Top picks for the Cheltenham Festival today: 14.50 Thursday best bets and 11 horses to watch on Day 3

The Cheltenham Festival continues on Thursday for Day 3 of an exciting week of racing.

After a glorious run by Energumene to win the Champion Chase again for Brighton owner Tony Bloom, look out for another packed race card with seven exciting races to showcase the sport’s best in the Cotswolds before attention turns to the Gold Cup turned to on Friday.

The Irish trainers continue to shine and hope for another triumph after winning the Prestbury Cup 12 months ago with a mighty 18 victories compared to just 10 for British-trained horses.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, with tips and top picks for Day 3 on Thursday:

The 2023 Cheltenham Festival begins Tuesday 14th March and runs through Friday 17th March. There are seven races each day, starting at 13:30 GMT and ending at 17:30.

Cheltenham Festival day 3 tips

Oli Bell, Ed Chamberlin and Alex Hammond’s Day 3 picks

tips about heaven bet

1:30 p.m. – Turners Novices’ Chase (registered as The Golden Miller): Mighty Potter (Alex Hammond, Evas)

Alexander Hammond: “[On Mighty Potter] Impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival and undefeated over fences.”

14:50 – Ryanair Chase (registered as The Festival Trophy) shishkin (Oli Bell, 5/6), shishkin (Alex Hammond, 5/6)

Oliver Bell: “[On Shishkin]: Was really impressed with the Ascot chase and seems really at home on this trip.”

Alex Hammond’: “[On Shishkin]: Looked at his best right away while riding at Ascot Chase.

15:30 – Paddy Power Stayer Hurdle: At home on the Lee (Oli Bell, 6/1), At home on the Lee (ed. Chamberlin, 6/1)

Oliver Bell: “[On Home by the Lee] Has the best form in the book this season and seems to be improving.

Ed Chamberlin: “[On Home by the Lee] Not getting the recognition he deserves.”

16:50 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Registered as The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle): Lucy (Oli Bell, 3/2)

Oliver Bell: “[On Luccia] One of the potential future stars of National Hunt racing. She has a lot of talent and will be hard to beat.”

17:30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase: Beauport (ed. Chamberlin, 1.10.)

Ed Chamberlin: “[On Beauport] One to watch!”

Ruby Walsh’s tips for Day 3

tips about Paddy power

1.30pm – Turners Rookies Chase: Mighty Potter

“Mighty Potter will probably win, but Appreciate It will really give him a race. It will be a good race between the two.”

14.50 – Ryanair follow-up: shishkin

“This race is just about to start shishkin, As simple as that.”

15.30 – Paddy Power Standing Hurdle: Teahupoo

“The rain does this teahupoo to me. This is a big day for Davy Russell on his comeback and these are his best chances to win with Might Potter at 1:30pm and Teahupoo.

“He’s in the rain [Teahupoo] just a better horse on soft ground, and the more rain that falls the better his chances will be.

“I’ve given Home By The Lee a chance for most of the year, but if it doesn’t dry up significantly, I’m with Teahupoo.”

16.10 – Magners plate: Frero Banbou

“Haut En Couleurs is too weak a finisher for me to pick in this race.

“So Scottish is the obvious choice but now that all the rain is falling I will be riding with Frero Banbou. His last few runs have been over 2m but if he goes up to 2.5m he has a huge chance.”

16.50 – hurdle of the mare prospects: Halka you Tabert

“No way Lucy on 13.8. I know I tipped too Much joy, but she was 18/1 when I did that, she’s at 6 now (6/1).

“I go with Halka you Tabert when it rains.”

17.30 – Kim Muir Handicap Pursuit: stump town

“Gary O’Brien was cute stump town even before he went to Sandown.

“I watched him there; his jumping was amazing. He only gained 10 pounds and I will side with him too.”

And here’s PA’s racing reporter Molly Hunter with her picks from Thursday:

CHELTENHAM: 1.30 Mighty Potter, 2.10 Maxxum, 2.50 SHISHKIN (NAP), 3.30 Blazing Khal, 4.10 So Scottish, 4.50 Luccia, 5.30 Beauport.

Cheltenham Festival Day 3: Race Schedule and Current Odds

1.30 Turner’s Novices Chase

1st Stage Star – 15/2

2. Short to May – 40/1

3. Mighty Potter – 4/6

2:10 Pertemps Network Finale

1. Good Time Jonny – 9/1

2. Salvador Ziggy – 10/1

3. Mill Green – 22/1

2:50 Ryanair tracking

Shishkin 8/11

Blue Lord, merged 5/1

Janidil 7/1

Wutstrasse 8/1

Envoy Ellen 10/1

Fakir D’Oudairies, French Dynamite, Haut En Couleurs 14/1

GA Law 16/1

Hitman 20/1

Chacun Pour Soi, Funambule Sivola 25/1

Fanion D’estruval 50/1

3:30 hurdle of stayers

Flaming Khal 11/4

Marie’s Rock, Teahupoo 7/2

Boden Porter, Home By The Lee 11/2

Classic dream 9/1

Gold tweet, Sir Gerhard 1.12

Ashdale Bob, Paisley Park 16/1

Asterion Forlonge, Henri Le Farceur 20/1

Dashel Drasher, Haut En Couleurs, Hewick, Sharjah 25/1

4:10 Magner’s Plate Handicap Chase

So Scottish 3/1

Stubbornly Chosen, Il Ridoto 15/2

Haut En Couleurs 8/1

Stage star 9/1

Balco Coastal, French Dynamite, Frero Banbou, Midnight River 10/1

Datsalrightgino, Fastorslow, Fugitif 12/1

I’m Maximus, Kilcruit 14/1

Warlord 16/1

Marsharper 18/1

Bold Endeavour, Call Me Lyreen, Champagne Gold, Dads Lad, Elixir Du Nutz, Embitered, Fil Dor, Fusil Raffles, Gemirande, Midnight Run 20/1

