STAR HORSE RACING PREVIEW: Cheltenham Festival 2023 | Day Three

Not the best day with Edwardstone disappointing and Benson running just as badly, but a saver on A Dream To Share limited the damage. Onwards to day three!

Before the Day 3 preview, some housekeeping:

We now have 8 tipsters from a field of 32 – click below for Thursday’s updated draw and match odds!

Cheltenham Knockout Tipping Competition

Our man Davy Russell has a huge day, with two Grade 1 favourites and a leading chance in the Pertemps according to the market. Don’t miss his blog below:

Ground/Weather: The day started on a decent surface but it was a wet one and the ground appeared to be more testing throughout the day. A wet night would suggest that things will be more testing tomorrow, and soft ground performers could well be advantaged.

Course change: All races are now on the New Course, which has a much longer home straight and tests stamina more than the speedier old course. There’s one hurdle in the home straight and two fences for the chasers.

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1.30 – Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m4f (2m3f168y)

Mighty Potter has been peerless over fences and can make it four from four with victory here. Gordon Elliott’s charge blew out in the supreme but that’s easily forgiven as he clearly wasn’t right that day and since then he’s been faultless. His Drinmore success over Banbridge is one of the best pieces of novice form, and the style of his win at the Dublin Racing Festival was that of an exceptional performer. Yesterday’s rain is an extra bonus.

Banbridge and Appreciate It are the chief dangers, although Banbridge was left for dead by Mighty Potter earlier in the season when the ground was soft and there was barely anything separating him and Appreciate It when they were second and third in the Irish Arkle.

Balco Costal is a major each/way player after his second to Gerri Colombe, form which was franked yesterday, and going left-handed should be another benefit for him here. Stage Sar’s impressive win in a course and distance novice handicap here on Trials Day means he’s also a player.

James Du Berlais was super impressive on his return from a long break (also chasing debut) but he disappointed when last to Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival and must bounce back whilst Unexpected Party, Notlongtillmay, and Christopher Wood all need to find massive improvement.

2.10 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m (2m7f213y)

One of the toughest puzzles of the week and any number of potential winners. The Bosses Oscar makes the most appeal after his very encouraging return at Musselburgh, suggesting that he’s over the sinus problems which have affected him over the past winter (now recovered). Second in this two years ago (was 6lbs higher), this could be his time to strike and the 5lbs claim of Ben Harvey is a real bonus.

2.50 – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m4½f (2m4f127y)

Is Shishkin at his best? If so, on his best form – and the evidence of his Ascot Chase win – the others are playing for second. A second wind operation looks to have done the trick for him and all being well, he’ll be extremely hard to beat if 100%.

Blue Lord had looked like a Champion Chase contender when he romped home at Christmas but he never went a yard when unable to cope with stablemate Gentleman De Mee at the Dublin Racing Festival. A winner over 2m4f in the Clonmel Oil Chase, it could be that this step up trip might benefit him and he’s a serious player, but he was disappointing last time.

Jandil was second last year behind Allaho and returned in style with a gutsy success in the Red Mills at Gowran when he overturned Haut En Coleurs. He is a major place shout and so is Fury Road, who gave Galopin Des Champs a bit of a fright in the Irish Gold Cup (for a moment at least) after his third place finish in the Savills Chase. A winner over 2m3f, he should go well.

Envoi Allen bounced back after a series of poor runs with victory in Down Royal’s Champion Chase but he was then disappointing in the King George and his consistency is a worry. Ga Law got the better of French Dynamite in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and both can go well but they must improve again. Hitman is a capable horse but he was a little flat at Newbury in the Denman and Chacun Pour Soi isn’t the horse of old.

3.30 – Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (3m (2m7f213y)

An absolutely brilliant contest with several serious contenders. The ground has come at just the right time for Teauphoo, who confirmed his stamina for this trip with an easy victory in the Galmoy Hurdle last time out after a grinding victory over Klassical Dream (reopposes) in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle back in December. There was just a head between them that day but Teauphoo shapes as if he may be the stronger stayer of the pair, especially around this course (Klassical Dream travelled well after being keen and then faded into fifth in last year’s renewal).

