A day for the raiders from across the Irish Sea, St Patrick’s Thursday is a celebration of all things green and gold.
Their Festival dominance in recent times has only given the Irish even more reason to celebrate their country’s virtues.
The Cheltenham Festival’s third day is highlighted by two feature races: The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.
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Thursday’s racecard
All times GMT. Timings are subject to change.
1.20 p.m. The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m abt 1f
2 p.m. The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4 1/2f
2.40 p.m. The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 4 1/2 f
3.20 p.m. The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m
4.p.m. The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4 1/2f
4.40 p.m. The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) Abt 3m
5.20 p.m. The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) 2m abt 4 1/2f
Going and weather at Cheltenham on Thursday
The ground is rated as Good to Soft but some forecast rain earlier on Cheltenham week might see that change before Thursday.
The third day of the Festival is set to be a showery one with a very slim chance of a totally dry afternoon.
There are expected to be a high of 13°C with temperatures dropping down to 8°C overnight.
Rain is set to continue to fall ahead of Gold Cup Day which should further soften the ground ahead of the festival’s blue riband event.
Feature races info
3.20 p.m. Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
A fixture of the Cheltenham Festival since 1972, the Stayers’ Hurdle — which has had several difference sponsors over the years — has burnished the legends of the likes of four-time winning horse Big Buck’s and five-time winning jockey Ruby Walsh.
The race is run over three miles and includes 12 hurdles. Horses must be aged fours years or older.
It is the leading long-distance hurdle race on the National Hunt calendar.
4 p.m. Ryanair Chase
As if one feature race wasn’t enough, the Stayers’ Hurdle is immediately followed by the Ryanair Chase.
A Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase, the race is run by horses aged five years and above and rated above 130. They must jump 17 fences before passing the finisher’s post.
The 2-mile 4½ -furlong race is often a perfect fit for horses that find the 2-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase too short and the 3-mile 2½-furlong Gold Cup too long.
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle odds
Note: Odds are courtesy of Bet365 and are correct as of Friday March 6. They are subject to change.
Teahupoo (15/8)
Jockey: Paul Townsend, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Honesty Policy (9/2)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Kabral Du Mathan (9/2)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Neil Smith & Alfie Smith, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Bob Olinger (13/2)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Ma Shantou (8/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Mighty Acorn Stables, Trainer: Emma Lavelle
Ballyburn (11/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: RA Bartlett & David Manasseh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Impose Toi (14/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Hewick (33/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: TJ McDonald, Trainer: John Hanlon
Home By The Lee (33/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Sean O’Driscoll, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Feet Of A Dancer (40/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Cathy Byrne, Trainer: Paul Nolan
Doddiethegreat (66/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Kenneth Alexander, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Gowel Road (80/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Options O Syndicate, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Gwennie May Boy (100/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Ms Gwendoline M Clarke, Trainer: Olly Murphy
Who are the Stayers’ Hurdle favourites?
Teahupoo, trained by Gordon Elliott, is looking to regain his title and is well-backed to do so. He was in scintillating form at Leopardstown in December, winning the Christmas Hurdle and beating the horse that beat him in last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, Bob Olinger.
Elsewhere, Honesty Policy has been held back this season and could be rested and ready to prove his class. Kabral Du Mathan‘s connections will need the ground to stay relatively dry to roll the dice on his involvement in a race that will test his staying ability, but if the weather holds then expect him to be in with a shout.
Ryanair Chase odds
Note: Odds are courtesy of Bet365 and are correct as of Friday March 6. They are subject to change.
Fact To File (4/7)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Banbridge (6/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP R A Bartlett, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Heart Wood (7/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Impaire Et Passe (12/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Firefox (16/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Bective Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jonbon (16/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Gaelic Warrior (25/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Mrs S Ricci, Trainer: Willie Mullins
JPR One (33/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: JP Romans, Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Matata (33/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Energumene (40/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Tony Bloom, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Master Chewy (100/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Croke Park (150/1)
Jockey: TBC, Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Who are the Ryanair Chase favourites?
With his entry confirmed for the Ryanair Chase over Friday’s Gold Cup, the market is behind Willie Mullins’ star Fact To File.
The nine-year-old bay gelding underlined his status with an impressive Irish Gold Cup win in February after dominating this race last time out.
Gaelic Warrior, Firefox and Banbridge would be popular with punters, but all three could still line up in the Gold Cup so the market for this race could look very different come race day.
Gold Cup Day awaits
After three days of drama-filled action, Friday brings the Cheltenham Festival’s blue riband event: the Gold Cup.
The iconic race provides an opportunity for those looking to write their names into the annals of racing history.
In what looks set to be an open race, Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie and Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man are among the favourites, with Inothewayurthinkin lookinh to go back-to-back.
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