The BIG Cheltenham Festival Preview: Day 3

 The BIG Cheltenham Festival Preview: Day 3



13.20 - Mares Novices' Hurdle

The first race on Thursday is quite a competitive one but I'm just about siding with Galileo Dame for Joseph O'Brian. This horse was very eye catching running behind Hello Neighbour in the Juvenile hurdle at the DRF last month which is by far the strongest piece of form in the race. She'll also get weight from the rest of the field here and could easily see her going one better here.

One I think is overpriced in this is Diva Luna. She's been very hot and cold of late but her form from the end of last season shows that she's got the talent to mix it with this strong field. Trainer Ben Pauling seemed very confident on her chances and said that she's been showing all the signs at home to say she could be back to her best. A cracking each-way bet.

Selection: Galileo Dame

Danger/EW: Diva Luna

Star Rating: 3/5

14.00 Jack Richards Novice Chase

This race is the last that has recently been turned into a handicap and if you've been following my ante-post series you'll know that I'm really keen on one here and that is Nurburgring. You could make a case for quite a few in here with a endless amount of potential 'plot horses' but I think he could be chucked into this off a mark of 143. I put him up for this race at 10/1 and he has shortened up a fair bit but I do think he's still decent value.

My each way play in this is another Ben Pauling horse in the shape of Pic Roc. He ran a solid race at Newbury last time out and has remained a pretty consistent standard all season and off a mark of 137 I think he can outrun his odds.

Selection: Nurburgring

Danger/EW: Pic Roc

Star Rating: 4/5

14.40 - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

This isn't a race I have a very strong opinion on if I'm honest But I've decided to stick with JP McManus owned Win Some Lose Some. He's off a mark of 138 so will have to carry a fair amount of weight in this but his win last time out at Leopardstown was very impressive and with Mark Walsh taking the ride I think he'd have a decent chance at 8/1.

Another one I quite like in this is Will The Wise for Gavin Cromwell. He won his last 2 starts very convincingly after finishing behind Final Demand at Limerick over Christmas and although he may have already shown the handicapper his hand, I think he could be a solid bet at 9/1 each-way. 

Selection: Win Some Lose Some 

Danger/EW: Will The Wise

Star Rating: 2/5

15.20 - Ryanair Chase

I must admit I absolutely love this race and this renewal looks like it could be another proper contest. Although they are a few with chances I am sticking with the favourite here in Fact To File. The only time we've seen him over this trip this season was in the John Durkin as Punchestown where he beat the like of Galopin Des Champs and Spillane's Tower. I know it wouldn't have been the optimum trip for some of his rivals that day but it sure suited him and I think we'll see him back to his best here over 2m4f.

One I would give a chance too is last years winner Protektorat. He's just a solid honest horse that's guaranteed to run his race so I couldn't see him out of the top 3 in this. He was so impressive racing from the front at Winsor last time out where he put Djelo to the sword and jumped all his rivals into submission. If he gets into a rhythm he could be hard to peg back.

Selection: Fact To File

Danger/EW: Protektorat

Star Rating: 4/5

16.00 - Stayers Hurdle

We've reached our feature race of day 3 and we've got another packed race here however although he is short I do think the favourite Teahupoo might just have a bit too much class for these. We've only seen him once this season where he ran behind Lossiemouth in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse and has been kept fresh for this day in mind all year. He won the race 12 months ago by simply being the best horse in the race and I think he will again this time around.

One I like at a massive price is Gowel Road for the Twiston-Davis team. He's run at every meeting at Cheltenham this season finishing 2nd on 4 of the occasions before winning there last time out. He's another one whose certain to run his race and at 33/1 he looks a solid each-way bet.

Selection: Teahupoo 

Danger/EW: Gowel Road

Star Rating: 4/5

16.40 - The Plate

I'm going with another here who won over course and distance last time out and that's Jonjo O'Neil trained Jagwar. He was so impressive beating Billytherealbigred and Masaccio that day and kicked on really strongly after jumping the last and off a mark of 139 here there's nothing to say he doesn't have plenty more in hand and I could see him backing up that win here on his last start.

One I'll give a mention to here is An Peann Dearg for Paul Nolan. He was great to watch in his last 2 runs winning twice at Leopardstown at Christmas and the DRF. He travels strong and jumps really well and I think he has every chance of hitting the frame at a double figure price.

Selection: Jagwar

Danger/EW: An Peann Dearg

Star Raring: 3/5

17.20 - Kim Muir 

Again this isn't a race I have a huge opinion on so I wont take too long here but one I will give a chance to is another Gavin Cromwell horse in the shape of  Yeah Man. He ran a valiant 4th behind the likes of Nick Rockett in the Thyestes at Gowran Park before he unseated his rider last time out at Haydock where he was travelling really nicely into the race up until that point. He will be carrying top weight here but I think he's got enough natural ability to see him hitting the frame in a race like this at least.

The main danger for me would be another Jonjo horse and that is Johnnywho. He was well beaten by Jingko Blue at Winsor last time out but I feel there's definitely a big handicap performance in him down the line and wouldn't be without a chance here.

Selection: Yeah Man 

Danger/EW: Johnnywho

Star Rating: 2/5


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