He has a major chance but it’s possible that the horse to bet this year could be the sixth placed finisher from 2022, Home By The Lee. He was seven and a half lengths behind Flooring Porter last year, but he looked a transformed horse in the Boyne Hurdle when he beat Ashdale Bob, Flooring Porter and Sire Du Berlais, and he backed that up with his powerful finish to the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle when he put three lengths between himself and Ashdale Bob. Those were career best performances on contrasting ground, both entitled him to be shorter than the 11/2 he’s currently available at with starsports.bet. The ground should be no problem – and the hill won’t phase him given his form this season – and one can argue that he’s the value choice of the favourites.

Blazing Khal’s talent is undeniable, but his interrupted preparation is very off-putting and there’s also the worry about a potential bounce factor too. If he’s here in top form then he’ll take some stopping, as his Boyne Hurdle win shows. Flooring Porter has won this for the last two seasons, but he must refind his best form here (flat on both runs) and he’s sure to face a lot of pressure on the front end. Ashdale Bob is capable of a big run in the right conditions – his record is a very creditable one – but he’s found a key rival here too good on his last four starts and others are preferred for win purposes.

Cleeve winner Gold Tweet has to be taken seriously – he was dominant at the end of that race and should uphold the form with Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park here – and he makes more appeal than fellow raider Henri Le Farceur, for all that the latter named was an impressive winner of the Prix Leon Olry Roederer last time (2m5f, heavy). The wetter the better for the latter named horse.

4.10 – Magners Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (2m4½f (2m4f127y)

Two against the field here. In two runs here this season Midnight River has finished third in the Paddy Power Chase between likely graded horses Ga Law and French Dynamite (both run in Ryanair) before winning a Premier Handicap here on New Year’s Day (Stolen Silver second, Il Ridoto fourth) and whilst he’s up 7lbs, a repeat performance should see him in the thick of things here.

Haut En Couleurs would have been entitled to take his chance in the Ryanair based on his efforts this season – he was going best of all when falling at the last in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles and then was second to last year’s Ryanair runner up Janidil in the Red Mills at Gowran. A repeat of those efforts should see him give Michael O’Sullivan a great spin.

4.50 – Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m1f (2m179y)

Luccia is one of the hottest favourites of the week and she’s looked a right prospect, but there are plenty lining up to take a shot at her here and this looks a competitive enough contest.

Lot of Joy has bumped into two smart geldings before a confidence booster at Fairyhouse, Magical Zoe impressed when overturning Nikini in the Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle, Jetara’s form suggests she’s a big price here (Halka du Talbert was third behind her last time and needs respecting) whilst Under Control, Foxy Girl, Princess Zoe and Ladybank all have their chances.

The front two will take plenty of beating but this is a deeper race than many would suggest and it may be best left.

5.30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (3m2f)

Plenty of live chances here. Dunboyne’s second in the Thyestes (only beaten a short head) could be the best piece of handicap form here and it’s been boosted since, with fourth Coko Beach since winning the Grand National trial and fifth Espanito Bello romping home in the Leinster National. The more rain the better for him and Jamie Codd has won this no less than four times, and all things being equal he should be capable of going close.

Stumptown has been really impressive in his last two wins and looks a worthy favourite whilst Mr Incredible can go well if he consents to start here. Beauport has lots of ability, but he must jump better to get involved here. At bigger prices, Punititve and Fontaine Collonges could get involved. The former has a Grade B handicap win to his name over further this year and the latter was sent off favourite in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last month.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Mighty Potter 3 pts win in 1.30 Cheltenham at 4/5 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK The Bosses Oscar 1 pt each/way in 2.10 Cheltenham at 10/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Shishkin 2 pts win in 2.50 Cheltenham at 8/11 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Home By The Lee 1 pt win 3.30 Cheltenham at 11/2 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Haut En Couleurs 1 pt win in 4.10 Cheltenham at 11/2 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Midnight River 1 pt win in 4.10 Cheltenham at 15/2 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Dunboyne 2 pts win in 5.30 Cheltenham at 13/2 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (MAR 2023): LOSS -12.73 points

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