Tea In Transvaal under consideration for The Showcase at Cheltenham

Trainer Evan Williams is considering running Tea In Transvaal in the £35,000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, October 24, day two of The Showcase.

The daughter of Teofilo has been a highly-progressive performer over the summer months and is unbeaten in four starts since joining the Vale of Glamorgan handler, with Paul Molony in the saddle each time.

Her winning sequence began at Southwell in a mares' novices' hurdle in June. She then went on to annex a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot in July before taking another mares' novices' hurdle at Uttoxeter later in the same month.

Last time out, she recorded her biggest victory to date in the Weatherbys Hamilton Limited Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 10, when she battled gamely to defeat the Grade One-placed Karezak by three-quarters of a length.

Tea In Transvaal's winning sequence has seen her handicap mark rise rapidly. From a rating of 111 back in June, her Chepstow success has brought here to 134.

Williams said: "Tea In Transvaal will definitely be entered in the Masterson Holdings Holding. It is strange how some horses can really come to themselves but we are obviously delighted with her progress and she seems grand following her win at Chepstow on Saturday.

"She is really going the right way and it is always nice when they come through in handicaps as I think you get a truer indication of a horse's ability.

"I don't know the reason why she has improved so much. She has her moments and is a delicate little girl, very feminine. She is in a happy place at the moment and will get an allowance at Cheltenham. It is always nice with a progressive mare as they do get allowances in conditions races."

Tea In Transvaal began her career on the Flat with Richard Hannon senior and boasted some good form in 2013, finishing second to subsequent dual Guineas runner-up Lightning Thunder and third to future Oaks heroine Taghrooda.

Williams continued: "As a two-year-old, she had some lovely form. Although I can only speak since we have had her in the spring, she seems to have to have recovered some of the good form of the form she showed as a juvenile."

The Masterson Holdings Hurdle, staged over two miles and restricted to four-year-olds, boasts an impressive recent roll of honour. Last year's renewal went to the 2014 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll, while in 2012 the race was won by subsequent Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets.

Other highlights at The Showcase are two £50,000 handicap chases on Saturday, October 24 - the winner.co.uk Trophy over three miles and a furlong plus the winner.co.uk Handicap Chase over two miles.

Away from the high-class action on the track, racegoers will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Home of Jump Racing with guided tours of the parade ring and weighing room before racing.

The Showcase food and drink zone, introduced for the first time in 2014, returns to The Centaur to show off all that is great about the food and drink produced in the Cotswolds.

A full list of the stands can be found here:

http://cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk/events-tickets/whats-on/the-showcase-food-and-drink-zone

Various areas of Cheltenham's exciting new £45-million grandstand, which is being opened by The Princess Royal on Friday, November 13, will be in use at The Showcase, including the Vestey Bar, the Annual Members Bar, the Owners and Trainers Bar and The Cotswolds Club. In addition, the 11 private boxes will be in use as well as the Royal Box.