![Sire Du Berlais jumps the last on the way to winning the Stayers' Hurdle at 33-1.](https://media.guim.co.uk/088d61d24d47a7a8ff413704e547582d4c0e46a8/0_0_4952_2971/1000.jpg)
That’s your lot for today. Hope you found a winner or two. See you on Friday for the Gold Cup …
![And they’re off!](https://media.guim.co.uk/683c668b4a79a9bbffa44ed7a302472f5c2a9170/0_86_3500_2101/1000.jpg)
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30pm) result
1 Angels Dawn 10/1
2 Stumptown 7/2f
3 Mr Incredible 4/1
4 Dunboyne 8/1
🥊 Angels Dawn vs Stumptown - thriller!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
A game effort from the mare Angels Dawn who wins a cracking renewal of the Kim Muir for Sam Curling & Pa King to lead home at least a 1-2-3-4-5-6 for Ireland #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Xy18V3biSx
Updated
The Irish have seen off the Brits and won the Prestbury Cup – and watch out tomorrow when it could be a “greenwash”
Ireland have retained the Prestbury Cup with one day to go at Cheltenham
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) March 16, 2023
Ireland 15-6 Great Britain
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30pm)
And they’re off … Dr Kananga leads … a second James Bond reference this week after Scaramanga, but I digress, it’s a long race … Emir Sacree is up there with the leader too and they bounce into each other after a fence … and we’re looking for Anightinlambourn with the tallest jockey in the world and he is in midfield … come on Mr Jack Andrews! … Royal Thief made a blunder … it’s getting very gloomy out there … just going to clean my binoculars … Emir Sacree made a mistake at the water jump and then at the next fence … Anightinlambourn is improving … go on Jack … Royal Thief takes it up from Mr Incredible … Angels Dawn is going well … Angels Dawn leads at the last and is in a battle with Stumptown and Angels Dawn gets back up to win.
What a sit!
Nice sit Pa King 😅 #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/j9C7S7EhlN
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
Updated
That Stayers’ Hurdle switch of second and third in the stewards’ room was controversial so why can’t we see their deliberations?
Totally ludicrous @MCYeeehaaa - no reason why these deliberations should not be live.
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) March 16, 2023
Would ensure standards remain high, open and integrity is transparent.
Supreme Court live stream: https://t.co/6o2sh0e4cC
Court of Appeal live stream https://t.co/nOhlgNQWBf https://t.co/Nk4IKGBV9I
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30pm) betting
Stumptown 9/2
Mr Incredible 11/2
Dunboyne 7/1
Beauport 10/1
Angels Dawn 10/1
Rapper 16/1
Royal Thief 16/1
Dr Kananga 16/1
Fontaine Collonges 18/1
Anightinlambourn 20/1
28/1 BAR – 23 runners
![“There’s my horse!”](https://media.guim.co.uk/b3f33c324304d342df6906dd29b6abff1aae2169/67_53_7204_4323/1000.jpg)
Updated
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30pm) preview
A well-backed horse has landed the “getting out” race for the last two days, but Thursday could be altogether different as this is a race in which few of the 23 runners can be ruled out with confidence. Irish-trained runners dominate the betting, with Stumptown a narrow favourite after two wins on the bounce, while the presence of Patrick Mullins and Jamie Codd aboard Mr Incredible and Dunboyne respectively will also guarantee plenty of support. Venetia Williams and Lucy Turner, the trainer/jockey combo responsible for Chambard, last year’s 40-1 winner, return with Didero Vallis, at an even bigger price, and he could be a wild each-way proposition if you look only at his decent run at Ludlow in January and ignore his last two starts. If pressed for a pick, though, I’d go for the novice Beauport, with Zac Baker up. He can make the odd mistake, but he is only three races into his chasing career and could well be the best long-term prospect in the field.
