Cheltenham preview raceday at Exeter Racecourse

With two of the biggest festivals in National Hunt racing nearly upon us, all the focus will first be on Cheltenham. The Festival will run from Tuesday 10th March 2020 to Friday 13th 2020 and the four days will be absolutely packed with 28 races featuring some of the best chasers and hurdlers the country has to offer. 

With that in mind, The Jockey Club are hosting a preview night at Exeter Racecourse on Tuesday 3rd March. Mattie Batchelor will host a panel of handpicked guests which will include Luke Tarr from Star Sports, trainers David Pipe and Philip Hobbs as well as a representative from Paul Nicholls yard at Ditcheat. 

This illustrious group of experts have a wealth of horse racing knowledge so expect plenty of insights into the upcoming festival. David Pipe saddled his first Cheltenham winner in Gaspara back in 2007 and this year has at least seven entries in the Festival. They include Poker Play in the RSA Chase, Gabrielle Du Seuil in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and his potential Grand National runner, Ramses De Teillee, in the Albert Bartlett.

As a trainer Philip Hobbs has sent out over 2,000 winners including Balthazar King who won the Glenfarclas Chase twice. This year his hopefuls include Sporting John who holds entries in both the Supreme and Ballymore Novice’s Hurdles as well Queen Mother Champion Chase contender Defi Du Seuil, a short-priced favourite behind Altior. Can Altior be beaten again? It will be interesting to hear what Philip Hobbs has to say on the subject. 

Entry solely for the Preview Evening Panel will be free after 5:00pm. It follows a days racing at Exeter Racecourse. Tickets for the Grandstand and Paddock enclosure start are £10, the Haldon Premier Stand tickets are priced from £19 and Under 18s are free. Gates open at 12pm with the first race beginning at 2pm. That last race is at 4.30pm after which the panel will begin their discussions on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.