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Horse Racing Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: St Patrick's Thursday, Cheltenham Festival 2023, March 16th
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips 2024
Thursday 16th March, Day 3 Schedule
| Time | Race | Cheltenham Day 3 Tips 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 | Turners Novices Chase | Read Tip |
| 2:10 | Pertemps Network Final | Read Tip |
| 2:50 | Ryanair Chase | Read Tip |
| 3:30 | Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle | Read Tip |
| 4:10 | Craft Irish Whisky Plate | Read Tip |
| 4:50 | Mares Novices Hurdle | Read Tip |
| 5:30 | Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Read Tip |
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Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Video Preview
Turners Novices Chase 2024
Race 1, Thursday 16th March 1:30
This Grade 1 Novice Chase is always one of the lightest betting heats of the week in ante-post terms, with the top Irish yards holding most of the aces and running plans fluid until final declarations.
The current 7/2f is Mighty Potter, who has made a smooth transition to jumping fences this winter for the all-powerful Gordon Elliott yard. He is 2/2 in this sphere, and impressed in winning the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase over this trip at Fairyhouse in December.
Gordon Elliott had endured a pretty quiet time of things in January, but recent signs are very encouraging and his progressive chaser now has the look of a banker for the Turners Chase at Cheltenham. He is now a general 6/4f in the ante-post lists, and heads to the festival now with 3 wins from 3 starts over fences this winter.
Turners Novices Chase Tip
Nicky Henderson’s unexposed novice remains open to plenty of improvement after just three career starts over fences, and he really impressed with the way he travelled when rather outstayed by Gerri Colombe in the Scilly Isles at Sandown last time out. He has a high cruising speed on decent ground, ran really well on one previous visit to Cheltenham over hurdles in January 2022 and perhaps might offer a touch of value at around the 16/1 mark at the moment with the bookmakers.
- Tip: Balco Coastal
- Stakes: 2/10
- Odds: 11.0 (bet365)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Pertemps Network Final 2024
Race 2, Thursday 16th March 2:10
The Pertemps handicap has always attracted plenty of plots and coups over the years, but usually it can be relied up to produce a big priced result for the bookmakers. The 2023 renewal has a relatively short priced favourite in Gordon Elliott’s very progressive handicapper Maxxum, who has stormed home twice already in competitive contests at home. 4/1 is now the best price available about his chance of continuing his improvement, but he has not been missed and makes no appeal at all at that kind of price in a race of this nature.
Pertemps Network Final Tip
Gordon Elliott has a formidable record in these Cheltenham handicaps over the years, and his battle hardened performer should relish the hurly-burly of this huge field Pertemps Finale. He is 3 from 15 over hurdles, has plenty of form in the book on soft ground, and comes into this in decent heart after catching the eye at a big price at Musselburgh in February (first run for six months and finished strongly from well off the pace).
- Tip: The Bosses Oscar
- Stakes: 1/10
- Odds: 11.0 (bet365)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Ryanair Chase 2024
Race 3, Thursday 16th March 2:50
The market for this Grade 1 has been dominated for some time by the hat-trick seeking Allaho, who bids to back up emphatic wins in 2021 and 2022.
However, his preparation has been interrupted at home and this will be his first run of the season (not been seen out since landing the odds at Punchestown in April). The current price around 2/1 is extremely fair if backers are willing to trust his trainer to have him close to 100pc on the day, and is he is then all of these rivals are soon going to be out of their comfort zone.
Shiskin stormed to the top of the Ryanair market with a devastating display in the 2m5f Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Ascot in February, and is now a best priced 6/4f for Festival glory. He was back to his very best after a poor return in the Tingle Creek, jumping superbly and always looking to be travelling within his comfort zone under a motionless Nico de Boinville. This intermediate trip clearly is now his optimum, though whether his past physical issues make him a betting proposition at a short price is another matter altogether.
Ryanair Chase Tip
Willie Mullins chaser was well below par when turned over at 1/4f at Leopardstown in February, onepaced from the hometurn behind the frontrunning Gentlemen du Mee. He has long shaped as though the intermediate trip in the Ryanair would suit ideally, and the absence of Allaho through injury has surely paved the way for a realistic tilt at this prize.