SELECTION: Beauport
![Oi! Oi! I’ve had a winner … or is it a Guinness!](https://media.guim.co.uk/309ef8a058593ac088e077ae4aeddde7da785e70/0_106_6000_3600/1000.jpg)
Updated
Jack De Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle (4.50pm) result
1 You Wear It Well 16/1
2 Magical Zoe 15/2
3 Halka Du Tabert 12/1
![You Wear It Well wins the Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices Hurdle!](https://media.guim.co.uk/6f6bf1ffa6010ab542455d0d3634ecf5ccf2617a/0_0_3932_2279/1000.jpg)
Updated
Jack De Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle (4.50pm)
And they’re off … You Wear It Well has an early lead … Endless Escape and Luccia are prominent … Shecouldbeanything is also with the leaders … You Wear It Well kicks for home … and has led all the way to win.
![Gavin Sheehan onboard You Wear it Well leads all the way](https://media.guim.co.uk/de94e03c7edb7dabd0b1809611881c510171061e/0_0_4768_2691/1000.jpg)
Updated
Jack De Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle (4.50pm) betting
Luccia 2/1
Lot Of Joy 5/1
Magical Zoe 8/1
Princess Zoe 17/2
Foxy Girl 11/1
You Wear It Well 12/1
Halka Du Tabert 12/1
Under Control 25/1
Jetara 28/1
Nikini 30/1
33/1 BAR – 21 runners
👏 Classy performance from You Wear It Well
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
G2 honours for @jamiesnowden & Gavin Sheehan who team up to land the Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/JA6fmQQnYo
Updated
Jack De Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle (4.50pm) preview
A race which is being run this year in memory of Jack de Bromhead, the 13-year-old son of trainer Henry, who was killed in a pony-racing accident last year, and the de Bromhead stable’s Magical Zoe is a leading contender. She arrives unbeaten, having finished well from a tricky position to win a Grade Three event at Down Royal in November. Adrian Heskin, who is contracted to ride for her owners, will be in the saddle again, while Rachael Blackmore, the stable’s principal jockey, is aboard stable companion Foxy Girl, another with a live chance after winning a well-run novice event last time out. The favourite, though, is sure to be Nicky Henderson’s Luccia, another unbeaten runner and an obvious market leader after an easy 11-length success at Exeter in February took her career record to four-from-four.
SELECTION: Magical Zoe
![Magical Zoe is our tip in the Jack De Bromhead Mares Novice Hurdle](https://media.guim.co.uk/5d618481a4fa818cd7f5e60f207d397d47c4360c/0_0_2915_1943/1000.jpg)
Updated
Magners Plate Handicap Chase (4.10pm) result
1 Seddon 20/1
2 Fugitif 11/1
3 Shakem Up’arry 16/1
4 Gevrey 125/1
🇮🇪 Another Irish-trained winner - Seddon strikes in the @MagnersUK Plate Handicap Chase for @McConnellRacing & Ben Harvey#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/JnX1OfGSdP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
Updated
Magners Plate Handicap Chase (4.10pm)
And they’re off … no it’s a false start … good luck lining this lot up again … there’s been too many of these false starts now this meeting … and now they’re off … Gevrey makes a bad mistake at the first and Coole Cody leads early as is his wont … Champagne Gold is at the back … Two For Gold is handy … Seddon and Haut En Colours are also prominent … Seddon travels well … takes the lead … and kicks for home and holds off Fugitif.
![Ben Harvey riding Seddon on their way to winning the Magners Plate Handicap Chase.](https://media.guim.co.uk/e6f8f155b05d8eaa114bf1d53c2b201ff310d48f/0_0_4476_2884/1000.jpg)
Updated
Magners Plate Handicap Chase (4.10pm) betting
So Scottish 11/2
Datsalrightgino 7/1
Il Ridoto 7/1
Haut En Couleurs 8/1
Midnight River 17/2
Marvel De Cerisy 9/1
Fugitif 11/1
Frero Banbou 14/1
Shakem Up’arry 16/1
War Lord 25/1
Seddon 25/1
25/1 BAR – 23 runners
![Best turned out!](https://media.guim.co.uk/5f3e21fac94511a33e755c84b87f26fe793170e2/0_90_4500_2700/1000.jpg)
Updated
Oddspedia Market movers: Magners Plate
Datsalrightgino 10/1 into 4/1
Il Ridoto 8/1 into 6/1
Marvel De Cerisy 16/1 into 13/2
Updated
Stayers’ Hurdle bombshell! Second and third placings reversed!
