Day 3 is St Patrick’s Day at the Cheltenham Festival. Given the Irish dominance in over the past three years, every day must have felt like a celebration across the Irish Sea. Our table will be updated with our Cheltenham Festival Thursday tips for day 3 as the showpiece event approaches but, for now, enjoy some of our best ante post selections for next year.
GG Weekend Watch Day 3
Andrew Mount Day 3 Tips
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Dom Of Mary
Andrew Mount’s Tips for Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival
Andrew Mount is backing a British fight back on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. In the opening Turners Novices’ Chase he is backing Grey Dawning who believes could be next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, while Fugitif, a dramatic winner of the December Gold Cup, could spring a surprise in the Ryanair Chase.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Day 3 Tips
Daily Present
Matty Sutcliffe’s Tips for Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival
Matty has been bullish about the chances of Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase for some time. Dropping back in trip, the former Gold Cup third could well have a strong chance as could Stayers’ Hurdle hope Dashel Drasher. The 11-year-old was second in the race in 2023.
Dave Young’s Day 3 Tips
Dave Young’s Tips for Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival
Dave’s ante-post fancy for the Ryanair Chase was Protektorat, on whom a couple of our team’s hopes are pinned. Zanahiyr, a classy hurdler, is also fancied to ruffle some feathers in the Turners Novices’ Chase to open the card.
Our Team’s Ante-Post Selections
| Date | Time | Race | Dave Young Ante-Post Tip | Matty Sutcliffe Ante-Post Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/3/24 | 13:30 | Turners Novices’ Chase | Zanahiyr (25/1) Read More | Tip to Follow |
| 14/3/24 | 14:50 | Ryanair Chase | Allaho (5/1) Read More Protektorat (16/1) Read More | Seddon (66/1) Read More |
| 14/3/24 | 15:30 | Stayers’ Hurdle | Tip to Follow | Da Capo Glory (66/1) Read More |
| 14/3/24 | 16:50 | Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | Jetara (12/1) Read More | Tip to Follow |
Cheltenham Day 3 Races
Day 3 is another very competitive day at the Cheltenham Festival, with three handicaps among seven races, two of which are considered championship races.
Turners Novices’ Chase
The Turners Novices’ Chase is the first race run on the New Course at Cheltenham. The track only comes into use on Days 3 and 4 after the Old Course is used on Days 1 and 2.
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
The Pertemps Network Final comes next. A three-mile handicap hurdle, a horse must have finished in the first four in one of a number of specified races during the season to have qualified.
Ryanair Chase
The Ryanair Chase is the first of two open Grade 1’s on the Thursday card, run over 2m5f.
Stayers’ Hurdle
The Stayers’ Hurdle is the true championship race on Thursday, crowning the best long distance hurdler in Britain and Ireland.
TrustATrader Plate
The TrustATrader Plate is the first of two handicap chases on the day, both of which come after the championships.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
The second youngest race at the Cheltenham Festival, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle was introduced to the fold in 2016.
Kim Muir Challenge Trophy
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Trophy is the final race on Thursday and is a staying handicap for amateur riders only. Only one British-trained horse has won this in the last five years as it is another race subject to the Irish dominance which now pervades the meeting.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Betting Tips
Day 3 has often been a day for bookmakers, with things being a lot more unpredictable.
The Turners’ Novices’ Chase may well have a very short-priced favourite this time around, as may the Ryanair Chase, so doubling those up may well be wise.
Beware being too clever with the handicaps, however. While the other days can often provide winners at lengthier odds, the Magners Plate has been won four times in the last six years by horses priced at no bigger than 5/1. Sometimes the answer is staring back at you from the top of the market.
Within the last five years, winners at 4/1 and 10/3 have won each of the Pertemps Final and Kim Muir too, so the victors can be easily found. That being said, the winners of those races in 2022 won at 25/1, 22/1 and 40/1, showing how difficult races they are to call!
Cheltenham Free Bets For Thursday
Bookmakers will have their Cheltenham Festival offers closer to kick off time on Thursday 13th March. One which is already live and ready to go is BetMGM’s Bet £10 Get £40 Offer, which is exclusive to Cheltenham Festival week. You will have to use all of your qualifying and free bets on selections of odds at least Evens, so make sure you do not get caught out by the terms of this offer.
Your free bets can be used on each race on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival in some form though. If you have a top fancy in any race including the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle, you could win big without the fear of losing with these free bet offers.
Finding The Best Odds On Day 3 Of The Cheltenham Festival
We’re all about making life as easy as possible for you, so we think it’s important to have access to the best odds available when picking your Cheltenham Day 3 tips.
That is why our tipsters scan the markets of the Cheltenham Festival throughout the season to come up with their best ante-post bets. We also provide an odds matching tool on every race of the Cheltenham Festival 24 hours in advance, so you can see which bookmakers are providing the best odds on each horse you wish to back at the meeting.
Equally, some of the most popular offers punters like to take advantage of are odds boosts. At recent Cheltenham Festivals there have been offers including A Plus Tard at 50/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022, and Constitution Hill at 40/1 for the Champion Hurdle in 2023. These are enormous price boosts on strong favourites, so are worth claiming as soon as you can. The best of these will be available during the week as the races near.
Cheltenahm Day 3 Trends:
- Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1):
- So, did you know that 11 out of the last 12 winners of the Turners Novices’ Chase were either 6 or 7 years old? It seems like age plays a significant role in this race.
- Interestingly, in the past 12 runnings, favorites or joint favorites have clinched victory 4 times. It might be worth keeping an eye on the top contenders in the betting.
- Another trend to note is that most winners had a win on their last run before this race and had raced at Cheltenham within the last 54 days. Familiarity with the course seems to be key.
