The Cheltenham Festival is in full swing and now punters are looking ahead to the third day for some bookie bashing.
Our man Garry Owen has picked out his best bets and selections and don't forget to follow him every day in Record Sport .
CHELTENHAM
1.30 APPRECIATE IT
2.10 THANKSFORTHEHELP
2.50 BLUE LORD
3.30 GOLD TWEET (NAP)
4.10 DATSALRIGHTGINO
4.50 LOT OF JOY
5.30 ROYAL THIEF
GOLD TWEET (3.30) can wing-it for France in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival. Gab Leenders’ raider can resume Gallic dominance of an event that they liked to target in the 2000s. The six-year-old developed into a Grade 1-placed chaser for his Loire-based handler back in 2021. However, he showed he was still a force over hurdles when third to Ladyville at Toulouse in October. The gelding then relished returning to 2m 4f when decisively despatching Portivy at Fontainebleau. The bay ran another stormer when second to the talented Rosario Baron back down in trip at Pau. Those sterling performances led Leenders to go for the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day here. And the son of On Est Bien fully justified that decision by absolutely bolting up from Dashel Drasher . The bold-galloper is nicely unexposed over three miles so he can prove that triumph was no fluke.
APPRECIATE IT (1.30) can keep Willie Mullins’ bandwagon rolling in the Turners Novices’ Chase. The gelding was a triple Grade 1-winning hurdler but his future always lay over the larger obstacles. And he duly opened his account at the first time of asking when caning Top Bandit at Punchestown. The nine-year-old continued to build his reputation by impressively defeating Gaelic Arc at Naas. He wasn’t disgraced again when third to the brilliant El Fabiolo in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. The gelding was staying-on powerfully over a blisteringly-run two miles so he can hit back up in trip.
The Closutton Maestro can add the Ryanair Chase to his tally thanks to BLUE LORD (2.50). The gelding oozed class when conquering Riviere D'etel in last season’s Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. He stayed on track with a cracking third to Edwardstone in the British version at last year’s Festival. The eight-year-old gained compensation when chinning Coeur Sublime in a Punchestown Grade 1. The bay didn’t mind stepping up to 2m 4f when outbattling Tornado Flyer on his return at Clonmel. He put that effort to good use when hosing up back over two miles at Leopardstown in December. The chaser was then unlucky to encounter a revitalised Gentleman De Mee at the Foxrock venue. That was still an excellent performance so the class act can shock Shishkin over this longer distance.
LOT OF JOY (4:50) can round-off another superb day for Mullins in the Jack De Bromhead Hurdle. The five-year-old looked smart when second to Inothewayurthinkin on her timber bow at Cork. The mare didn’t quite stay 2m 4f when chasing home Deep Cave in a hot Leopardstown novice. However, she opened her account with an impressive defeat of Cash The Cheque at Fairyhouse. That is terrific form so the novice can take this swift promotion to Grade 2 company in her stride.
THANKSFORTHEHELP (2.10) rates a typical David Pipe improver in the Pertemps Final Hurdle. The gelding showed some encouraging form in two-mile novices for Team Pond House last season. He built on those efforts when third over 2m 4f in a valuable handicap at the Punchestown Festival. The six-year-old was sent for wind surgery after a lacklustre fourth on his comeback at Wetherby. That did the trick as the grey routed My Bobby Dazzler on his first try over three miles at Chepstow. This big prize has clearly been the aim ever since so this unexposed type can defy a fair 11lb penalty.
DATSALRIGHTGINO (4.10) can give Jamie Snowdon another big win here in the Festival Plate. The gelding kicked-off over fences with a fine second to Boothill over two miles at Newton Abbot. The seven-year-old took his form up another notch when thrashing the classy Calico at Chepstow. However, his rapid rise over the minimum trip stalled with a couple of weak mid-season runs. The bay bounced back when giving Stage Star most resistance upped to 2m 4f here on Trials Bay. He put in another creditable shift when second to the progressive Solo in a Grade 2 at Kempton. I doubt we’ve seen the best of this strong-traveller who can cash-in on an inviting opening mark.
ROYAL THIEF (5.30) can plunder the trappy Kim Muir Handicap Chase for Henry de Bromhead. The gelding didn’t run too badly when 12 th in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle here last season. However, the nine-year-old always looked the type to really excel switched to the larger obstacles.The bay duly began life over fences by cosily dismissing Battle Of Midway over 3m 1f at Thurles. However, he was already toiling when brought down early dropped to 2m 4f at Punchestown. Given time to recover, the Gigginstown raider emphatically defeated Fakiera at the same track. That was a strong contest so this lightly-raced type can continue his trainer’s tremendous run.