R4 @CheltenhamRaces **STEWARDS ENQUIRY COMPLETE** Placings revised:
— BHA Stewards (@BHAStewards) March 16, 2023
1st: SIRE DU BERLAIS (FR)
2nd: TEAHUPOO (FR)
3rd: DASHEL DRASHER
4th: FLOORING PORTER (IRE)
Magners Plate Handicap Chase (4.10pm) preview
It does not feel entirely proper to be plumping for the favourite in this ultra-competitive heat, which is also the most valuable handicap chase on the Festival schedule. But Emmet Mullins’s So Scottish does have a great deal to recommend him – and has also drifted somewhat this morning, from 4-1 out to 6-1 – so he will be the bearer of a few shillings as he attempts to give his trainer a second win in this race in three runnings.
His trainer has kept him fresh since running an excellent second over an inadequate trip at Ascot in November and he has considerable scope for improvement after just three starts over fences. His relative weakness in the market may owe something to the support that’s arrived for Haut En Couleurs, the latest horse to attempt to give Willie Mullins his first ever win in a Festival handicap chase (the 42nd, in fact, after Dino Blue’s second-place finish in yesterday’s Grand Annual).
SELECTION: So Scottish
![The Princess Royal shelters from the rain on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/6bfcb37b66c8d7fb220348dee41e0c2404b5512c/0_256_3500_2101/1000.jpg)
Updated
Stayers’ Hurdle newsflash. Stewards’ enquiry! Winner unaffected!
Updated
Stayers' Hurdle (3.30pm) result
1 Sire Du Berlais 33/1
2 Teahupoo 9/4 f
3 Dashel Drasher 40/1
Placings for second and third reversed after stewards’ inquiry!
🟨🟩 Sire Du Berlais battles to the win in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
💪 A gruelling race serves up a shock!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/egTjfgKGOE
Updated
Stayers' Hurdle (3.30pm)
And they’re off … Home By The Lee dashes to the lead but is soon overtaken by Flooring Porter … and they’re running through driving rain … Flooring Porter has kicked a few lengths clear with Dashel Drasher in second and the others strung out like Monday morning’s washing … Home By The Lee is third and the French pair are last and next-to-last … Flooring Porter still leads with a circuit to go … Home By The Lee makes a bad mistake and drops back to fifth and Flooring Porter is going quicker and is now five lengths clear … Paisley Park is last and being ridden along … Gold Tweet is now last! … Flooring Porter starts to go downhill in the lead … Gold Tweet is having a remarkable run … Dashel Drasher has the lead at the last … Sire Du Berlais comes late to land the spoils.
![Mark Walsh on Sire Du Berlais wins the Stayers Hurdle.](https://media.guim.co.uk/8d9337c32c4bde734592b3cbbd8739104c096c82/0_0_3993_2271/1000.jpg)
Updated
My colleague Esther Addley has been finding out about the "world’s tallest jockey” Mr Jack Andrews …
Stayers' Hurdle (3.30pm) betting
Teahupoo 11/4
Blazing Khal 4/1
Gold Tweet 9/2
Home By The Lee 8/1
Flooring Porter 17/2
Klassical Dream 9/1
Paisley Park 25/1
Ashdale Bob 33/1
Sire Du Berlais 40/1
Henri Le Farceur 66/1
Dashel Drasher 80/1
![That’s Ashley from Coronation Street!](https://media.guim.co.uk/6e913c12da0b0a357f15939984020474c03b7236/0_211_3500_2100/1000.jpg)
Updated
Stayers' Hurdle (3.30pm) preview
The official “feature” race of the afternoon and a chance for Flooring Porter to join the select band of horses that have won this race three times. Ingles Drever and Big Buck’s, who went on to win a fourth, are the only previous horses with a hat-trick of victories, and there not much doubt about how Flooring Porter will attempt to get the job done – from the front, as he has for the last two years.
