Halfway there now, that's flown by fast hasn't it? Anyways, Day Three is all here and previewed for you, in shorter and easier to read form, for a change...
Race one - 13:30pm Turners Novices' Chase Grade 1 2m 3f (4 runners)
A tasty Irish clash here with four runners, case is which one is going to win?
Bob Olinger has been very impressive since starting out over hurdles last season, and his chase record of two from two, and a Grade 2 success at Punchestown last time shows how much potential he carries.
I think his first run over fences showed that he was still learning, and he was much better last time so I think that he should improve again and win this year for Blackmore and Bromhead.
Galopin Des Champs made a mockery of the handicapper here last year in the Martin Pipe, and has been exceptional over fences so far this campaign, making it two from two in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time out.
He's a very good jumper and should really test Bob Olinger here, and this is some contest to kick off day three.
Either could win, and they both have very similar profiles coming into it, but I'm edging towards Bob Olinger who hasn't reached his limit yet I don't think.
Race two - 14:10pm Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m 7f (26 runners)
Big field, big handicap, and a big each way selection from me here.
Third Wind ran a solid enough race at Warwick before his last run where he didn't quite go on from that promise, but he's been dropped 5lbs since his handicap debut, where he finished in front of favourite Sire Du Berlais.
There's plenty of live chances in here as you expect, but at 33/1, he hasn't done much wrong this campaign, and we know that he's versatile ground wise, although he doesn't want it heavy, which it won't be, and he stays the trip.
The key to him is for Tom O'Brien to get him to settle I think, and in a big field he can smuggle him away mid pack just off the pace and charge home late on.
Race three - 14:50pm Ryanair Chase Grade 1 2m 4f (9 runners)
They'll be plenty of soaring leaps from these horses in this race.
Allaho is Mr.Consistent, who turns up time and time again, and keeps on delivering the goods.
He was all class to win this last year, and Willie Mullins has this eight-year-old primed and set for another success here, with him being the short priced 4/6 favourite.
Conflated is an interesting runner here, mainly because trainer Gordon Elliott wanted to run him in the Gold Cup, but his owners wanted to come here for this instead.
He won the Irish Gold Cup last time against Minella Indo, and has looked very good this season, but I'm just not sure whether he's god enough to be the main challenger to Allaho here.
Shan Blue was going to land the Charlie Hall in impressive fashion back in October when coming down three from home.
Harry Skelton had delivered a masterclass to that point, but went to just pop over the obstacle and make sure of the win instead of keeping the pace up and firing him at it.
It was unfortunate, but this horse can really ping a fence, and what I learned from him last season was that he was always very good fresh.
He's been off since that fall at Wetherby, and at 9/1 I will certainly be supporting him here and hoping he can overturn what has been named as the banker of the day in Allaho.
It'll be hard, but I think the Skeltons have learned a lot about him over the past 12 months, and a more conservative ride around here this time should see him go very close indeed.
Race four - 15:30pm Stayers' Hurdle Grade 1 2m 7f (10 runners)
This race looks very wide open, and I'm struggling to really narrow it down here.
Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream both head the market, with the first horse mentioned their winning this race last season.
The seven-year-old has not exactly been in the best form for Gavin Cromwell since then, but his second to Klassical Dream on his last run does give him some hope at least.
Klassical Dream did win that race, before finishing a dissapointing fourth last time, but he usually bounces back, and these two are inseparable from my view.
Paisley Park and Champ both have their form tied in as well this season, with the latter looking a real force over the smaller obstacles.
I love Paisley Park, and would love to see him win again, but I think Champ will at least finish in front of him again here.
My selection here though come into the race fresh, and I do believe Thyme Hill will benefit from that.
At 9/2, you know your getting a horse who never runs a bad race, and is very consistent, and considering some of these have met more than once this season, he did get beat by Champ in the Long Walk but that was his last run, I think he could well have the edge here so is my shout in what is a very tricky race.
Race five - 16:10pm Irish Whiskey Co. Plater Handicap Chase 2m 4f (22 runners)
We know we don't tend to dive into these big handicaps too much so, I'm going to throw one or two names into the mix here just to try and help you narrow down your search for the winner.
The Glancing Queen is a horse that I really do liker, just because she is very consistent, and continues to deliver good performances.
She couldn't get near L'homme Presse last time out, but an opening mark of 141 does give her room for improvement, and I think she's better than that.
At 6/1 second favourite I'm not scared of supporting her, but it's just very wide open, and there's a few other horses in here who have slipped to interesting marks.
Spiritofthegames is always thereabouts in these handicaps at Cheltenham, and is 14lbs below the mark what he started his handicapping with back in 2019, which was 150.
At 20/1 he's good for each way, and so is Coole Cody who is 25/1 and only 2lbs above his last winning mark, which came around the track in December.
Race six - 16:50pm Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle Grade 2 2m (22 runners)
The next two races are very open as well, so I'm just going to keep it simple and give you my fancy and an each way one to go with it.
My EW selection here is Love Envoi at 16/1, who is four from four and will be suited by how the race plans out and also Nurse Susan who finished behind her at Lingfield last time.
Main choice is Dinoblue though who's the favourite, and she looked very good on debut and will be hard to beat in this contest.
Race seven - 17:30pm Kim Muir Handicap Chase Class 2 3m 2f (25 runners)
A big field, and I'm not sure who wins this one either.
Frontal Assault and School Boy Hours top the betting and will both be well up and prepared for this, and it could quite easily be between the pair.
I'm going to take a punt here on Omar Maretti who I watched win at Catterick with a good staying performance in similar conditions to what they could be around Cheltenham.
At 14/1 he's value for each way and the only reason why I believe he may struggle is because he's taking on horses who are also well up for this.
A tricky day to preview, but it's all over with now so I can sit back and relax.
Plenty of competitive races where you could make a case for most runners so, if I could keep up my winner a day record with something then that would be great.
It's the big one though on day four, the Gold Cup, so I'll see you there won't I?
Comments