- Also, all past winners had previous experience at Cheltenham, with many having at least one win there. It seems like knowing the track well can give horses an edge.
- It’s worth mentioning that nearly all winners were rated 146 or higher. Having a solid rating could be crucial in this competitive race.
- Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap):
- Hey, did you know that only 2 out of the last 12 winners were favorites? It seems like there’s room for surprises in this race.
- It’s interesting to see that most winners had their last run within the last 61 days before the Pertemps Final. Recent form seems to be a good indicator here.
- Having previous experience at Cheltenham also appears to be important, with many winners having at least one run or win at the track.
- Additionally, successful horses in this race tended to have multiple runs and wins over hurdles. Consistency over obstacles could be a key factor.
- Overall, it looks like a mix of form, recent runs, and familiarity with Cheltenham could play a significant role in determining the winner of this competitive handicap hurdle.
- Ryanair Chase (Grade 1):
- Fun fact – all past winners of the Ryanair Chase were aged between 7 and 9 years old. Age seems to be a factor to consider in this race.
- Interestingly, favorites or top contenders in the betting have had success here, with 6 out of the last 12 winners falling into this category.
- Winning on their previous run before the Ryanair Chase has been a common trend among past champions. Recent form could be crucial in this competitive event.
- Most winners had previous runs over specific distances, indicating that staying power is essential in this race.
- Having experience over hurdles has also been a common trait among successful horses in the Ryanair Chase. A strong hurdling background might give an advantage.
- Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1):
- Did you know that experience over flights is key in the Stayers’ Hurdle? Past winners typically had eight previous hurdles runs under their belt.
- Age has also played a role, with most recent champions being either 6 or 7 years old. It seems like maturity is valued in this grueling test of stamina.
- High ratings have been prevalent among winners, with most being rated 146 or higher. A strong rating could indicate a horse’s quality in this prestigious hurdle race.
- Consistency over hurdles has been another common trait among successful horses, with most having multiple wins over obstacles. Being proficient over hurdles is crucial here.
- Overall, it looks like experience, age, ratings, and hurdling ability are key factors to consider when picking a potential winner for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
- Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap):
- Having at least three runs during the season has been a common trend among Plate Handicap Chase winners.
- Winning on their next run after Cheltenham has been achieved by some past champions, showing that momentum can carry through to future races.
- Running in specific races post-Cheltenham has also been notable among winners. It seems like certain races serve as good indicators for success in subsequent events.
- Competing in additional races during the season has been common among successful horses, with some going on to win or place in those subsequent races.
- Running in specific races at future Cheltenham Festivals has also been seen among past Plate Handicap Chase victors. It looks like certain races serve as good preparation for success at Cheltenham.
- Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2):
- Fun fact – every winner of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle except one was rated 135 or higher. A high rating seems to be a common trait among champions here.
- Age has also played a role in this race, with most winners falling between 6 and 8 years old. It seems like maturity and experience are valued attributes.
- Favorites and top contenders have seen success here, with some past champions coming from these positions in the betting market.
- Running in specific qualifiers before this race has been notable among past victors. It looks like certain races serve as good preparation for success at Cheltenham.
- Having multiple runs and wins over hurdles has been common among successful horses in this event. Consistency and proficiency over obstacles seem to be key factors.
- Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase:
- Did you know that age has played a significant role in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup? Most recent winners were aged either 6 or 7 years old.
- High ratings have also been prevalent among champions here, with many being rated 146 or higher. A strong rating could indicate quality and ability in this competitive handicap chase.
- Experience over hurdles has been another common trait among successful horses, with most having multiple runs and wins over obstacles under their belt.
- Previous chase experience has also been important, with most winners having several chase runs before clinching victory in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
- Running multiple times during the season has been notable among past champions, indicating that consistency and fitness throughout the campaign are crucial for success.
What’s On Cheltenham Day 3:
Going into the Cheltenham Festival on Day 3 saw Willie Mullins reaching a historic milestone of 100 victories at Cheltenham, with his son Patrick securing the Champion Bumper win on Jasmin De Vaux after El Fabiolo’s unexpected pull-up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Rachael Blackmore capitalized on El Fabiolo’s error to secure an unlikely victory on Captain on Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, adding to the day’s excitement and thrills. Over 60,000 spectators are expected at Prestbury Park for St Patrick’s Thursday, eager to enjoy the races and beat the bookmakers
On Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, a variety of hospitality packages and VIP tickets are available, including Events Hospitality’s Platinum Suite packages and tailored options like Private Boxes, offering access to prime Festival locations, food, drink, and views of key areas. The Venue includes live entertainment from David ‘Yosser’ Hughes and input from celebrity racing experts. Viewers in the UK can watch the first five races of the day on ITV1 and stream online via ITVX, while Racing TV covers the final two races each day
Prize Money
In 2023, the prize money for the Cheltenham Festival was £615,000, with a total of £4,771,051 available across the four days of the festival. On Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, the prize money for various races includes:
The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate: £110,000
The Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle: £90,000
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeplechase: £70,000
Cheltenham Festival Weather Today
The weather at the Cheltenham Festival on Day 3 is expected to be mild with temperatures reaching around 12.8°C. There is a chance of a few showers, with 3mm of rainfall possible. The visibility is expected to be good, and the going report for the afternoon is soft, heavy in places on the New Course.
Other Days Of Cheltenham Festival
Three days might be down, but the big one still remains. Day 4 is Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival with Galopin Des Champs aiming to retain his crown. He’ll face a huge test from Fastorslow, who has been hugely impressive since being second in handicap company at the Festival 12 months ago.