He could have more competition for the lead this time around, not least if Klassical Dream, who missed the break 12 months ago, can get away on terms, while his recent form leaves him only fourth in the betting, behind up-and-comers Teahupoo and Blazing Khal – who came through an injury scare last week – and French challenger Gold Tweet, who has been a real steamer today, from 11-1 down to 4-1. Flooring Porter has not finished in front since his win here last season, and finished only fourth – behind another of today’s rivals, Home By The Lee – last time out, but he came into last year’s race with very similar form and his slick hurdling makes him very difficult to pass if Danny Mullins can get him into his familiar rhythm up front.
SELECTION: Flooring Porter
![A winning jig!](https://media.guim.co.uk/e2e7b648756a0a7dc45620beeb4e36da6672ae76/0_165_3088_1854/1000.jpg)
Ryanair Chase (2.50pm) result
1 Envoi Allen 13/2
2 Shishkin Evens f
3 Hitman 22/1
😲 Envoi Allen beats Shishkin to the Ryanair Chase
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
It's another win for @HenrydeBromhead!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @rachaelblackmor pic.twitter.com/4OzDuqWURc
Updated
Ryanair Chase (2.50pm)
And they’re off … Chacun Pour Soi leads in the early stages and Shishkin has two behind him … Envoi Allen is running keen … French Dynamite is second … Ga Law looks in trouble already … and Shishkin is jumping markedly to his left! … Janidil hits a fence very hard … Hitman is prominent but also hit a fence … Chacun Pour Soi makes a mistake … Envoi Allen makes an error and Shishkin looks well beaten after a bad mistake … Envoi Allen comes there well … Envoi Allen kicks clear to win with Shishkin running on for second, a remarkable run really!
Updated
Now O’Leary and Russell are kissing and making up … Davy rides Fury Road for Michael in the next. Nick Luck on Racing TV suggests the whole episode may have been a way of firing Davy up. Let’s see …
😘 Time to kiss and make up...#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/mFqvXwoUEq
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
Market movers for the Ryanair Chase
Envoi Allen 12/1 into 17/2
Blue Lord 12/1 into 17/2
That ride from Liam McKenna on Good Time Jonny was something else in the Pertemps. All captured here by the Racing TV cameras …
👀 Go Jonny Go - a staggering winner of the Pertemps
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
We've picked out his best (& worst) bits on an eventful way to #CheltenhamFestival glory. Some ride by Liam McKenna pic.twitter.com/lssK32VwkQ
Ryanair Chase (2.50pm) betting
Shishkin Evens fav
Blue Lord 6/1
Janidil 13/2
Envoi Allen 10/1
Fury Road 11/1
Hitman 25/1
French Dynamite 25/1
Ga Law 33/1
Chacun Pour Soi 40/1
![The Pertemps Network Final at Cheltenham.](https://media.guim.co.uk/75974366c69347ba002673c4a234140c2fc0bcc6/0_347_5964_3578/1000.jpg)
Ryanair Chase (2.50pm) preview
They love a Comeback King at the Festival, and the fortunes that were lost when Shishkinbombed out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last year will soon be forgotten – and in many cases, retrieved - if Nicky Henderson’s chaser can notch a third win at the meeting in the second Grade One of the afternoon. He was a 5-6 shot 12 months ago and will be much the same price for what is usually the weakest of the three non-novice Grade One chases at the meeting, and has nearly a stone in hand of Blue Lord, the likely second-favourite, on Timeform ratings. Willie Mullins’s apparent first-string (of three) is an interesting contender, though, as he remains unexposed at this trip and posted a useful effort to beat Captain Guinness – who went well for a long way in Wednesday’s Champion Chase – at Leopardston in December.