- Tip: Blue Lord
- Stakes: 8/10
- Odds: 7.0 (Skybet)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle 2024
Race 4, Thursday 16th March 3:30
The bookmakers are offering an unusually generous “6/1 the field” at the moment for the 2023 Stayers Hurdle, and there is no doubt this is the most wide open Graded contest of the entire four days.
There will be no Champ in the line up this year, but otherwise all of the usual suspects are represented, with Joseph O’Brien’s progressive Home by the Lee coming into things firmly on the upgrade. He has been tenacious in two big priced wins in Ireland already this winter, and his attitude under pressure will be a big plus up the final stamina sapping hill.
Perhaps the value lies with the bold frontrunner Flooring Porter, who won this in 2021 and 2022 and has not been ridden with quite the same gusto in two runs so far this season.
The Stayers hurdle looks really tricky for punters in 2023, with our selection Flooring Porter reportedly only “50-50” to make the race after breaking down on the gallops at home. Another live runner Blazing Khai is also under an injury cloud, with Charles Byrnes likely to send him straight to the festival without a prep run (if he runs at all). As a result, Home by the Lee continues to shorten up in the ante-post market, and is now a warm 7/2f with the bookmakers at this stage.
The Stayers hurdle at last saw a standout candidate emerge as Gordon Elliott’s progressive sort bolted up at Gowran Park at the end of January, sprinting clear on the bridle to win a very weak looking Grade 2 hard held by Davy Russell.
He has now won 8 of his 11 starts over hurdles, and is now the clear 3/1f for the prize in March. However, he did finished tailed off last on his only previous visit to Cheltenham, and that price makes very little appeal (for all one challenger Paisley Park disappointed at a short price in the Cleeve Hurdle).
Perhaps the winner of that Grade 2, Gold Tweet, might emerge as a bigger danger in March. He was an untested french raider before coming over to the UK, but cruised round on the bridle and proved his stamina for 3m in the process (now a 9/1 chance for March, but will need to be supplemented by connections).
Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle Tip
Danny Mullins produced one of the riding performances of the 2022 festival when making all of the running on Gavin Cromwell’s useful stayer, and he will be hard to pass in 2023 if ridden with the same flair from the tape.
He has not been quite at his best this winter under more conservative rides in Graded company at home, but might just be building up to full fitness and has surely be trained with this day in mind again.
- Tip: Flooring Porter
- Stakes: 2/10
- Odds: 7.0 (William Hill)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Craft Irish Whisky Plate 2024
Race 5, Thursday 16th March 4:10
There has been quite a strong early move for Emmet Mullins So Scottish in the ante-post market, with bookmakers now making him the standout 6/1f.
The stable is extremely shrewd and know exactly what it takes to win this ultra competitive prize, with The Shunter in 2021 landing an inspired touch for his punting owners. Perhaps Stolen Silver at around 16/1 offers better value, with the Sam Thomas yard enjoying a terrific season, and his liking for the unique Cheltenham undulations well established.
Craft Irish Whisky Plate Tip
Dan Skelton has a really good record in the festival handicaps over the years, and his course specialist seems sure to give his running again with conditions to suit. He has won 3 of his 7 starts over fences so far, and comes into this freshened up since winning a valuable prize here on New Years Day. A career high mark obviously demands more, but decent ground clearly suits and he can pounce late up the hill under regular rider Harry Skelton.
- Tip: Midnight River
- Stakes: 1/10
- Odds: 10.0 (bet365)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Mares Novices Hurdle 2024
Race 6, Thursday 16th March 4:50
A contest that is largely ignored in the ante-post markets, with a lot of the mares entered up in a number of races and options kept open until the last minute. There is no doubt that Nicky Henderson’s Luccia looks the standout contender at this stage, with her Newbury win on hurdling debut really impressive.
She is far less exposed than most of these rivals, and remains open to plenty of improvement as she gathers more racing experience (did miss a run in the Tolworth hurdle at Sandown in January with a minor setback, but has been working very well at home since).
Mares Novices Hurdle Tip
Nicky Henderson’s mare has always been held in the very highest regard at home, and she barely came off the bridle to make a winning hurdling debut at Newbury in November. She did miss an intended engagement at Sandown in January, but that setback was only minor and she has always had this valuable mares contest as her target.
