Cheltenham Festival Day 3

Cheltenham Festival Day 3

The second day of the Cheltenham festival was just as exciting as the first. A late withdrawal from Champagne Fever saw the Queen Mother Champion Chase thrown wide open and won by 9/2 tip Dodging Bullets.  Willie Mullins seems to be the trainer to beat down on the track and if his current form is anything to go by we could see him lifting the Gold Cup on Friday.

Can King Find Succes In the Ryanair Chase
First run a decade ago, the Ryanair Chase was introduced after a fourth day of racing was added to the festival.  It’s previously been won by horses such as Riverside Theatre, Dynaste and Cue Card who then went on to success in the King George at Kempton.

Alan King is looking for his first victory in the race and his challenger Balder Succes comes into the race with two impressive wins behind him. Winning his last outing the Betfair Ascot Chase on soft ground by three and a quarter lengths, he looks the one to beat.

Ridden by Wayne Hutchinson Balder Succes is solid value at 13/2.

Nicholls Looks to the Saints
The JLT Novices’ Chases is a relatively new edition to the Cheltenham Festival card having been run only four times.  Tony McCoy has taken victory in the race twice before and the Champion jockey could be eyeing another victory before retiring from racing.

The standout horses however comes from the Paul Nicholl’s yard in the form of Irish Saint.

Winning his last outing at Kempton by ten lengths, the six-year-old certainly has some power behind him and should feature in the running.

Ridden by Noel Fehily Irish Saint is our eachway tip priced at 14/1.

Today’s Tip Of The Day
Cheltenham 15:20 Whisper

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is one of the most famous races at the Cheltenham Festival and is most noted for being won four times in succession by Big Buck’s.

Nicky Henderson goes into tomorrow’s contest looking for his first win since 2000 and his selected challenger is Whisper.

Winning the Coral Cup last year at the festival priced at 14/1, he took a break from racing after the Aintree Festival.  Returning to the track in January he looks to have the class to burn.

Ridden by Barry Geraghy Whisper is value at 8/1