His stablemate Janadil, meanwhile, has much more experience at this intermediate trip but also seems ideally suited to it, while Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen may also attract some support. He too has been a blow-out at this meeting in the past, falling at the fourth on his first start for the yard – he left Gordon Elliott’s stable in the fallout from *that* photo – in the Turners Novice Chase in 2021, and took a while to adjust to the change of surroundings. He notched another Grade One – his sixth in all - at Down Royal in November, however, and is not out of it in his attempt to act as super-sub for the injured Allaho, and give his owners, Cheveley Park Stud, a third successive win in this race.
SELECTION: Shishkin
![Horses lining up in the Pertemps Network Final.](https://media.guim.co.uk/618422bacf4f8af5f5890506d24db576eef37393/160_0_4230_2539/1000.jpg)
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm) result
1 Good Time Jonny 9/1
2 Salvador Ziggy 10/1
3 Mill Green 22/1
4 Green Book 40/1
👀 Where did he come from!?
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
Good Time Jonny does the business in the Pertemps Network Final for the shrewd Tony Martin under a jubilant Liam McKenna, staying on strongly to plunder this handicap prize#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/a1A6LscJZv
Updated
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm)
And they’re off … hold on it’s a false start … and they’re off this time … Green Book and Bear Ghylls are up there … Moka De Vassy falls at the second flight … Takarengo is not happy and already being pushed along … Burrows Park has a clear lead … Bear Ghylls has chased him close as have the others as they pass the stands with a circuit to go … The Bosses Oscar is close up as is The Changing Man … Salvador Ziggy has made good ground … Leven Neverending has made good ground as well … Green Book goes on but it’s wide open … Mill Green makes a challenge … Good Time Jonny comes late and wide to spring a big surprise the way the race went after being left at the start and ending a barren spell for shrewd Irish trainer Tony Martin.
![Liam McKenna rides Good Time Jonny to victory in The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.](https://media.guim.co.uk/08aaa6dce77042d0e9178fc385b8b419d67fc77a/0_0_3475_2463/1000.jpg)
Updated
Market movers for the Pertemps Network Final
Thanksforthehelp 4/1 into 10/3
Salvador Ziggy 11/1 into 6/1
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm) betting
Thanksforthehelp 7/2
Maxxum 11/2
Salvador Ziggy 15/2
Walkingonair 9/1
Good Time Jonny 10/1
An Tailliur 12/1
Moka De Vassy 16/1
Hector Javilex 18/1
The Changing Man 20/1
20/1 BAR – 21 runners
![She’s wasting that drink!](https://media.guim.co.uk/f2c82afc824dd6d2e1c4d9341f36dd8026d20c2f/0_147_3808_2285/1000.jpg)
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm) preview
The first of three fiendishly difficult handicaps on today’s card, for all that the format - with 20 qualifiers spread throughout the season in Britain, Ireland and France and a first-four finish required to make this Final - is designed to ensure that there is plenty of collateral form to consider. David Pipe’s Thanksforthehelp, who won the Chepstow qualifier last month with plenty in hand, is a solid favourite at around 7-2, while Maxxum, a 16-length winner at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, is hunting him up in the market at around 5-1.
The third-favourite, Walking On Air, also won his qualifier, this time at Exeter in February, but the most recent winner to have also won their qualifier was Fingal Bay in 2014 so it may pay to look instead for a horse that ran well without winning. The Changing Man, who finished second in a well-run Haydock qualifier in February, fits the bill for me at around 20-1 but most readers will no doubt have their own opinions.
SELECTION: The Changing Man
![A racegoer drinking champagne on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/da236805a76748069e96e70430bb386022da9083/0_120_3500_2100/1000.jpg)
Updated
Turners Novice Chase (1.30pm) result
1 Stage Star 15/2
2 Notlongtillmay 40/1
⭐ Stage Star upstages them all in the Turners Novices' Chase
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
😁 What a difference a day makes for @PFNicholls #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/RsG0z6mipe
Updated
Turners Novice Chase (1.30pm)
And they’re off … Stage Star, as expected, is off fast and James Du Berlais makes a mistake at the first fence … Mighty Potter is pulling a little hard … Balco Coastal is in second in the early stages … all travelling OK with a circuit to go … Notlongtillmay now second … Appreciate It makes a minor mistake … Stage Star leads with three to go … Notlongtillmay challenges … Stage Star clears the last and kicks clear for a great win.
