AFTER two spectacular days of racing at the Cheltenham Festival, we have hit the halfway mark as we enter day three.
The Ryanair Chase and Stayers Hurdle are the flagship races of the day, with Fact To File looking to win back-to-back renewals of the Ryanair Chase. But before we make our way to the Ryanair, we have plenty of value lurking around in the supporting races on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
Let’s take a close look at the seven thrilling matchups that make up Thursday’s card, bringing you our essential Cheltenham day 3 selections and best bets.
🏇 Best Cheltenham day 3 selections
- 1:20 Oldschool Outlaw 9/2
- 2:00 Slade Steel 8/1 (each way)
- 2:40 Wodhooh 8/11
- 3:20 Bob Olinger 8/1 (each way)
- 4:00 Fact To File 8/11
- 4:40 C’Est Different 9/1 (each way)
- 5:20 Waterford Whispers 9/2
*Odds are subject to change
Cheltenham Festival 1:20 – Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – 2m1f
On paper, this looks between last year’s Champion Bumper winner, Bambino Fever, and OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW. Bambino Fever has been well supported for this race; however, she has been defeated only once, at the hands of Oldschool Outlaw. Yes, you can argue that Oldschool Outlaw had the fitness edge over the Champion Bumper winner, but the Gordon Elliott mare has herself shown improved form since her win over Bambino Fever.
There shouldn’t be much separating the pair, but at the odds, Oldschool Outlaw is the clear value pick here, and has shown plenty to suggest that she can uphold the form with her old foe.
Of ones at bigger odds, Carrigmoornaspruce looks to have solid each-way claims if on a going day. Future Prospect is one to keep a close eye on in the betting, as if she comes in for support, it needs to be taken seriously.
- Selection: Oldschool Outlaw 9/2
- Danger: Bambino Fever 11/10
➡️ Bet on OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW for the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 9/2 with bet365
Cheltenham Festival 2:00 – Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m4½f
A deeply tight handicap to solve here, but there are a few very interesting contenders at hand. Regent’s Stroll has a very similar profile to last season’s winner, Cadwell Potter, and this free-going sort looks to have a clear chance. The Ben Pauling-trained Meetmebythesee looks to be a typical JP McManus plot job, and has to be feared, but there is a former Supreme Novices Hurdle winner lurking on a very attractive mark.
It’s not often that a Grade 1 horse is hiding in plain sight in a handicap, but SLADE STEEL seems to have snuck in on a mark that he can exploit. The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old missed most of last season with injury, but that has meant that he was still a novice coming into this season. He has been beaten in his three runs this season, one of which he was brought down in by a faller when travelling well. And you can forgive him his latest defeat as he got bogged down on deep, tacky ground.
Now back on better ground and back at the scene of his biggest career win to date, it looks set up for Slade Steel to take full advantage of his generous handicap mark. A few others who can play a role are Ol Man Dingle, Kiss Will, and course and distance winner, Jordans Cross.
- Selection: Slade Steel 8/1 (each way)
- Danger: Meetmebythesee 11/2
➡️ Bet on SLADE STEEL for the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with Betfred
Cheltenham Festival 2:40 – Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – 2m4½f
The decision for Lossiemouth to run in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday has left the winning and losing of the Mares Hurdle in the lap of WODHOOH. Last season’s Martin Pipe winner has won nine of her ten starts over hurdles, with her only defeat coming at the hands of Lossiemouth.
She’s been good in her two starts this season, and a repeat run of either of her two wins this season should be enough for her to record back-to-back Cheltenham Festival wins. Jade De Grugy looks the obvious one to follow Wodhooh home, but Feet Of A Dance looks worth taking a chance on for the forecast.
- Selection: Wodhooh 8/11
- Danger: Feet Of A Dance 9/1
➡️ Bet on WODHOOH for the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at 8/11 with bet365
Cheltenham Festival 3:20 – Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – 3m
It’s a case of young vs old in this year’s Stayers Hurdle. Kabral Du Marthan has been nothing short of impressive in his two starts for Dan Skelton this season, but there is a suspicion that he may be found wanting for stamina at this distance. Gordon Elliott runs two here.
The first being the admirable Teahupoo, who has been rejuvenated this season, and is going for two wins in the Stayers Hurdle, but for some reason, he seems not to be at his best at Cheltenham. Honesty Policy is the new kid on the block, but he lacks experience at this level. He was eye-catching when third to Impose Toi in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, but he hasn’t been seen since, which is slightly off-putting.
Ma Shantou has been a revelation at Cheltenham this season, winning all three of his starts here, but it’s another course and distance specialist who can make it five from five at Cheltenham, and that’s BOB OLINGER. The defending champion comes to life at Cheltenham and was an impressive winner of last year’s renewal, sprinting away from Teahupoo.