BAR 25/1

4:50 mares novices hurdle

Lucy 11/8

Ashroe Diamond 10/3

Have fun 7/1

You wear it well 8/1

Magical Zoe, Princess Zoe 9/1

Halka Du Tabert, Under Control 12/1

Jetara 14/1

Ahorsewithnoname, Foxy Girl, Harmonya Maker, Kateira, Ladybank, Nikini 16/1

Endless Escape, Mullenbeg, Saylavee, Zefania, Zenta 20/1

BAR 25/1

5:30 am Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Stump City 3.10

Mr Incredible 5/1

Angel below 7/1

Dunboyne 10/1

Iron Bridge 11/1

Amirite, Idas Boy, Royal Thief 12/1

Anightinlambourn, Monbeg Genius, next goal 14/1

Annual Invitation, Beauport, Guetapan Collonges 16/1

Fakiera, Folcano, Punitive, Rapper 20/1

Cheltenham Festival Day 4: Race schedule and current odds

1:30 triumph hurdle

Blood Fate 7/4

Lossiemouth 15/8

Gala Marceau 9/2

Comfort zone 10/1

Bo Zenith 20/1

Rightsotom, Screenwriter, Tekao, Zenta 25/1

Afadil, Fils De Roi, Jackpot De Choisel, Je Garde 44/1

STAB 40/1

2:10 County Hurdle

Filey Bay 5/1

Gin Coco, Jägergarn, Pembroke 8/1

Path D’oroux, Sharjah, Winter Mist 9/1

Colonel Mustard, Pied Piper 12/1

Aucunrisque, Fil Dor, Il Etait Temps 14/1

First Street, Icare Allen, Magnor Glory, Petit Tonnerre, Soul Icon 16/1

Ballyadam 20/1, Fils D’oudairies, Hacker Des Places, Might I, Sa Fureur, Wonderwall 20/1

BAR 25/1

2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Corbetts Club 10/3

Embassy Garden 6/1

Hermes Allen, Hiddenvalley Lake, Three Card Brag 7/1

Sandor Clegane 8/1

Favorite De Champdou 9/1

The Star of Money 10/1

Let’s talk about that on 11/1

Absolute Notions, Cool Survivor, Dawn Rising, Shanbally Kid 1.12

Rock my way, quest for fame 14/1

American Mike, Regal Blue, Seabank Bistro, Stay Away Fay 16/1

BAR 20/1

3:30 Gold Cup

Champs gallop 6/4

Gravemansgame 6/1

A Plus Tard 15/2

Classy Yeats 8/1

Statler 9/1

Shishkin 10/1

In summary, Protectorate 12/1

Ahoy Senor 14/1

Hewick, Minella Indo, sounds Russian 20/1

Capodanno, 33/1 Fury Road

The real Whacker 40/1

Royale pagaille 50/1

Eldorado Allen, Envoi Allen 66/1

Franco De Port, GA Law, Galvin 100/1

Angel’s Breath 150/1

Heatsink 250/1

4:10 St. James’ Place Festival Hunters Chase

Vaucet 2/1

Fern’s Lock 7/2

Winged Leader 9/2

Famous Clermont 5/1

Billaway, Chris’ Dream 7/1

Bob and Co, Secret Investor 8/1

It’s on the 11/1 line

Dorking Cock, Rocky’s Howya 12/1

Brain power 14/1

Cat Tiger, Law Of Gold, Le Malin, Not That Fuisse 16/1

Black Op Dandy Dan, Dubai Quest, Go Go Geronimo, IK Brunel, Premier Magic, Shantou Flyer, The Storyteller 20/1

BAR 25/1

4:50 mare hunt

Allegory De Vassy 11/1

Impervious 9/4

Jeremy’s Flame 9/2

Magic Daze 1.10

Galla Des Liteaux 12/1

Elimay, Rivière Detel 14/1

Zambella 16/1

Dolcita 20/1

Fantastic lady 22/1

Dinoblue, Pink Legend, Telmesomethinggirl 33/1

Maskada 40/1

Darrens Hope, Kapga De Lily, Kissesforkatie 66/1

5:30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

Imagine Spanish Harlem 6/1

Cool Survivor, Long Dan 7/1

Brag with three cards 15/2

Iroko, May I 12/1

Favori De Champdou, Sa Fureur, San Salvador 12/1

Hacker Des Places 14/1

Benson, Hauturiere, Irish Hill, Riaan, Zoffany Bay 16/1

Blue Sari, Buddy One, Da Capo Glory, Felix Desjy, Firm Footings, Grozni 20/1

BAR 25/1