We’re off to the races all this week, looking today at the Cheltenham Festival day 3. 28 races make up the most hotly-contested event in the racing calendar with almost 500 horses competing for £1m in prize money every day. This year’s festival runs 13-16 March and we’ll keep you up to date on air and online with the previews and results.
After dominating the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, there are big hopes for more success on day three.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3
Here’s how the agenda looks for day three of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, with seven more races on the card.
- 1.30pm: Jlt Novices’ Chase (Golden Miller) (Grade 1)
- 2.10pm: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 2.50pm: Ryanair Chase (Festival Trophy) (Grade 1)
- 3.30pm: Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 4.10pm: Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
- 4.50pm: Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Dawn Run) (Grade 2)
- 5.30pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase
Even without the stricken Ruby Walsh, Un De Sceaux is seen by many as one of the Irish bankers of the week. He should see off the Ryanair Chase field. Many will hope that Cue Card will provide one last hurrah at a track he has graced for so long with such distinction.
A big field of 17 are set to contest the Sunbets Stayers Hurdle, the feature race on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival.
It’s one of the most open renewals of the three-mile Grade One, with many of the horses either being upped in trip or returning from a stint over fences.
Irish Hopes on Day 3
The leading Irish hope is Supadundae trained by Jessica Harrington, who remains adamant this is the right race for her charge, despite his Grade One win over 2 miles in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Michael O’Leary’s hopes of winning his own cash in the Ryanair Chase which he sponsors on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival rest on two of the six runners.
O’Leary has never had to present the Trophy to himself in more than a decade of supporting the big race.
Both his hopes this year- Balko des Flos and Sub Lieutentant, are trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Trainer Paul Nicholls used to monopolise this race when the great Big Bucks’ was in his pomp. He runs Old Guard, to be ridden by former Champion Apprentice Harry Cobden.
While yesterday was a dry day, there has been overnight rain at Cheltenham, the ground soft, heavy in places.
Get the results as they happen on KCLRFanzone.com and on air with Flynn’s Carlow Nissan.