squareintheair.com Handicap Chase |
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| Cheltenham 15:35 £100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 199y, Class 2  |
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1 Calico 5/1
2
Jasko Des Dames 9/4F
3 Brookie 7/1
9 ran Time: 3m 52.78s
Distances: 7l, ¾, 5½
Really good ride from Harry 👊
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) October 24, 2025
Can’t help but think that’s Calico out the back of the TV till the spring though. Handicapper will take a chunk out of him for that 🤣
🎬 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/GcTwPsaWq0 https://t.co/jOfT2nJlbJ
The feature two-mile handicap chase on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Showcase fell decisively to the Dan Skelton yard, as Calico delivered the sort of seamless, front-running exhibition that never really allowed the race to draw breath. Quickly into his rhythm, he was happy to share the lead early on, measuring his fences with the neat efficiency that soon had him dictating matters. Four out he pressed the button, and despite a minor lapse at the third last, Harry Skelton had plenty beneath him, the pair rolling on with purpose all the way to the line.
Jasko Des Dames, well positioned throughout, loomed as the main threat after the third-last but couldn’t go with the winner when the taps were turned on, emptying late. Brookie, who had been edging right in the early stages, knuckled down admirably up the hill to snatch third, while Traprain Law stayed on with honesty for fourth after conceding ground mid-race.
Stablemate Unexpected Party worked his way through from the rear without ever laying down a serious challenge, as the stewards later confirmed. There was sadness too, with Third Time Lucki pulled up after the water jump and sustaining a fatal injury.
A result both emphatic and emotional, adding weight to the opening-day narrative at the Cheltenham Showcase and reaffirming Calico’s dependability and dash over the minimum trip.
squareintheair.com Handicap Chase
£60,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 2
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft
POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Calico t 9 10-10 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/1
2 7 Jasko Des Dames 6 10-4 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 9/4F
3 ¾ Brookie 8 11-3 Anthony Honeyball Sam Twiston-Davies 7/1
4 5½ Traprain Law 7 10-2 Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore Patrick Wadge 15/2
5 2½ Unexpected Party 10 11-3 Dan Skelton Harry Atkins 16/1
6 3¾ Dr T J Eckleburg 7 10-2 Evan Williams Conor Ring 16/1
7 7½ Matata 7 12-0 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies J J Slevin 11/4
PU Uncle Phil 8 10-13 Chester Williams Harry Cobden 40/1
PU Third Time Lucki 10 10-5 Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke 14/1
