2026 Cheltenham Festival Preview - Day 3

 2026 Cheltenham Festival Preview - Day 3



13.20 - Mares Novice Hurdle

Another big field novice hurdle to open up day 3 of the festival and I'll be hoping favourite backers get off to a good start here as I'm all over Bambino Fever for Willie Mullins. Last years Champion Bumper winner had a surprising poor start to life over hurdles when she was beaten by Oldschool Outlaw at Naas first time out but I was happy to forgive her being that it was her first run of the season with Willie's Mares always coming on for their 2nd run.
She then went to Fairyhouse where she hosed up by 12 lengths (albeit going off at 1/12) however she looked much more herself that day and has been kept fresh for this.
I think this is one of Willies best novices and wouldn't have looked out of place in this years supreme which leads me to believe that we can get day 3 off to a flyer!
I'll give a small ew chance to Carigmoornaspruce for Declan Queally based on the form of her last run where she was 2nd at Leopardstown over Christmas to Skylight Hustle. She's a fast finisher and the new course will suit.

Selection: Bambino Fever 
EW Selection: Carigmoornaspruce
Danger: Oldschool Outlaw

14.00 - Jack Richards Handicap Chase

Possibly the most competitive handicap of the week comes next with a whole host of these come here with a decent chance. The one I landed on was Meetmebythesea for Ben Pauling whose been quite friendly in the market after a few 'shrewdies'  tipped him up earlier in the week but off a mark of 139 I still think he holds a bit of value at his current price. 
He's 2/3 over fences this season with wins coming at Ayr & Wetherby before having a spin in the grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury where he finished 6/6 but was never put into the race and connections clearly had this race in mind. 
Again this is a trappy little race with a few in here that look ahead of the handicapper such as the likes of Slade Steel & Regents Stroll but I'm happy to have a small play on this lad against the field.

Selection: Meetmebythesea
Danger: Slade Steel, Regents Stroll

14.40 - Mares Hurdle

Now this selection is a really boring one but hopefully a winning one! I'll be siding with the favourite Wodhooh for Gordon Elliot and she's a mare that's just got better and better over the course of the season. After winning the Martin Pipe 12 months ago she went to the Aintree Hurdle where she was just picked off by now Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth which on it's own is the best form in the race. Wins at Ascot & Leopardstown followed as the season went on and comes in here with a mighty chance.. although she's short odds.
Gordon hasn't been in the best form this week with a few hitting the crossbar but he did say leading up to the meeting that this was his best chance of the week and it would be hard to disagree with him!
The danger would be last years runner up Jade De Grugy who was no match for Lossiemouth in the race 12 months ago but holds obvious claims with Paul Townend on board.

Selection: Wodhooh
Danger: Jade De Grugy

15.20 - Stayers Hurdle

This is a race that hasn't got me too excited in recent years but this renewal looks an absolute cracker! Teahupoo heads the betting but has drifted massively over the course of the evening which I can only imagine is due to Gordon Elliot's poor run of form. He'll also have the ground against him with the new course set to be rattling quick which would not be his preference. He did win on good ground at Christmas putting Ballyburn to the sword with arguably his best run of his career and looks to be the strongest piece of form in the race but with a few worthy challengers in behind I'd be willing to take him on. 
I already have a 12/1 ante-post selection with Impose Toi whose been a progressive horse this season rising up out of handicaps .He was beaten by Ma Shantou in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out but was giving weight away to the winner & wouldn't have appreciated the soft ground that day so I'd be prepared to forgive him for that. 

Selection: Impose Toi
Danger: Teahupoo

16.00 - Ryanair Chase

The new feature race of day 3 is the Ryanair which looked to be a pretty ordinary renewal up until final declarations where both Jonbon & Impaire Et Passé joined the party to make it a bit more of a competitive heat. I'm already on the Favourite Fact to File ante-post along with Heartwood EW both at bigger prices and I must admit I was almost counting my winnings early until the 2 new arrivals came into it. 
Impaire Et Passé is a horse I've loved since his Novice Hurdle days and although I will most likely have a little go at him on the day, I don't see the need to be getting more involved in the race than I already am - A cracking race nonetheless.

Selections: Fact To File, Heartwood EW
Danger: Impaire Et Passé

16.40 - Pertemps Final 

I don't want to sound too bullish here but this could potentially be the biggest plot job of the week for the Skelton's with Supremely West. He gets in here off a mark of 135 after a couple of 'educational rides' throughout the season. He qualified for this back in October in a race where the form is working out really well. The winner was Ma Shantou who has improved massively throughout the campaign now off a mark of 154 and has a solid chance in the grade 1 Stayers Hurdle as well as the 2nd place horse Electric Mason also coming out and winning a valuable handicap on his next start at Haydock leaving him off a mark of 139.
As much as I do fancy this lad his price holds very little value now so I won't be putting this up as a strong selection however he's clearly the one they all have to beat.

Selection: Supremely West
Danger: C'Est Different , Bold Endeavour 

17.20 - Kim Muir Handicap Chase

Yet another deep handicap to finish the day and this is one I just don't have a opinion on. I respect the 2 JP horses at the head of the market but they are both well found by punters now so I'm happy to sit this one out.

NAP: WODHOOH
NEXT BEST: BAMBINO FEVER

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