Cheltenham Festival Tips: Sporting Ferret’s Best Bets for Day Three of the Festival

Cheltenham Festival 2021: Day Three Tips

After a fantastic day two of the Cheltenham Festival with the likes of Tiger Roll winning his third cross country chase, we move onto day three which features the third championship race of the meeting, the Stayers Hurdle. Can Lisnagar Oscar retain his crown? Or will Paisley Park get redemption after last years issues?

Here is our race by race guide for day three of the Festival.

1.20 pm: Marsh Novices Chase (Grade 1)

Tip – Envoi Allen to win the Marsh (1/2)

The Marsh is a race dominated by the Irish and this year looks to be no different.

The Henry De Bromhead trained Envoi Allen looks the one to beat in the Marsh and justifies favouritism. The seven-year-old novice is currently 12/12 and is yet to see another horses backside in a race. This superstar gelding was the winner of the Champion Bumper in 2019 and then followed up with the Ballymore in 2020. He’s now going for his third consecutive Cheltenham Festival victory and is by far the stand out horse in the race.

Chantry House could run into a place at a price. The Nicky Henderson trained seven-year-old ran back to form last time out at Wetherby beating Coconut Splash but would have to step up significantly to get anywhere near the favourite Envoi Allen.

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 10 winners were aged 6-7
• 4 out of the last 10 winners were favourites
• 7 out of the last 10 winners won on their previous before the Marsh Novices Chase

1.55 pm: Pertemps Network Final (Grade 3)

Tip – The Bosses Oscar to win the Pertemps (11-2) 

The Pertemps is a race won by Gordon Elliott for the last three years. Mrs Denise Foster has taken over Elliot’s License for the Festival and looks to have another nice one here with The Bosses Oscar.

The six-year-old is currently second-favourite and has been very impressive this season winning on his seasonal reappearance at Thurles and subsequently two fantastic second places. Although he runs off top-weight, Jordan Gainford takes off a valuable 7lb and looks as if he should be there or thereabouts in the finish.

The current market leader is Imperial Alcazar for Fergal O’Brien who is looking to get his first Cheltenham Festival winner. He was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance but bounced back to form on his latest outing winning a Pertemps qualifier.

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 12 winners were aged 6-8
• 2 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 4 out of the last 12 winners won on their previous start before the Pertemps Final

2.30 pm: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

Tip – Samcro to win the Ryanair (12/1)

This years running of the Ryanair Chase is fiercely competitive and looks to be wide open. However, we believe Samcro is worth chancing at a price. The nine-year-old won last years Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Festival and finished a respectable third behind Battleoverdoyan at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance. He pulled up last time out at Leopardstown in December, and we haven’t seen him since then. He has proven Cheltenham Form and if he were back to his best, he would have a massive chance.

One to note and current joint favourite is Min for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, who has already had a fantastic Festival. The ten-year-old won this race last year in a thriller and looks like he can deliver here again for the Irish. However, similarly to Samcro, he’d have to bounce back after pulling up last time out at Leopardstown. If he ran to his best, he’d be bang there.

Key Stats

• 11 out of the last 12 winners were aged 7-9
• 4 out of the last 12 winners were favourites or joint favourites
• 11 out of the last 12 winners were rated 161 or higher

3.05 pm: Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Tip – Paisley Park to win the Stayers Hurdle (9/4)

The Stayers Hurdle is the big one of the day and it looks as if Paisley Park can repeat his Festival heroics in 2019 and win again. After a disappointing run in last years Stayers Hurdle, it was confirmed that Paisley suffered from a defibrillating heart which was the cause for his poor run.

He was narrowly beaten on her seasonal reappearance in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury behind Thyme Hill. The two fought again in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot just a month later, but that time Paisley got the better. Philip Hobbs, trainer of Thyme Hill confirmed that he had a setback and would not take his chance in this race, leaving Paisley Park the chance to grab the spoils. If he turns up in the form we know he can produce, he will be hard to beat.

One to mention at a price would be Vinndication. He was second in last years Ultima Chase at the Festival and has been since reverted back to Hurdles. He has fantastic hurdle form behind the likes of Champ so if he were to replicate that form he would have an each-way chance.

Key Stats

• 10 out of the last 12 winners were aged 6-8
• 5 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 8 out of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous grade 1 win

3.40 pm: Paddy Power Plate (Grade 3)

Tip – Oldgrangewood to win the Paddy Power Plate (20/1)

Another wide-open handicap of the Festival is the Paddy Power Plate. We believe the ten-year-old Oldgrangewood has solid each-way claims. He was fourth in last years Brown Advisory Plate at the Festival and has done nothing but improve since then. He has form behind Kalashnikov and Saint Calvados who both placed at the Cheltenham Festival. He was an unfortunate unseat on his last start at Warwick when looking threatening and looks to have solid each-way claims here.

One to mention at a massive price would be Huntsman Son for Kielan Woods and trainer Alex Hales. The trainer had For Pleasure run a fantastic third in this year’s Supreme and looks to be in form. The eleven-year-old was an impressive winner on seasonal reappearance at Weatherby but subsequently pulled up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. Hales reported the ground was too soft that day so on the quicker ground is worth a chance at around 40/1.

Key Stats

• 8 out of the last 12 winners were aged 6-8
• 3 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 10 out of the last 12 winners were rated 136 or higher

4.15 pm: Dawn Run Mares Novices Hurdle (Grade 2)

Tip – Hook Up to win the Dawn Run (11-2)

The Dawn Run has been a race only run five times at the Festival, being won all five times by Willie Mullins. We believe he has another chance here to make that six with Hook Up. The five-year-old was a disappointing 11th in last years Triumph Hurdle albeit only having one previous run in Ireland as her preparation. Since then, she has shown great promise by dominating the field on her seasonal reappearance and finishing a credible fourth behind Appreciate It on her last start in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. Appreciate It has since bolted up in the Supreme on Tuesday and if Hook Up were able to run in a similar form she’d be bang there now dropping down to Grade 2 company.

One to note is Telmesomethinggirl who finished just 3 1/2 lengths behind Heaven Help Us last time out who bolted up in yesterday’s Coral Cup. Rachael Blackmore who has had a fantastic start to the festival takes the ride for Henry De Bromhead, and if able to run to that level of form would have a great chance.

Key Stats

• 5 out of the last 5 winners were aged 5-6
• 3 out of the last 5 winners were favourites
• Willie Mullins has won this race on all 5 occasions

4.50 pm: Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Tip – Mount Ida to win the Kim Muir (6/1)

The day’s final race is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, and this year’s renewal looks as wide-open as usual. We believe the current market leader Mount Ida for Mrs Denise Foster has a chance. The seven-year-old finished a gallant second behind Colreevy in a Grade 2 at Thurles last time out and now dropping back into a handicap looks threatening.

One to note at a price is the Nicky Henderson trained Morning Vicar. The eight-year-old has looked a promising prospect since jumping fences and the better conditions look to be in his favour. He has promising form just shy of 3 miles and the step up to 3 miles 2 looks to suit. If able to get into a rhythm, he could be a lively outsider.

Key Stats

• 11 out of the last 12 winners were aged 7-9
• 2 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 11 out of the last 12 winners were rated 137 or higher

This horse stays well ?

Mount Ida wins the Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novices Chase at Cork

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We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Cheltenham Festival 2021 Day Three Tips.’ Who is your nap of the day for day three of the Festival? Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know!

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