He may be getting on in years, but this has been the target all season, and comes in here on the back of an eye-catching second to Teahupoo at Leopardstown on ground he would not have liked. Given his course record, it’s time to see Bob Olinger bag yet another Cheltenham Festival win.
- Selection: Bob Olinger 8/1 (each way)
- Danger: Honesty Policy 5/1
➡️ Bet on BOB OLINGER for the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at 8/1 with SBK
Cheltenham Festival 4:00 – Grade 1 Ryanair Chase – 2m4½f
The winning and losing of the Ryanair Chase revolves around one horse, and one horse only, and that is the defending champion, FACT TO FILE. Many will be disappointed that he is not running in the Gold Cup after his dominant display when winning the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, but connections have decided to take up the option of winning back-to-back Ryanair Chases. Can you blame them? No.
This should be straightforward for Fact To File. Expect to see Mark Walsh set Fact To File alight on the lead, and play a game of ‘catch me if you can’, and I don’t see any of his 16 rivals being able to lay a glove on Fact To File. Away from Fact To File, there are plenty of each-way alternatives with former King George VI Chase winner Banbridge, last season’s runner-up Heart Wood, and Impair Et Passe all leading the charge.
- Selection: Fact To File 8/11
- Danger: Banbridge 7/1
➡️ Bet on FACT TO FILE for the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at 8/11 with bet365
Cheltenham Festival 4:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle – 3m
A notoriously difficult handicap to solve, but like many premier handicaps, there has been a Dan Skelton horse well found in the market. Supremely West has been backed like defeat is out of the question, and given that the Skeltons had a similar type win over fences here on Tuesday, it’s easy to see why this eight-year-old has been well backed. However, there is no value in backing a 4/1 shot in a race this competitive.
Melbourne Shamrock pulled clear with Minella Sixo when beating him in a qualifier at Naas last month, and if he is over the exertions of that race, he looks to be on an upward curve. Course winner Kikijo is very interesting off a mark that looks well within range, given his progress. He has been given plenty of time to get over the second of his two wins on deep ground at Sandown, and looks sure to be in the mix for a place at minimum.
The one worth opposing the favourite with is C’EST DIFFERENT. Trainer Sam Thomas, the man who was on board Denman when winning the Gold Cup, has made a great start to his training career and looks to have a solid chance of getting his first festival winner today. In the colours made famous by Oscar Whiskey, C’Est Different has been on a steep upward curve this season. He bolted up at Market Rasen in his qualifier, and backed that up with an even better display when carrying 12st 1lb to victory. He comes here in the form of his life, and he looks sure to be bang there battling it out up the Cheltenham Hill.
- Selection: C’Est Different 9/1 (each way)
- Danger: Kikijo 16/1
➡️ Bet on C’EST DIFFERENT for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at 9/1 with Betway
Cheltenham Festival 5:20 – Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase – 3m2½f
The final race on day three sees the amateur jockeys get their time to shine for the first time this week, in what is always a difficult race to solve. JP McManus has the top two in the betting, and for me, one would appear to have a far better chance than the other, and the one to side with is WATERFORD WHISPERS.
Jeriko Du Reponet has been handicapped for this entire season, but he is a horse that you just can not trust when the chips are down. Whereas Waterford Whispers hinted that his return to the winners’ enclosure may not be far away on the back of a strong staying on third-place finish at the Dublin Racing Festival.
This will be Waterford Whispers’ first attempt at this kind of distance, but a test like this could be right up his street. The slower pace will improve his jumping and make it easier for him to travel. And should his stamina hold up, he has the class to break his Cheltenham Festival duck. Others to take note of are course winner Herakles Westwood, The Enabler, and last year’s surprise winner, Daily Present.
- Selection: Waterford Whispers 9/2
- Danger: Herakles Westwood 10/1
Frequently asked questions: Cheltenham day 3
1. What is the feature race on Cheltenham day 3?
Day 3 is unique because it boasts two flagship championship events. The headline races are the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at 3:20 PM and the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at 4:00 PM.
2. Who are the best Cheltenham day 3 tips?
Our racing experts have picked out strong contenders across the entire Thursday card. Standout tips include course specialist Bob Olinger (8/1) in the Stayers’ Hurdle and the rapidly improving C’Est Different (9/1) in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.
3. What is the NAP of the day for Thursday at Cheltenham?
Our strongest bet (NAP) for Day 3 is Fact To File (8/11) in the Ryanair Chase. The defending champion looks virtually untouchable, and a front-running masterclass is expected from him to secure back-to-back Ryanair crowns.
4. What time does the first race start on Day 3?
Day 3 of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival—traditionally known as St Patrick’s Thursday—kicks off at 1:20 PM with the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
5. How many races are there on Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival?
There are seven races scheduled for Day 3. The action gets underway at 1:20 PM and concludes with the amateur riders taking centre stage in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at 5:20 PM.
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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