Cheltenham Festival Day Three Preview: Odds, Tips & Results

/ 8:41 AM GMT • 14th March, 2024

12 minutes

The seven-race card on Thursday includes three Grade 1 races including the Turners Novices’ Chase, Ryanair Chase and the feature race, the Stayers’ Hurdle

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival will be remembered as the day that legendary trainer, Willie Mullins chalked up a landmark 100th Cheltenham Festival winner. The historic win came in the last race of the day as son, Patrick Mullins saddled Jasmin De Vaux to victory in the Champion Bumper. Earlier in the afternoon Mullins had recorded wins with red-hot favourites, Ballyburn and Fact To File. The feature race on day two went to Captain Guinness after odds-on favourite, El Fabiolo pulled up early in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The seven-race card on Thursday includes three Grade 1 races including the Turners Novices’ Chase, Ryanair Chase and the feature race, the Stayers’ Hurdle. Looking forward to Thursday’s action we’ll offer the latest betting tips and race odds from betting partners, NAGS Bet.

1:30

Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

The opening race on day three of the Festival is the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase and it seems somewhat inevitable now that a Willie Mullins entry is at the head of the market. Facile Vega won the Champion Bumper in 2022 before finishing second to Marine Nationale in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Could only manage third in the Irish Arkle last month and now steps up to 2m4f for the first time.

Dan Skelton scored a double on Wednesday and he has an excellent chance in Thursday’s opener with Grey Dawning. He was an easy winner at Warwick last time out and could’ve won here at Cheltenham two runs back were it not for a mistake two out. The winner of that run at Cheltenham was Ginny’s Destiny and he’s also in the frame for this. A win over C&D in January completed a Cheltenham hat-trick for this progressive eight-year-old and he cannot be disregarded here.

Iroko won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Festival last year and impressed sufficiently on his only run this season to put him right in the mix on Thursday.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Grey Dawning

Race odds

2:10

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

The Skelton team have another strong fancy in the second race of the day with Le Milos amongst the favourites for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. However, his recent form over hurdles has been far from ideal. There are no such concerns over the form of Cuthbert Dibble. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained six-year-old has run twice this year, winning handicap races on heavy ground on both occasions; a big player here.

Gabby's Cross has looked far better back over hurdles recently, finishing second in successive races over the autumn in Ireland. Trainer, Henry de Bromhead has had a reasonable start to the Festival and could follow in his father’s footsteps who trained the winner of this race back in 1993.

Chantry House won a Grade 1 race at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago but unfortunately, the form of the Nicky Henderson yard makes this popular ten-year-old easy to oppose.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Cuthbert Dibble

Race odds

2:50

Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

Rachael Blackmore has won two of the past three Ryanair Chase renewals and she will once again be in the saddle of last year’s winner and market leader, Envoi Allen. Ten years old now but he seems to save his best form for Cheltenham and arrives chasing a fourth Festival win. Only beaten by a neck in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in November and has to be respected.

Envoi Allen is not the only ten-year-old in the race and Conflated also has to be respected back at a course that’s never quite seen the best of him. Unseated rider in his last two races and was behind Envoi Allen at Down Royal.

In a strong looking renewal with no real standouts, there are a couple of past Festival winners that could have a big say in matters on Thursday. Banbridge won the Martin Pipe in 2022 but missed last year’s Festival. Having won the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January but questions marks over his ability to handle the ground.

Stage Star won the Turners last year and also landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup here at Cheltenham in November. Can be excused his last run and is certainly in the mix for this.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Stage Star

Race odds

3:30

Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival and an in-depth preview of this year's Stayers’ Hurdle renewal is available on our Cheltenham supersite. Whilst Teahupoo is a worthy favourite having finished third in the race as a six-year-old last year, our preference is for Long Walk Hurdle winner, Crambo.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Crambo

Race odds

4:10

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Theatre Man and Crebilly are vying for favouritism in the Plate and both have an excellent chance on Thursday. Theatre Man showed plenty of promise when second over C&D in January and should go well again down slightly in the weights. Has not finished outside of the top three in nine races under rules. Crebilly has shown strong form over fences and won on heavy ground at Exeter last month.

Shakem Up’Arry won on heavy ground over C&D in January and looks more than capable of improving on last year’s third place finish. Il Ridoto was off the pace in last year’s renewal but is a C&D winner and cannot be disregarded.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Shakem Up’Arry

Race odds

4:50

Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

Brighterdaysahead is the market leader in this Grade 2 event and remains unbeaten in five races; two bumpers and three over hurdles. Landed a Grade 3 at Down Royal in November and warmed up for Cheltenham with a 12 length win in a Listed event at Navan last month.

Jade De Grugy runs for man of the moment, Willie Mullins and with two easy wins for the trainer, she could be a real player here. Meanwhile, Dysart Enos is 6/6 under rules including over C&D in November. A real prospect that has to be respected. Birdie Or Bust is expected to run well in the famous McManus colours but the Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old is unlikely to overturn a 25 length deficit against Brighterdaysahead two runs ago.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Jade De Grugy

Race odds

5:30

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

The final race on Thursday has 24 runners confirmed in what will be a wide-open contest. Top weight, Inothewayurthinkin heads the betting having finished third behind Gaelic Warrior in a Grade 1 contest in December. The main challenge is set to come from Gordon Elliott pair Where It All Began and Cool Survivor. Where It All Began was a comfortable winner of a Grand National trial at Punchestown last month whilst Cool Survivor steps up in trip on his second handicap start.

However it is the Henry de Bromhead pair, Whacker Clan and Amirite that excite us the most. Whacker Clan has won past two chases including when finishing ahead of Twig here last October. Amirite was down in fourth in that November run at Cheltenham after his saddle slipped whilst right in the mix. Lightly raced and a great prospect.

Betting.Bet Prediction: Amirite

Race odds