![Harry Cobden on Stage Star on the way to winning the Turners Novices' Chase.](https://media.guim.co.uk/e9c0266b39bea2526667ad61b97c0a56937db590/0_79_2648_1588/1000.jpg)
Updated
Turners Novice Chase (1.30pm) market movers
Mighty Potter 10/11 into 8/13
Appreciate It 7/2 into 11/4
Turners Novice Chase (1.30pm) betting
Mighty Potter 8/11
Appreciate It 3/1
Stage Star 8/1
Balco Coastal 16/1
James Du Berlais 28/1
Notlongtillmay 33/1
Unexpected Party 125/1
![Racegoers join in the fun at the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/7c5b99bbccd1ecb8d531f8d97d89c64daefa0c14/235_355_5537_3324/1000.jpg)
Turners Novice Chase (1.30pm) preview
The punters have got a lot more right than they have wrong so far this week, with five more winners at single-figure odds on Wednesday to add to six on Tuesday, and there will be plenty of cash rolling over onto Mighty Potter in this opening event on day three. His stablemate Gerri Colombe was touched off in the three-mile novice on Wednesday, but Gordon Elliott’s fans have not been deterred and his runner here was supported from odds-against to odds-on on Wednesday.
Punters looking to oppose him at that price will probably alight on Appreciate It, lightly-raced since his devastating 24-length success in the 2021 Supreme Novice Hurdle and likely to be suited by the step up to this trip, while the form of Banbridge’s 10-length second behind El Fabiolo in February was boosted when the winner followed up in Tuesday’s Arkle. Balco Coastal could prove to be the best of the Brits, having finished close behind Gerri Colombe at Sandown in February, but this looks to be Mighty Potter’s to lose.
SELECTION: Mighty Potter
![The Celtic Feet Irish Dance Company perform ahead of racing on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/0808a64ccebd87cafd59ae62a893cde4c87bb441/203_588_4531_2718/1000.jpg)
If you read Barry Glendenning’s feature on Comeback Kid Davy Russell in this morning’s edition or on your tablet you’ll know Michael O’Leary had his say on the jockey’s return to the saddle – spoiler alert: he didn’t like it. Russell had his say on ITV Racing’s The Opening Show this morning … “I have about as much respect for Michael O’Leary’s opinion as he has for my opinion!” It’s worth a watch and intriguingly Russell rides Fury Road for O’Leary in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham today.
👀 "I have about as much respect for Michael O'Leary's opinion as he has for my opinion"
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
🗣@_Davy_Russel_#TheOpeningShow | #CheltenhamFestival | @sagrassick pic.twitter.com/EFLBxKbZPS
Updated
Monopolies Commission alert!
Willie Mullins will end the week with 76 runners at this Cheltenham Festival, unless he has non-runners
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 16, 2023
Up from 63 last year
Here’s your updated list of non-runners …
Current list of NR's @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/4GiTPeabS3
— BHA Stewards (@BHAStewards) March 16, 2023
In a horse racing first, the Jockey Club teamed up with electronic music producer DJ Cuddles to release a brand new dance track for the Cheltenham Festival. Cuddles himself was spinning the discs in the Best Mate Pavilion yesterday afternoon but it sounds as if the crowd was not into rave!
