KLASSICAL DREAM can triumph in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm), the feature on the third day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins' eight-year-old could easily bring up a Grade One treble for the Irish trainer in what could be a spectacular afternoon for the County Carlow handler.
Klassical Dream has had his problems since winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2019 and followed with another Grade One success at the Punchestown Festival the following month.
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Then after 487 days off the track last April, he stepped up markedly in trip to three miles and landed a superb success in the Grade One Labrokes' Champion Stayers' Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Last year's Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter was pulled up in that contest and Klassical Dream was again ahead of him when returning to action in December to win the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Despite being beaten into fourth when long odds-on at Gowran Park at the end of January he still looks like he can grab victory in the Stayers' Hurdle.
2019 Stayers' Hurdle hero Paisley Park rolled back the years to win the Cleeve Hurdle at Prestbury Park last time and last season's Liverpool Hurdle winner Thyme Hill could both have a say in the finish. But Klassical Dream is still open to more improvement in this staying division and can come out on top.
Mullins' ALLAHO looks too good for his rivals and can land a second successive victory in the Grade One Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (GBB Race) (2.50pm).
The eight-year-old ran away with this Grade One, under Rachael Blackmore, 12 months ago beating subsequent Aintree Melling Chase winner Fakir D'Oudairies by 12 lengths.
Allaho was beaten by Chacun Pour Soi at the Punchestown Festival a month later. But he has impressed in winning his two runs this season, the first in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December.
Dan Skelton's Shan Blue could potentially give him a fright, but it looks like Allaho can triumph again.
Another Mullins' star GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can start the big day for the County Carlow handler with victory in the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
Just four runners line-up for the Grade One opener on the third day and all are from Ireland with Henry De Bromhead's impressive 2021 Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle hero Bob Olinger in opposition.
Galopin Des Champs was also an impressive winner over hurdles, in a handicap, at last year's Festival before winning a Grade One at Punchestown.
He has looked a horse of real promise in his two winning starts over fences, particularly in a Grade One at Leopardstown last time.
He can come out on top in a fascinating match-up.
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When leading amateur Jamie Codd teams up with Gordon Elliott you usually need to take note and they can land another victory in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Sponsored By JRL Group) (GBB) (5.30pm) with SMOKING GUN.
They won with The Package and subsequent Grand National runner-up Cause Of Causes in 2015 and 2016. While Elliott scored with Milan Native two years ago and Mount Ida triumphed for the stable while under the care of Denise Foster 12 months ago.
Smoking Gun looks to have a similar profile to some of those runners and was fifth behind stable-mate Ravenhill in the National Hunt Chase at the 2020 Festival.
He won at Fairyhouse earlier in the season and was a decent third on his most recent effort back the Irish track last month.
That should have him spot-on for this and he can score ahead of stable-mate Fakir D'alene.
Elliott may also hold the key to the Grade Three Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.10pm). He has dual winner and top weight Sire Du Berlais bidding to become the second treble hero after Willie Wumpkins (1979-1981).
He clearly has what it takes to triumph again, but stable-mate SASSY YET CLASSY – a winner at Punchestown earlier in the season a good second in a similar contest to this at Navan last time – may deny him his hat-trick.
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Nicky Henderson's FUSIL RAFFLES is a course and distance winner and also landed the three-mile Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby over Christmas. And stepping back in trip the seven-year-old can score again in the Grade Three Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (4.10pm).
Mullins' DINOBLUE looks the best option when looking for the winner in the Grade Two Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB) (4.50pm).
Wright Ones
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY THREE
1.30pm Galopin Des Champs
2.10pm Sassy Yet Classy (NAP)
2.50pm Allaho
3.30pm Klassical Dream
4.10pm Fusil Raffles
4.50pm Dinoblue
5.30pm Smoking Gun
