Cheltenham Day Three Best Bets
The opening two days of Cheltenham have delivered drama and poignant moments in the feature events. From the most dramatic Champion Hurdle in decades to the wonderful success of Marine Nationale in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the magical meeting has already created enduring memories.
No doubt more are to come on a Day 3 card, which, on paper at least, looks the trickiest of the week to unravel. Five of the seven races feature 20+ runners, whilst the Stayers Hurdle boasts the biggest field of the four feature events. All in all, this looks like another decent day for an each-way punt. Here, we pick out our best three bets as we bid to head into Gold Cup day on a high.
2:40 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Our first selection comes in a typically competitive edition of the Pertemps Network Final. This contest is unique among Festival events in being preceded by a series of official qualifiers. Finish in the top four in any of those qualifying events, and you are in with a chance of making the final field.
Recent evidence suggests that the trick to this contest is to qualify without receiving a hefty hike in the handicap. The most obvious way to do that is to quietly finish in the top four of a qualifier without drawing the wrath of the handicapper by actually winning.
Will The Wise would be our pick of those who arrive on the back of a qualifying win, but at the prices, we prefer an each-way punt on the Gordon Elliott-trained Patter Merchant. Going in the Gigginstown House Stud silks, this son of Walk In The Park finished 7¼l behind Will The Wise last time but will be 7lb better off with that rival here. Seemingly cruising home for fourth that day, we liked the way he found more once challenged and anticipate a bold bid from the mount of Jack Kennedy.
- Recommended Bet - Patter Merchant each way @ 14/1 with bet365 - £5 each way returns £94 if Patter Merchant wins
3:20 Ryanair Chase
Having briefly flirted with Gold Cup favouritism, the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File instead drops in trip to tackle this assignment and duly heads the betting. An impressive winner of the 2024 Brown Advisory and third in the Irish Gold Cup last time, he may prove hard to beat. However, as already witnessed at this meeting, taking a short price in these frenetic Grade 1 events can be risky, and we prefer an each-way punt.
Il Est Francais could make a bold bid from the front for France while defending champ Protektorat won’t go down without a fight. However, the one who may be underestimated in the market is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Jungle Boogie.
Despite being eleven years of age, this Gold Well gelding has raced only seven times, having missed an extended period through injury. However, his two most recent runs bring him firmly into contention. The first of those came in the 2024 Gold Cup when the horse was bang in contention only to tire following an error at the third last. Returning in an Ascot event over this trip in December, he cantered to an 8l success, with this race mentioned as a likely target in the aftermath. At a double-figure price, we like his chances of at least hitting the frame.
- Recommended Bet - Jungle Boogie each way @ 12/1 with bet365 - £5 each way returns £82 if Jungle Boogie wins
5:20 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Johnnywho heads the betting in the finale and looks set to go well for the Jonjo O’Neill team. This one went into our notebook when staying on for fourth in the 2023 edition of the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle. He hasn't quite delivered on that potential but has been set some pretty stuff tasks against The Jukebox Man and Jingko Blue over fences this term and may just find this drop into handicap company easier. He’s a horse we like with Derek Fox in the saddle, but he needs to brush up on his jumping.
Following the incredible wins of former Michael O’Sullivan mounts Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty on Day 2, it may be written in the stars for Walking On Air to go close in the Day 3 finale, with Michael’s brother Alan taking the ride aboard the well-fancied contender.
Away from the jockey booking, there is plenty to like about this ex-Nicky Henderson runner, who was rated as high as 138 in the past but is down to 129 for this assignment. Having looked set to score when falling at the last at Doncaster in January, he arrives in solid form, with the runner-up that day since filling the same position in the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day. His only previous outing at the Cheltenham Festival also offers encouragement. Running off a mark of 138 in the 2023 Pertemps Network Final, he stayed on well for fifth despite being hampered at a crucial stage. Well-handicapped, in rude health, and with solid form at the track, he looks primed to run a big race.
- Recommended Bet - Walking On Air each way @ 5/1 with bet365 - £5 each way returns £40 if Walking On Air wins
A £1 each-way patent on the above selections returns £1,629.36 with bet365 if all three win and £62.36 if all three only finished placed.
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