'It's a meeting I've always liked' - Elliott to send strong squad to Cheltenham

Gordon Elliott will send a strong squad of runners to Cheltenham for its two-day Showcase meeting starting on Friday, when the return of a proper crowd to the course for the first time in 19 months will be “very special”, according to boss Ian Renton.

Apart from two days in December, when around 1,000 annual members were allowed, Cheltenham has raced behind closed doors since the final day of the festival in March last year.

But a crowd of 10,000 is anticipated for Friday's fixture and is sure to give a full-throated roar when the starter sends the runners away for the opening novice hurdle at 1.55, a race in which Elliott could run the exciting Off Your Rocco.

Elliott has ten horses entered on Friday, and 12 months ago he won the 3m½f novice chase on the card with subsequent National Hunt Chase winner Galvin.

Galvin was a winner for Gordon Elliott at last year's October meeting at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Elliott said: "The plan is to have plenty of runners over the two days and it's a meeting I've always liked having runners at in the past. Galvin won over there for us last year and we have a nice team of horses heading over this time.

"Off Your Rocco is improving all the time and won nicely at Limerick. He's really getting the hang of things now and could run in the opening novice hurdle. That looks the right sort of race for him. We have Calagogo entered on Friday too and he's another novice who's coming along nicely. He's won his last three and he'll definitely be travelling I'd say.

"Buddy Rich could run in the novice chase and we have a few others entered on Friday who could run as well. We will have a few for Saturday too."

The course endured a difficult start to 2021 with the New Year’s Day and Festival Trials fixture called off due to waterlogging, the first time in 25 years both fixtures did not take place.

There are no such concerns for the Showcase meeting, with 16,000 expected to attend on Saturday when five of the seven races are set to be live on ITV4.

Renton, managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses West, said: "We’re delighted a proper crowd can return to Cheltenham for the first time in what will be many, many months. Whether they’re owners, annual members of the general public, it’ll be great seeing people back.

"We're always wary that things can change, but we're optimistic we can go through a season with a degree of normality.

"It'll be very special. We had fantastic racing last season, largely behind closed doors, but there's no doubt Cheltenham is renowned for the atmosphere. For the jockeys to come in to the familiar cheers, it'll make an incredible difference.

“The track looks fantastic and we’re looking forward to some great racing, There are no major changes; we’re just looking to do what we used to do so well.”

The ground on Sunday afternoon was described as good, good to firm in places but up to 23mm is forecast before Friday.

Simon Claisse will continue as clerk of the course alongside successor Jon Pullin, with the "likelihood" that Pullin will take over permanently after the track's November meeting.

The first race on Saturday is named in honour of NHS key workers, and a few hundred from the town's vaccination stations have been given free tickets in recognition of their efforts.

"This is a big thank you to what they've achieved in the last 18 months," Renton said.

"We've the large majority of those in Cheltenham who are able to come up for a day's racing, which is great. We'll be looking after them properly."

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