Day three of the Cheltenham Festival, and we get to see the brilliant Envoi Allen in the opener of the day.
He runs in the Marsh Chase for new trainer Henry de Bromhead, and he's going to be very hard to beat here.
My selection here though is the ever consistent Shan Blue, who's jumping has been impeccable to date and he's a great price to get placed and shouldn't be a million miles away from the favourite.
If the favourite does struggle, and that's going to be very unlikely, I think Shan Blue will be well placed to pick up the pieces.
The next race is another handicap race at the festival, and I'll keep my thoughts on this short and simple as I've done on most handicaps this week.
I think Bushypark is a big price here for Phil Kirby's team and despite being in much deeper waters than any of his races so far this season, he's a likeable type who's kept improving, and I think he could be involved with the placings here.
The Ryanair is another very open race, where the winner could come from a few horses in this contest.
Allaho looked back to his best on his latest start at Thurles and has ran well here in the past so he's one of the contenders.
The Mullins duo of Melon and Min look dangerous as well, with stable jockey Paul Townsend choosing Min, which shows which horse he feels has the better chance.
Min won this back in 2020 and despite a poor effort on his most recent start, he'll be tuned up to defend his crown and you can guarantee that he won't go down without a fight.
My choice here though goes to Imperial Aura.
The horse unseated jockey David Bass last time, but I think the shadows were to blame that day because he is usually such a solid jumper.
I think he'll get back on track here and run a big race where I expect at the minimum that he will get placed here.
In the Stayers Hurdle last year's winner Lisnagar Oscar runs but he's doing it without his winning partner in Adam Wedge.
Wedge is out injured so Harry Skelton has taken the ride this year, and on his last outing up at Haydock this horse looked like he was just starting to return to form again.
I think this will be a match up though between the top two in the market and my vote goes to Paisley Park who was so gutsy at Ascot on his last start, where he got up at the finish to defeat Thyme Hill.
This race was supposed to be the decider between the two, after Thyme Hill beat Paisley Park at Newbury earlier on in the season, but Thyme Hill unfortunately isn't fit, so his main danger now comes from Sire Du Berlais.
Paisley Park should have enough class to win this though and I think he will as well so he's my selection here.
Race five is another handicap so, my selection for the places here is the old boy Oldgrangewood.
He fell at Warwick last time but is usually consistent with his jumping, and also finished fourth in this off 1lb higher last season, which means that if he is anything back to his best then he'll have a say here.
It's an open contest again though so anything could simply win this!
Royal Kahala is better off with his rivals here and I think he'll put that to good use in the sixth race to take advantage and win.
The last race of the day which is the Kim Muir is yet another wide open field (day three just seems filled with them).
I'm going to say that Storm Control is a good price for the placings here though.
The horse is two from two at the track and can put that good experience to use here but like I said, most of the contests are very open and it's not easy to be sure on any winners!
The best horse out on the day has to be Envoi Allen.
If he makes a few errors, and it would have to be a few I think, then Shan Blue is Mr Consistent here and will pick up the pieces, but he's going to have to improve if he wants to beat an on song Envoi Allen.
Same as always though, sit back and enjoy another superb day of action on the telly from the Cheltenham Festival!
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