Another belting day at the Cheltenham Festival is in the offing on Thursday and we provide a selection for races on Day 3.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 tips
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The big fields continue in the first race on Day 3 with another maximum field for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle. Given how short last year’s bumper winner, Bambino Fever, has been trading for this race in the build‑up to the Festival, this is a bit of a surprise — as is the fact that five of her rivals actually come from her own stable. She is clearly a leading player but is priced on her potential rather than on her achievements so far over hurdles, and I am happy to stick with LA CONQUIERE / (13:20 Cheltenham) at a bigger price.
She was put up in the Cheltenham Corner part of the blog a couple of weeks ago when, to be honest, I expected a field of around 12 rather than 22. She has always had this race as her target, and her stable won the race with You Wear It Well a few seasons ago. She was impressive at Newbury, and taking on open company last time at Ascot should have helped her development further. She is a strong mare and, given the field size, should have a decent pace to run at. Carrigmornaspruce is the other one to make appeal at a similar price.
Richard Hoiles
Willie Mullins can start the afternoon off in fine style by bagging a victory in the Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle with his up-and-coming mare Bambino Fever.
The six-year-old won the Champion Bumper at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, beating Heads Up by one-and-a-half-lengths, and she has produced some fine performances since that triumph at Prestbury Park.
BAMBINO FEVER / won at Punchestown in April and was second at Naas in December to round off the year, before romping to a 12-length success in a maiden at Fairyhouse in January.
Mullins’ charge looks like an assured jumper and can take another step forward now back in graded company.
Peter Entwistle
14:00 Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap
The first handicap of the day is the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap over 2m4f, where WINGMEN / (14:00 Cheltenham) comes from a very strong form race at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, where he chased home Kaid D’Authie. Of the six that have run out of that race, three have won and three have placed, with the winner scoring in Grade 1 company at the DRF (and running in the Brown Advisory on Wednesday).
He appeared not to stay 3m in last year’s Albert Bartlett, and the Elliott horses are in much better form now than they were then. There is some rain forecast during the day, which would enhance the chances of 2024 Supreme winner Slade Steel, who looks dangerously treated off 146.
Richard Hoiles
Anthony Honeyball’s improving JORDANS CROSS / has picked up three wins from four runs over fences this season, claiming the spoils at Aintree, Doncaster and Cheltenham.
The only blemish was a fall at Prestbury Park in November last year, but that error can be forgiven and the six-year-old can come out on top in the Jack Richards Handicap.
The most recent victory for Jordans Cross came in the Timeform Novices Handicap over course and distance in January, coming up with his customary late surge to prevail.
With this race sure to be run at a strong pace, it should set up ideally for Jordans Cross to pounce late again.
Peter Entwistle
The first Grade 1 of the afternoon is the repositioned Mares’ Hurdle, which has attracted one of the smaller fields with just seven currently lining up. Having put up TAKE NO CHANCES / (EW) (14:40 Cheltenham) as one of our ante‑post bets, hopefully she can at least make the frame — though if you have not yet backed her, the drop to seven runners and therefore only two places clearly reduces the angle.
She is a very likeable mare whose jumping is an asset and who made the frame in this race last season behind Lossiemouth. She has had negative rides on her last two starts, most notably at Newbury behind Impose Toi, and the switch of the race to the stiffer New Course should suit.
Wodhooh is a short‑priced favourite and has won a remarkable nine of her ten starts, but she does lack scope and has at times looked in trouble only to show a tenacious attitude and win. With Lossiemouth running in (and winning) this year’s Champion, Jade De Grugy is switched back to hurdles to represent Team Mullins, but given her campaign, this can hardly be said to be Plan A.
Richard Hoiles
The Stayers’ Hurdle is the second of the three Grade 1s and is a fascinating clash between the established stars — and first two home last season — Bob Olinger and TEAHUPOO / (15:20 Cheltenham), up against the newer brigade of Honesty Policy, Kabral Du Mathan, and Impose Toi.
How much rain has fallen by this point will be crucial, so it may be worth holding fire until close to the off. The more rain, the better for Teahupoo — and the more it will count against Kabral Du Mathan and Impose Toi, both of whom may struggle to last home in testing ground.
Teahupoo has always been an underrated horse and will line up for his 11th consecutive Grade 1 on Thursday. Given a solid test of stamina, he can reverse last year’s placings with the admirable Bob Olinger and regain his staying crown.
Richard Hoiles
Dan Skelton spent much of the winter suggesting KABRUL DU MATHAN / was more likely to skip Cheltenham and go to Aintree, but he could not resist a trip to Gloucestershire in the end.