- Tip: Luccia
- Stakes: 6/10
- Odds: 2.63 (bet365)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup 2024
Race 7, Thursday 16th March 5:30
A wide open renewal to this stamina test, with the bookmakers offering “10/1 the field” and very little betting activity in the early market.
Henry Daly has his team firing on all cylinders, and his thorough stayer Rapper appealed as a natural for this race when winning at Cheltenham on New Years Day. He will now have to defy a career high mark after that rout, but is thriving and relishes the demands of this track.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup Tip
Henry Daly’s progressive stayer has now won 3 of his 8 starts over fences, posting a career best effort when taking a strongly run handicap here on New Years Day. A new mark demands a lot more of him, but he is relatively exposed granted an extreme test of stamina and the demands of this race should be right up his street.
- Tip: Rapper
- Stakes: 1/10
- Odds: 29.0 (William Hill)
Odds as at 9am, 15th March 2023. Odds may now differ.
Cheltenham 2024 Festival Day 3 Races
The Grade 1 Turners Novice Chase gets things underway on Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival, run over 2m4f on the new course and it has proven a popular addition to the program since 2011. Ireland have dominated the prize, with just Nicky Henderson and Phillip Hobbs (with one winner each) breaking the stranglehold on proceedings in twelve runnings of the race. This provides a good opening for young horses who may be just below top class, and novices like Samcro (2020) and Yorkhill (2017) have been roared home by the legions of Irish punters.
The Pertemps Network Finale is one of the most competitive handicaps of the four days, with the runners earning their place in the line up by competing in the numerous qualifiers throughout the winter. Given the huge field over the near three mile trip, this has been something of a bookmakers benefit over the years, with numerous huge price winners cheered home only by the trackside layers. Jonjo O’Neill leads the training honours with 4 career wins in the race, with Holywell in 2013 a memorable victory under an inspired ride from Richie McClernon. The 2022 renewal saw Hughie Morrison win his first race at the Festival, as his thorough stayer gamely landed the spoils under Tom O’Brien.
The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase provides a welcome option for those runners thought to be just below Gold Cup class, and it has been dominated in the last two years by the explosive frontrunner Allaho. Willie Mullins charge has made all the running at a rapid gallop on each occasion, jumping his rivals into the ground and in command a mile out on each occasion. Since its first running in 2005 Mullins has dominated, with 5 wins overall and high class performers like Min and Vautour landing hefty market confidence.
The Grade 1 Stayers hurdle demands stamina of some of the best hurdlers in Britain and Ireland, with a history dating all the way back to 1912. There have been some memorable winners over the years, and none more so than the Paul Nicholls trained Big Bucks, who won this race a remarkable four times in 2009, ’10 ’11 and ’12 under the brilliant Ruby Walsh. Baracouda added plenty of colour when a rare French winner of the race twice, while there have been plenty of big priced upsets over the years (with Anzum at 40/1 in 1999 and Lisnagar Oscar at 50/1 in 2020 two recent examples). Big Bucks remarkable record seems unlikely to ever be surpassed, but Flooring Porter will be giving the hat-trick a good go from the front in this years contest.
The Plate handicap chase has been run under various guises over the years, perhaps best known as the Mildmay of Flete, but has always been a very competitive handicap run on the new course over 2m4 1/2f. Nicky Henderson has trained the winner four times over the years, with Non So in 2006 his most recent victory. In 2022 there was an emotional first festival winner for Evan Williams, with his frontrunning veteran Coole Cody seeing off a series of challenges under a brilliantly judged ride by Adam Wedge.
The Grade 2 Mares novice hurdle is another race that has rather diluted the competitiveness of other races during the week, and is open only to fillies and mares aged 4-y-o and upwards. Run on the new course over nearly 2m1f, it has predictably been dominated by Willie Mullins (who won the first five runnings of the race from 2016-2020). Harry Fry took the 2022 renewal with his very progressive mare Love Envoi, who saw off a record field of 19 under a strong ride from Jonathan Burke.
The Kim Muir Challenge completes day 3 at the Cheltenham festival, with a real test of stamina over 3m2f and the race confined to amateur riders. Jockeyship usually plays a huge part in the final outcome, with experienced riders like Jamie Codd unsurprisingly coming out on top regularly (four wins in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2016). 2022 saw a rare win for the British, as Venetia Williams Chambard sprang a surprise under an inspired ride from Lucy Turner.
