Bob Cross takes you through his selection for each of today's races, ahead of another action-packed line-up at the Cheltenham Festival...
Day three of the Festival is affectionately known as St Patrick's Thursday, although folks from the Emerald Isle have not required any divine intervention to dominate the winners enclosure thus far.
The Turners Novices' Chase gets us underway at 1.30 and it is an intriguing contest. Last year, odds on shot Galopin Des Champs slipped at the last fence when over ten lengths ahead and with the race at his mercy. In 2021 Envoi Allen also fell when odds-on.
It is with some trepidation then that I will be backing Mighty Potter in this event. He is unbeaten over fences and has looked a star in the making in this sphere. Slight worry is the fact that he failed to complete his hurdle contest here last year in similar conditions.
Our each way selection is Banbridge. Owned by Lanarkshire businessman, Ronnie Bartlett, this gelding has showed a lot of talent and is still improving.
A field of twenty three horses will line up for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (2.10) and all the horses seem to have a chance of some sort. I am siding with Maxxum who is an improving sort.
Badly hampered last time out when finishing down the field at Leopardstown, he can make amends here. Our each way pick is Brandy McQueen. Trained by Hamilton Park Clerk of the Course, Harriet Graham, the six year old sneaks in at the bottom of the weights. He seldom runs a bad race and, at odds of around 50/1 , merits a small each way investment.
Shishkin was a disappointment in last years Queen Mother Chase, however a breathing op and a step up in trip seems to have rejuvenated him. He goes for his third Festival victory in the Ryanair Chase (2.50) . I fully expect him to win here with a bit in hand. Fury Road has improved a lot this season and he is the each way selection.
The feature race of the day is the Stayers' Hurdle (3.30). I am siding with Flooring Porter who is going for three in a row here. He has been lightly raced and clearly this race has been the plan for some time. Although French bred horses are commonplace now at Cheltenham, French-trained horses are not!
Gold Tweet looked every inch a proper horse when landing the Cleeve Hurdle here in January and the French raider is my each way selection.
The Brown Advisory Plate takes place at 4.10 and another big field faces us with many competitors in with a chance.
Two horses that have caught my eye recently will be taking my each way investment money. So Scottish, like yesterday's Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share, was purchased by JP McManus very recently. He is a shrewd investor and a big run is anticipated.
Paul Nicholls has not had the best couple of days and he will be hoping Il Ridoto can provide him with a much needed winner.
The penultimate race of the day is the Mares' Novice Hurdle (4.50 ). This year the race is being run in the memory of Jack De Bromhead, the young lad who tragically lost his life during a pony race last year. His father, Henry, would love to train the winner for this event.
He has two entries in the race and I am hoping an each way investment on both will pay dividends. Foxy Girl will be ridden by the supremely talented Rachael Blackmore and Magical Zoe will be piloted by Adrian Heskin.
And that brings us to the final contest of the day – The Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.20). With most bookmakers offering enhanced places I am going to have two hopeful each way punts in, what is a wide open contest.
Lucy Turner rode the winner in the corresponding event last year. With the defection of last years winning horse, she now gets the leg up on Didero Vallis who was third here last year. At around 50/1 this partnership offer great value.
Anightinlambourn has shown lots of improvement this season. Her last two runs have been over the Prestbury Park fences and she took them with aplomb finishing second on her first attempt before winning here in November.
And then it is off to bed to dream about tomorrow's Gold Cup! Good Luck, All!
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