With four days of world-class National Hunt racing at the Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, fans and pundits alike will be have the opportunity to witness some of the best thoroughbreds the sport has to offer.
Day three of the Festival will be no exception, with seven races scheduled, three of which are Grade 1 contests. With that in mind, read on as we provide some information for the fixtures on March 16 and list the three favourites in the Cheltenham day 3 antepost betting in each of them.
Turners Novices’ Chase
Taking place over two miles and four furlongs, the Turners Novices’ Chase is open to horse aged five years or older worth £175,000. This fixture was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2014, with 2023 marking the tenth year it has been run at that level. It was Bob Olinger who reigned supreme last year, justifying his 6/4 favourite’s tag to dominate the field by seven-and-a-half lengths.
Favourites:
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Mighty Potter 6/4
El Fabiolo 2/1
Banbridge 4/1
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
The second fixture on day three, the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is a premier handicap that takes place over roughly three miles. There are twelve hurdles to be jumped throughout the contest, with the winner’s connections picking up in excess of £56,000 in prizemoney.
Ryanair Chase
In what is one of the five feature races at the Festival, the Ryanair Chase is a two-mile and four-and-a-half-furlong contest with a minimum age requirement of five. It is a race that has captured the imagination of racing fans since its inception in 2005, and it once again boasts an amazing field of entries whose connections will be hoping to secure the £211,000 awarded to the winner.
Favourites:
Shishkin 4/5
Blue Lord 5/1
Conflated 5/1
Stayers’ Hurdle
The feature race on day three at Prestbury Park is the gruelling Stayers’ Hurdle. With twelve hurdles to be jumped and three miles to be run, this £325,000 contest is a test of grit and determination reserved for only the elite few. Two-time reigning champion Flooring Porter will be lining up once again in 2023, and if he can defy the odds and finish first past the post later this month, he will become just the third horse to win three consecutive Stayers’ Hurdle titles.
The Stayers’ Hurdle is one of four championship races taking place across the four-day meet, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup the remaining three.
Favourites:
Blazing Khal 10/3
Teahupoo 9/2
Home By The Lee 11/2
Magners Plate Handicap Chase
A premier handicap open to horses aged five or older, the Magners Plate Handicap Chase consists of 17 fences and is run over two-miles and four-and-a-half-furlongs. It was Coole Cody who took home the chocolates in 2022, finishing strongly to defeat Imperial Alcazar by just shy of seven lengths.
Favourites:
So Scottish 4/1
Adamantly Chosen 15/2
Haut En Couleurs 15/2
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 fixture that will see 4yo+ novices compete over eight hurdles and two miles and one furlong. This race could be up for grabs, with only three favourites having won since the race’s introduction in 2016.
Favourites:
Luccia 13/8
Ashroe Diamond 10/3
Night and Day 13/2
Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
The seventh and final race on day is the Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, which sees 5yo+ thoroughbreds battle it out over three miles and two furlongs along with 21 fences that are required to be jumped. It’s a particularly unique contest in that only amateur jockeys are permitted to take part in the fixture.
Favourites:
Stumptown 4/1
Mr Incredible 5/1
Next Destination 7/1
