Cheltenham day three tips: Tips for every race at the Festival
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We’re past the halfway stage of the Cheltenham Festival and it is time to work our way through the Cheltenham betting once again as PA Media’s Molly Hunter picks out Cheltenham day 3 tips for every race.
Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand in the Turners Novices’ Chase with 11/10 favourite Mighty Potter, who is unbeaten in three starts in his first season over fences.
Mighty Potter lives up to his name in the @Ladbrokes Novice Chase 💪
A popular winner for @_Davy_Russel_ 🎉#DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/GALEnqWXWm
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) February 5, 2023
A convincing winner of the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, beating Gaillard Du Mesnil, Banbridge and Adamantly Chosen, the six-year-old then stepped up a furlong for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival.
There he was a most taking winner, beating Adamantly Chosen once again to come home eight and a half lengths ahead and make himself a key player at the Festival – and a potential future superstar into the bargain.
Maxxum has been transformed since joining Gordon Elliott’s stable, romping home at both Navan and Leopardstown on soft ground at the tail end of last year.
Finished a disappointing 12th in a big-field handicap at Leopardstown last month when he was hampered on the turn moving into contention, so with the right conditions and a clear run he will be the one to beat at 5/1.
Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin, the 4/5 favourite, can make a triumphant return to Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase.
The nine-year-old, a former Supreme and Arkle winner, arrived at the meeting the 5/6 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase last year but was pulled up on soft ground in driving rain and subsequently diagnosed with a rare bone condition.
Shishkin is BACK! The @sevenbarrows star is brilliant in the Grade 1 Betfair @Ascot Chase for @NdeBoinville! pic.twitter.com/rkBY975agG
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 18, 2023
His comeback run in the Tingle Creek saw him beaten 15 lengths by Edwardstone and prompted a step up in trip, a move that looked inspired when when he ran away with the Grade One Ascot Chase in a 16-length rout of the opposition.
That return to form and the manner in which he did it make him both the logical and affectionate choice for the Ryanair, where he will take on the same trip in a bid for a happier Cheltenham experience than last year.
Charles Byrnes’ Blazing Khal can make it three from three on trips to Cheltenham, this time for his biggest prize yet in the shape of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
He looked likely to be a strong presence in the staying division before injury left him sidelined for 428 days, with minor setbacks delaying his planned comeback.
When he did eventually return for the Boyne Hurdle in mid-February, he instantly regained the esteem in which he was held, prevailing by three lengths but looking like he had plenty more up his sleeve.
His path to the Festival has looked a little precarious at times as he incurred a knock in the Boyne, but his trainer more than knows the time of day and has given him the green light. With both course and recent form to recommend him, he must surely go close at 11/4.
So Scottish, trained by Emmet Mullins, won his first couple of races over fences and was a length and a quarter runner-up behind Boothill in a valuable handicap at Ascot in November when his jumping was not quite as good as the winner.
However, the drop in trip may have worked against him and he should savour the return to further at Cheltenham.
With a BHA mark of 143, the unexposed So Scottish looks to have the edge over his rivals at 4/1.
Henderson thas a further chance of a Festival winner in the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade Two in which Luccia looks the horse to beat at 6/4.
Unbeaten but lightly-raced, the five-year-old has been seen twice this season when making easy work of Listed contests against both mares and geldings.
Most recently the chestnut landed an Exeter event by a comfortable 11 lengths, an impressive run where even a mistake at the last could not jeopardise a clear lead.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Beauport looks a solid each-way chance at 10/1 in the final race of the day over three miles and two furlongs.
Beauport finished fourth in a huge handicap hurdle at Aintree almost a year ago and since then has been tackling tough novice company over fences, winning at Carlisle in October and finishing runner-up in a three-horse race at Haydock a month later.
Got his first taste of Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when fourth of five, beaten 20 lengths by The Real Whacker, who won a much better race here on Wednesday. Will be better for the experience at Prestbury Park and this longer trip should suit better.
Cheltenham Day 3 tips:
1.30 Mighty Potter
2.10 Maxxum
2.50 SHISHKIN (NAP)
3.30 Blazing Khal
4.10 So Scottish
4.50 Luccia
5.30 Beauport
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