DJing at Cheltenham Festival and everyone keeps requesting Sweet Caroline
— DJ Cuddles (@mrmitchmusic) March 15, 2023
Updated
Your Thursday market movers … from Oddschecker
Gold Tweet [Stayers’ Hurdle] 11/1 – 4/1
Marvel De Cerisy [Plate Handicap Chase] 25/1 – 10/1
Magical Zoe [Mares’ Novice Hurdle] 9/1 – 13/2
Lot Of Joy [Mares Novices Hurdle] 6/1 – 4/1
Appreciate It [Turners Novice Chase] 10/3 – 5/2
![Racegoer Dave Winfield, with his 'Lucky Pants' ahead of racing on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/e0acdb4030971437d7c16d4cdfa5cc03a84add97/132_230_4388_2634/1000.jpg)
Updated
Meet Mr Jack Andrews. He was a journeyman jockey until this morning and now he’s famous thanks to starring on the front page of the ooo-ahh Daily Star. Jack, who is riding Anightinlambourn in the 5.30 today, is the tallest jockey in the world. So obviously the Star sent their most vertically challenged reporter to interview him. Our friends at BestofBests report the punters have latched onto the news and his mount has been backed into 16’s from 25-1. Things might be looking up for Jack … ouch!
![Daily Star front page featuring the world’s tallest jockey, Mr Jack Andrews.](https://media.guim.co.uk/76ff68d8cd45a66379505cb5636c5092ee744441/12_0_3320_4146/801.jpg)
Scratch these off your list of possible wagers – they won’t be running
NON-RUNNERS TODAY
1.30pm Turners Novice Chase
3 Banbridge (Going)
4 Christopher Wood (Self Certificate, Going)
2.10pm Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
16 Jet of Magic (Self Certificate, Abscess)
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase
13 Chambard (Vet’s Certificate, Abscess)
![Racegoer Andrew Gattase wearing a shamrock blazer before racing on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/461208a8595b5e299d75d330334b522159a124b1/0_154_4555_2731/1000.jpg)
This big question today is how squidgy it’s going to be. The official going suggests it’s going to be less testing than yesterday as the verdict is … Soft, Good to Soft in places … There has been four millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours and Thursday is forecast to be mainly dry, with drizzle/light showers possible (1-2 mm). For the latest TurfTrax going report click here.
One of the key points is that the action moves to the New Course today so the horses will be running on fresh ground.
𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐇𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖@WillDalton01 chats to @CheltenhamRaces clerk Jon Pullin to get the latest on conditions ahead of the opening day of the festival!#CheltenhamFestival #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/dqOfzOhHFo
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2023
Preamble
It took a while for the Thursday of Cheltenham week to grow into its new role as the third day of four, but in recent years it has been second only to Gold Cup day itself in terms of attendance, and the glorious afternoon in 2019 when Paisley Park and Frodon took the feature events is fondly remembered by many as one of the best days at the Festival in recent decades.
So it will be interesting to see whether today’s train strikes will have an impact on the third day’s popularity, and put a dent in the Festival’s balance sheet in the process. Some regulars who travel by train may, of course, simply drive instead, but the prospect of enduring Carmaggedon both in and out of the course could also persuade others to sit it out on the sofa.
If the crowd does take a hit, the “Dammit, I wasn’t there” moments for stay-at-home fans could potentially include a repeat of Paisley Park’s success four years ago, as the evergreen stayer is back for a fifth crack at the feature event and not entirely out of it according to the bookies, who put him in at around 20-1.
![Racegoer Viv Jenner poses for a portrait ahead of racing on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.](https://media.guim.co.uk/624b390dc709d9ac37174df653a6147e57e419e6/0_68_4562_2736/1000.jpg)
It is a strong field up against him, however, and a more international one than usual too, with Gold Tweet, from Gabriel Leenders yard in France, attempting to follow up his Cleeve Hurdle success here in January. Flooring Porter is back to attempt to complete a hat-trick, while Teahupoo, who was the first horse to beat former Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle earlier in the year, could be the best of the younger generation.
Elsewhere on the card, Shishkin will bring a tear to Nicky Henderson’s eye if he can put last year’s failure in the Queen Mother Champion Chase behind him and score a third Festival success in all in the Ryanair Chase. Mighty Potter, meanwhile, will attempt to get the punters straight onto the front foot for the third day running when he sets off at odds-on in the opening Turner’s Novice Chase.
As ever, you can follow all the action throughout the day here on the live blog, so whether you are strikebound at home or soldiering on regardless, let’s hope it’s another Festival Thursday to remember.