Thursday, 17 October, 2019 - Promising novice hurdler The Butcher Said will go in search of his fifth straight win over hurdles in the £20,000 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (2.00pm, 2m 5f) at Cheltenham on day one of The Showcase, Friday, 25 October.

A 135,000 euro purchase at the Goffs Punchestown Sale in 2017, The Butcher Said has proved a revelation since joining trainer Olly Murphy at the backend of last season.

The six-year-old, who races in the familiar silks of the McNeil Family, began his winning streak at Huntingdon on 9 May and followed up at Cartmel on 25 May, Fontwell Park on 5 June and Newton Abbot on 25 June, all over intermediate distances.

Murphy said: "The Butcher Said is in good form.

"He has summered really well and I am very happy with him and his preparation so far.

"He is a horse I am looking forward to and the plan is to run at Cheltenham at The Showcase.

"It is going to be his toughest test to date, but we are hopeful and looking forward to getting his season started."

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at The Showcase has been won by some notable performers, most memorably The New One in 2012 and future dual Scottish Grand National scorer Vicente two years later.

Trained locally to Cheltenham by Nigel Twiston-Davies, The New One captured what is now the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at The Festival™ presented by Magners in 2013 as well as three editions of the G2 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Showcase is the natural starting point for horses returning from their summer breaks and is often used in preparation for The November Meeting, which runs this year from Friday, 15 November to Sunday, 17 November inclusive.

Headlining the action at The Showcase are two £60,000 handicap chases - the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong and the Randox Health Handicap Chase over two miles - plus the £40,000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle for four-year-olds. All three races take place on Saturday, 26 October.

Among the best horses to compete at The Showcase in recent years is Tiger Roll, who won the Masterson Holdings Hurdle in 2014 and finished third in a novices' chase in 2016. The remarkable nine-year-old, trained by Gordon Elliott, has won the latest two runnings of the £1-million Randox Health Grand National and is also a four-time winner at The Festival™ presented by Magners, most recently taking the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap in 2018 and 2019.

Away from the track, the racecourse will stage its first Cheltoberfest - Cheltenham's twist on the ever-popular Oktoberfest.

The ticketed event takes place in The Centaur over both days of The Showcase and includes live German and Bavarian Oompah music from The Bierkeller Boys, a range of local real ales and Magners Cider, plus tips from a racing tipster before racing commences.

More information can be found at:

https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-showcase/cheltoberfest/

Throughout the day on Saturday, 26 October, there will be a variety of entertainment and demonstrations in The Parade Ring, available in the Club/Tattersalls Enclosure, including:

*A demonstration from the Riding for the Disabled.

*Learn about racehorse anatomy with Rachel Keeble.

*Matt Nicholls (Kim Bailey's assistant) will be talking through how to prepare a racehorse for a day at the races.

*Josh Stacey from the Racing Post will be on hand to provide a tipster talk ahead of racing.

*South West Syndicate Horses will be on parade between racing, a perfect opportunity to find out more and become part of our Syndicate - further details are available at:

https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/membership-and-offers/syndicate-ownership/

As well as entertainment and demonstrations in the Parade Ring, there are stalls and stands to see in the Tattersalls Sales Arena located in the Club/Tattersalls Enclosure, including:

*Representatives from the British Racing School will be available to answer any questions for those that are interested in working in the horseracing industry. More information is available at https://brs.org.uk/

*Retraining of Racehorses will be educating racegoers on a racehorse's life after their career in racing.

*Racing to School delivers free outdoor learning activities for young people at racecourses, studs and trainers' yards across the country. They will be around to teach you how to ride a racehorse with demonstrations and the opportunity for you to have a go by riding the equisizer.

*Matt from Beltane Forge will be showcasing his talent with a live demonstration straight from the forge.

If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683  sophia.dale@thejockeyclub.co.uk