The third day of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday sees the action heading to the other track for another seven top class races, the headline of which is the Stayers’ Hurdle, the ultimate stamina test for the hurdlers in the sport.
As ever on a Thursday, a decent undercard is there for us to get stuck into as well and unlike the opening two days there looks to be a much better level of betting opportunities throughout the day too. We’ve picked out one in the big one and five others throughout the card.
2.10 Cheltenham: Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
A maximum field of 24 for this 3 mile handicap where the Skelton’s bid to land a 3rd handicap win at this year’s Festival with Le Milos and, like the 2 winners he had on Wednesday, he looks to be thrown in on his best form. However, at the prices, Springwell Bay is our first bet. Still lightly raced, he’s won 4 of his 8 starts over hurdles & looks to be on a good mark based on this season’s handicap form. On reappearance, he won over 3 furlongs shorter at this track off 8lbs lower, travelling well before idling on the run-in to score with a bit in hand. Upped to 3 miles, he was then 4th of 14 here where the very heavy ground may not have been totally ideal & a bad mistake at the last did nothing for his chances. However, it was his last run, in a qualifier at Musselburgh that took the eye where he finished really well to go down by just a neck to a horse he was given almost 2 stone to. A repeat of that form will surely see him go close here.
At long odds, Gowel Road must have a squeak. After winning here in 2021 over hurdles & genuinely having a good campaign, he tried fences & did well in 2 starts but somewhat surprisingly was returned to hurdles for this years’ campaign. He was a close 4th in a handicap at Haydock off 140, finishing close up behind one the market leaders for the Stayers, Crambo, before being a little outclassed in the Grade 1 Long Walk, albeit still only 16 lengths off the winner. He’s been close up in 2 starts since, on very soft ground & off 1lb higher, so a repeat of those efforts returned to this stiff track that suits will see him staying on to good effect late in the day. The price makes him worthy of an each-way investment.
Tips
Back Springwell Bay (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Gowel Road (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
3.30 Cheltenham: Stayers Hurdle
Surely the race of the Festival with previous winners Sire Du Berlais, Flooring Porter & everyone’s favourite horse Paisley Park in the field as well as the up & coming Teahupoo who was 3rd last year, Grand National winner turned hurdler Noble Yeats. It might just be a race to savour but it’s surely worth a bet on Crambo to continue his remarkable upward trajectory in the staying hurdler ranks.
After Highland Hunter’s sad end on Tuesday, a win would bring about a deserved change of fortune for the yard & with 5 wins from 8 hurdle starts, it’s possible he could do just that. He won a handicap first time up over 2 miles 4 furlongs before looking very unlucky in a handicap at Haydock when stepped up to 3 miles for the first time. Last time out was a career best when he narrowly landed the Long Walk Hurdle from Paisley Park, with Dashel Drasher in behind. A lot of his rivals are getting a bit long in the tooth now but he’s just a 7 year old & it’s likely he has loads of improvement left. We will take him to get the better of the strong Irish challenge headed by Teahupoo & Sir Gerhard.
Tips
Back Crambo (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.50 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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4.10 Cheltenham: Plate Handicap Chase
The British look to hold the upper hand here with the front 2 in the market, Crebilly & Theatre Man, both trained on these shores but it’s another Brit we fancy to land the spoils. Shakem Uparry hails from a yard that has had an unbelievable season & this 10 year old could add to that with victory here. He was 3rd in this 12 months ago off 4lbs lower but has improved again this term with a win over course & distance on heavy ground in a big handicap chase on New Year’s Day.
He beat the likes of Stage Star & Al Dancer in coming clear by almost 8 lengths & has been kept fresh since then. His mark looks pretty lenient having only been raised 3lbs & that puts him bang in the mix here. The ground is perfect for him, he’s racing over his best trip & has clearly shown a liking for this track so he looks to be a super each way bet.
Tips
Back Shakem Uparry (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back him here:
5.30 Cheltenham: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
The race for amateur jockeys over the Gold Cup trip where the Irish have the first 7 in the market but again we’re siding with the Brits to make a comeback. Bowtogreatness, from the same yard as Shakem Uparry, is our first selection & whilst he’s yet to get off the mark over fences, today could be the day that changes. Campaigned mainly over a shorter trip, he’s done well when stepped up to 3 miles or further, finishing 2nd to the high class Midnight River at Aintree off 1lb lower & then running a cracker in a Premier Handicap at Kempton last time out off this mark. The one disappointment over a staying trip was largely down to an absence of almost 9 months. With the extra quarter mile expected to eke out more & off a good handicap mark, he’s sure to go close.
One of the best amateurs takes the ride on our second selection and quite frankly, had he not disappointed on his last run, Git Maker would be half the price he is now. He finished runner up on his first 2 starts over fences before winning his next 3 & that only saw his mark go up by 11lbs. Admittedly, upped to this mark, he ran below par at Ascot in December but it would be no surprise to see him put that run behind him having been freshened up with a 3 month break. His yard is going quite well & these conditions (3 miles 2 furlongs on soft ground) are ideal so, given the price, he’s another impossible to leave out of calculations.
Tips
Back Bowtogreatness (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Git Maker (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
