Day three of the Cheltenham Festival can be hard going for punters, with three wide-open handicaps to contend with and the majority of this year’s Graded races also very competitive affairs.
However, this Thursday we’ve got some strong favourites to go to war with and some compelling contenders to consider in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, the Festival Plate and the Kim Muir.
Cheltenham Thursday Betting Tips
1:30 – Mighty Potter to win @ Evens
2:10 – Thanksforthehelp to win @ 9/2
2:50 – Shishkin to win @ 5/6
3:30 – Blazing Khal to win @ 11/4
4:10 – Frero Banbou each-way @ 11/1
4:50 – Magical Zoe each-way @ 11/1
5:30 – Lord Accord each-way @ 11/1
Check out the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
1:30 – Turners Novices’ Chase
MIGHTY POTTER’s win in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse in December looks the best form on offer in this division. Gordon Elliott’s gelding powered home 18 lengths clear of the re-opposing Banbridge, who is second favourite for this Cheltenham assignment.
Doubts raised by him being pulled up in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle are over the top, with two bad mistakes early doors ruining his chance in that race. His biggest threats come from horses he’s yet to face in Appreciate and Sir Gerhard, but they must prove themselves up to his level.
Our tip: Mighty Potter @ Evens
2:10 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
It’s difficult to watch the Chepstow qualifier victory of David Pipe’s THANKSFORTHEHELP and think anything other than that even though he went up 11lbs for that win he’s still got plenty in hand.
That was this lightly raced six-year-old’s first run at a trip beyond two miles five and half furlongs and the promise of further improvement to come at this 3m trip can see him make easy work of these rivals.
Our tip: Thanksforthehelp @ 9/2
2:50 – Ryanair Chase
SHISKIN’s blockbuster return to form in the Ascot Chase last time out answered any questions over his continued love of the game following a moderate effort in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
He can repeat the dose and add to his Festival wins in the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and 2021 Arkle to leave connections ruefully wondering whether they should have rolled the Gold Cup dice.
Our tip: Shishkin to win @ 5/6
3:30 – Stayers’ Hurdle
BLAZING KHAL would likely have won last year’s Albert Bartlett but for injury curtailing a season in which he nonetheless won all three of his hurdles runs, including twice at Cheltenham and once over the Stayers course and distance. Both times he beat Gelino Bello, a subsequent Grade 1 winner.
He completed a hat-trick of Grade 2 wins on his belated return to action last month and should have plenty of improvement left to come given that was just his fourth career run over timber.
Our tip: Blazing Khal to win @ 11/4
4:10 – Magners Plate Handicap Chase
The long-awaited step up in trip is finally here for FRERO BANBOU, a horse that has yet to go beyond 21f in 12 runs over fences for Venetia Williams.
Outpaced early in last year’s Grand Annual over 2m before staying on to claim third, he returns to the Festival 6lbs lower in the handicap in a race her trainer likes to target. Williams has had three winners and eight placed runners from 27 representatives across the last 20 runnings.
Our tip: Frero Banbou to win 11/1
4:50 – Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Luccia will be all the rage for this heat but her odds are skinny enough given Irish Group 3 winners Ashroe Diamond and MAGICAL ZOE will be among her rivals.
The latter has been kept off the track since winning at Down Royal in November, but that win has come to look better and better thanks to the exploits of the Model Kingdom, who finished within six lengths of Impair Et Passe on her most recent run.
Our tip: Magical Zoe each-way @ 11/1
5:30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Neil Mullholland is no stranger to plotting his way to Festival handicap glory having landed the Ultima with The Druids Nephew in 2015. His LORD ACCORD has followed a similar route to the Festival and looks to have a good chance in the lucky last.
He won well in a 3m1f handicap chase at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting in October and proved himself to still be competitive off his current mark when second in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton the following month. A tune up run in the Cleeve Hurdle in January should have him spot on.
Our tip: Lord Accord each-way @ 11/1