Recruited from Paul Nicholls’ yard last summer, Kabral Du Mathan is 2-2 for his new stable and looks highly progressive.
He easily landed a Haydock handicap off a mark of 140 in November and burned off his rivals with ease in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
He was not stopping late on and this talented six-year-old could improve generously now upped in trip.
Five six-year-olds have won this since 2005, with Big Buck’s (four) and Flooring Porter (two) becoming multiple winners. Kabral Du Mathan has the potential to become a dominant force on the evidence of this season.
Enda McElhinney
The last three horses to win the Cleeve Hurdle by seven lengths or more went on to land the Stayers’ Hurdle in the same season, and MA SHANTOU / will attempt to achieve this feat for Emma Lavelle and Harry Cobden following his seven-length defeat of Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle winner Impose Toi on Trials Day at Prestbury Park in January.
That Nicky Henderson inmate was on a three-race winning spree but had no answer late on. Paisley Park enjoyed a sublime six-to-seven-year-old season for Lavelle that ended with Stayers’ Hurdle glory seven years ago and Ma Shantou has a similar profile.
He can confirm Cleeve dominance over Impose Toi and looks a significant threat to the likes of Kabral Du Mathan and Teahupoo with his stamina so well advertised by that effort.
FACT TO FILE / (16:00 Cheltenham) will be a short price in the Ryanair, but it is fully deserved after his back‑to‑back Festival victories in the Brown Advisory and this race last year. Many are disappointed that he is not in the Gold Cup field after winning the Irish equivalent at the DRF.
He showed plenty of speed in his youth, finishing second in the 2023 Cheltenham bumper, and it may be that doubts still linger for connections as to whether he would truly stay the Gold Cup trip.
It will be interesting to see whether Jonbon actually takes his chance or is simply declared as a back‑up in case of issues for the favourite. Heart Wood and Banbridge look better place prospects, though the latter would not want too much rain.
The race, however, looks at the mercy of Fact to File and could spark considerable post‑Festival debate as to whether he is better than whoever lands the Gold Cup on Friday.
Richard Hoiles
The Pertemps Final features a well‑handicapped horse in BOLD ENDEAVOUR / (16:40 Cheltenham), who is back with Nicky Henderson after a spell with Laura Morgan. He was one of the few bright spots for the yard in the 2024 Festival when finishing fourth in this race off a mark of 143 — a full 13lbs higher than he runs off here.
He has remained in the same ownership throughout, and his sole run for the yard since returning was an improved effort when third after nearly a year off. Supremely West will have supporters after appearing to have had his mark protected since his run here in October.
Richard Hoiles
Emmet Mullins’ MELBOURNE SHAMROCK / is worth siding with in the Pertemps Hurdle, a race which has drawn a maximum field of 24.
This unexposed seven-year-old has had just five runs over hurdles and greatly advanced his form on his first go in handicaps when winning at Naas over two-mile seven furlongs in February.
Crucially, that victory qualified him for this prestigious handicap and the cheekpieces, fitted for the first time at Naas, are retained.
Mullins has quickly established himself as a trainer to be feared in the big handicaps and Melbourne Shamrock looks capable of taking another major step forward.
Peter Entwistle
In the final race, WATERFORD WHISPERS / (17:20 Cheltenham) is the selection of the J. P. McManus pair. He steps up to 3m for the first time and has previous Festival form, having finished second in the 2024 Martin Pipe. Still a novice over fences, he has plenty of experience and can beat Jeriko Du Reponet, whom the handicapper surprisingly dropped 3lb to enable a run here.
However, he has never looked a natural jumper and has at times struggled with the preliminaries. He was second in the Pertemps last year, but even the great Derek O’Connor may find it hard to motivate him sufficiently here.
Richard Hoiles
Joseph O’Brien enjoyed some great highs as a Derby-winning jockey but he is now firmly established as one of the best and shrewdest trainers in the world.
He can enjoy another fine afternoon at Prestbury Park by taking the Kim Muir with his progressive young chaser KIM ROQUE / .
This French import had already shown useful winning form over both hurdles and fences from his time with Daniela Mele but he has been quick to improve under the expert tutelage of O’Brien.
Kim Roque was given a short break after two promising efforts for his new handler at Cheltenham in November and December, and he returned with a solid fifth-placed in a 23-runner Leopardstown handicap last month.
With vastly experienced amateur John L Gleeson in the saddle for this Cheltenham run, Kim Roque looks to hold excellent claims in a very open renewal.
Peter Entwistle
We’ll be adding further tips throughout the day, so be sure to come back for even more picks and predictions. And in the meantime, see all our top picks for Cheltenham day two and Richard Hoiles’ day two tips.
