Cheltenham Festival tips: Experts on best bets and 14 horses to watch for Day 3 on Thursday

The Cheltenham Festival is reached the midway stage in predictable trend with Irish coach Willie Mullins claiming his 100th winner on day two. Favourites Ballyburn and Fact To File kicked off proceedings with victories within the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeplechase.

Dan Skelton celebrated two winners for Britain as brother Harry raced to victory within the Coral Cup for the second time in as a few years earlier than netting the Grand Annual Handicap within the penultimate race of the day whereas Rachael Blackmore added to her tally with a high quality experience atop Captain Guiness within the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

You can see the newest tip choices from James Boyle on Thursday’s races right here, whereas we’ve additionally obtained a set of each-way bets for day three within the Turners’ Novices Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and extra and there’s additionally a full preview and best odds for the latter race, at 3:30pm.

Stay up to date throughout the pageant and get our free betting e-newsletter with the newest Cheltenham odds, affords and ideas by signing up right here, whereas you too can see our up to date record of Cheltenham free bets and affords.

Racing ambassadors Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin spoke to Sky Bet about their Day 3 picks, whereas legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh shared his ideas with Paddy Power.

13:30 – Turners Novices’

Oli Bell – “In the Turners Novices’ Chase, I’m taking an angle that I feel punters may also go for, and that’s to go for Iroko I can see him being fairly well-backed. He was very spectacular in his Chase debut earlier within the season, however then he had his damage which was a serious setback, so it’s not been a super preparation for the Festival. However, as we noticed final 12 months on the Cheltenham Festival, he’s a horse with an abundance of expertise, and I feel that regardless of him not having had the perfect preparation, he’s obtained a lot expertise that if the trainers have gotten him in good nick, then he’ll take a world of beating and give J.P. McManus one other Cheltenham winner.”

Ruby Walsh – “I’m not going to desert Facile Vega. The means Willie Mullins rotated Gaelic Warrior reveals you’ll be able to’t go towards his runners. I do know Willie holds Facile Vega in a excessive regard. It’s his final probability however I’ll stick to him.”

14:10 – Pertemps Network Final

Alex Hammond – “The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is notoriously aggressive, however Sky Bet are paying eight locations as an alternative of 4. I’m eager on a horse from Willie Mullins known as Icare Allen. He was third in qualifier at Aintree again in November, he’s been saved beneath wraps since then and he’ll run off the identical handicap mark at Cheltenham.”

Ruby Walsh – “I’m with my Dad’s mare Gaoth Chuil. She will certainly keep and Shane O’Callaghan takes off a 5lb declare. He’ll take his time on her and make a transfer late on. I’m hoping she will run into the cash.”

14:50 – Ryanair Steeple Chase

Ed Chamberlin – “One of the large races of day three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ryanair Chase, and I fancy Stage Star. I’m tempted to go every means as Sky Bet are paying 4 locations relatively than three, and I can’t see Stage Star and Harry Cobden ending exterior the highest three.”

Ruby Walsh – “I’ve been on Envoi Allen for some time and I’m not going to desert him now. His document at Cheltenham speaks for itself and Henry de Bromhead’s horses have completed brilliantly this week.”

15:30 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

Oli Bell – “Every 12 months I come to the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and it seemingly, in recent times, has obtained a really feel of a race that has an enormous value winner written throughout it, and I’m taking that comparable strategy. I can’t perceive why Sire Du Berlais, who has an excellent Cheltenham document and gained this race final 12 months, is the value he’s. He could have been skilled with one race in thoughts, you already know he stays, he loves Cheltenham and loves this time of 12 months. For me, Sire Du Berlais is an enormous value and with these further locations from Sky Bet, I’m positive he’ll give us a cheer as a result of he comes alive when he will get to Cheltenham.

Ruby Walsh – “I’m with Noble Yeats for Emmet Mullins. He stays and he’s obtained cheekpieces on for the primary time. I can’t see him ending exterior of the primary three.”

16:10 – Magners Plate

Alex Hammond – “In the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase, Sky Bet are paying six locations relatively than 4, and I’m an enormous fan of a horse known as Theatre Man. He had a pair choices on the Festival, however coach Richard Bandey has taken this route and I feel he will be well-handicapped. He’s obtained good Cheltenham type, which got here on trials day and I’m hoping he’s going to be ok to make a severe impression on this race.”

Ruby Walsh – “I like Riaan at an honest every means value. Jack Kennedy not driving him as possibly put me off somewhat bit however I used to be actually impressed together with his run on the Dublin Racing Festival. I’ll stick to him.”

16:50 – Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle

Ed Chamberlin – “The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is likely one of the races that I’m most enthusiastic about of the complete assembly. It’s an actual mash-up between Elliott and Mullins and fortunately Sky Bet are paying 4 locations as an alternative of three, and I’m firmly in a single camp and that’s the Jade De Grugy camp.”

Ruby Walsh – “The means Gordon Elliott talks about Brighterdaysahead is infectious. When he isn’t on the fence about certainly one of his runners it’s price listening. I can’t desert Willie Mullins’ Jade De Grugy however possibly I ought to hear to Gordon!”

17:30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Oli Bell – “The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase is one other wide-open race; it’s going to be a aggressive affair on paper. Extra locations are being provided from Sky Bet, so in the event you like one of many large locations then get entangled with that.

“However, the horse I like is close to the highest of the market and I feel will go off favorite. He skilled in Ireland by Gavin Cromwell, Inothewayurthinkin is the horse in query, working within the inexperienced and gold of J.P. McManus. I feel on a few of his type, he’s well-treated off his handicap mark, so for me, he’ll show himself to be a well-handicapped horse. I can see him working in significantly better races from subsequent season and past, so with that in thoughts, I feel he’s the play on this race.”

Ruby Walsh – “Inothewayurthinkin is on the high of the market however I’ve my doubts over the 3m2f distance and his pedigree. Instead, I’ll have two picks and facet with Amirite and Where It All Began as each-way picks.”