The big race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday is the Stayers’ Hurdle. You can find a full preview of the headline attraction by clicking here. There are plenty of other great races on the card though on a decent day of racing.
There are three handicaps which we will preview elsewhere on the site shortly, but there are also three non-handicap races which includes the ever popular Ryanair Chase as well as the Marsh Novice Chase where a potential superstar is on show. We’ll preview these below.
1.20 Cheltenham: Marsh Novice Chase
Preview
The 3rd of the superstar novice chasers (after Shiskin & Monkfish) is in action here with Envoi Allen bidding to make it a perfect 12 from 12 career wins & 4 from 4 in chases. He’s won at the last 2 Festivals but there has to be a small concern that moving yards 2 weeks before the start of the Festival could affect him. He’s odds-on for this 8 runner race over two and a half miles, and rightly so, but could be worth taking on.
Chatham Street Lad has been running well & scooted up in a handicap chase here 2 starts ago but this is much tougher whilst Shan Blue should go very well from the front for the Skelton’s but he’s only been here once & ran an average race when 6th in the Ballymore behind Envoi Allen here 12 months ago. Asterion Forlonge has fallen twice in 4 starts & Fusil Raffles could run a big race on drying ground but is the stable’s second string.
Betting
We’re sticking with the Henderson yard & backing his first string in Chantry House. He’s unexposed over fences, winning a pair of small field races when jumping & travelling really well but disappointed at odds on here in December. That’s a concern but he did have minor surgery afterwards to correct a back issue which, on his win at Wetherby last time out, seemed to have done the trick. The track certainly wasn’t the issue, given he won here in a novice hurdle last season & then ran a cracker when 3rd in the Supreme when connections were actually disappointed, expecting him to go closer. That heat was won by the imperious Shiskin, the top class Abacadabras was 2nd & in behind was Heaven Help Us who won Wednesday’s Coral Cup. He’ll need to find improvement to beat Envoi Allen & that is possible with this trainer so, at the prices, he’s worth an each way investment.
Tips
WON – Back Chantry House (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 10.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
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2.30 Cheltenham: Ryanair Chase
Preview
A cracking renewal of the Ryanair Chase, a 2 mile 4 furlong Grade 1 event for those top class horses who find the Champion Chase too sharp & don’t have the stamina for the Gold Cup. There’s a 14 strong field & the top 8 in the market all ran extremely well at the Festival a year ago, with the 1-2 from this race, the 1-2-4 from the Marsh, 3rd in the RSA, 2nd in the Arkle & winner of a Novice Handicap. In summary, if previous Festival form is a prerequisite, we have 8 genuine contenders.
Min is the favourite here & is bidding to follow up his win in this race last year. He’s landed a Grade 1 this term over the trip but was pulled up last time out behind Chacun Pour Soi where he jumped poorly so he has something to prove. 3rd in the race last year was Saint Calvados who has a squeak on that form & the return to this track will suit but he’s been below par in his 2 starts this term.
Imperial Aura was the handicap winner 12 months ago & has been getting better with each run but it’s a concern that he fell on his recent start at Kempton & hasn’t been seen out since early January. Fakir D’Oudairies was 2nd in the Arkle & did win his only start over this trip but whilst he has the pace, stamina is a question mark is a fast run race on this stiff track. Conversely, Allaho was 3rd to Champ in last year’s RSA but may be tapped for toe here.
Betting
The winner of last year’s Marsh was Samcro who edged home by a nose but form figures of 6-P this term are a concern whilst 4th that day, Mister Fisher, loves it here & should go well. However, preference is for Festival stalwart Melon who has been to the last 4 Festivals & finished 2nd on each occasion. He was 2nd in the Supreme, 2nd twice in the Champion Hurdle & then last year 2nd in the Marsh; in 2 of those runs, he’s gone down by less than a neck so if there’s one horse running this week who deserves to get his nose in front, it’s this lad.
He’s yet to win this term but has run pretty well. He was 3rd behind Min on reappearance but the ground was very heavy that day & was then 3rd in the 3 mile Savills which was an excellent run. He travelled well & looked the most likely winner but probably didn’t quite get home yet was only 2 lengths off the winner. Last time out he was under par in the Irish Gold Cup but the small field didn’t play to his strengths. Back in trip, he’s sure to run well & it’s with noting that his form in 10+ runner fields in the UK reads 1 win, 5 2nd’s & a 3rd, with the 3rd in the Savills & that could have been much better over a furlong or two shorter. We’re hoping for a change of Festival luck & will hopefully be cheering him home for one of the stories of the week.
Tips
Back Melon (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Betfred BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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