, Royale's Charter, Rob Conti, Kauto Relko, 16/1 Tartak, Nadiya De la Vega, Ixora, Tiger O'Toole, 20/1 Divers, Lancetto, Buck Mulligan, Gilbarry, Wessex King, 25/1 Finger Onthe Pulse, Takeroc, Life Of A Luso, 33/1 Idarah, Quito Du Tresor, Mister Matt, Politeo, Forget It, Campbonnais, 40/1 Got Attitude, Lord Ryeford

Each Way 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4