It’s already day three of the Cheltenham Festival, and with three local winners from the opening two days - Thursday has a hard act to follow.
Henry de Bromhead is second only to Willie Mullins on the winners board, thanks to Honeysuckle’s Mares’ Hurdle swansong and Maskada’s fine finish in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual.
The day was bookended by a tremendously emotional success yesterday as John Kiely (85) and John Gleeson (18) combined with A Dream To Share to capture the Champion Bumper, and today promises to be another occasion where emotions run high, with this year’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (16:50) renamed in honour of the late Jack de Bromhead.
Turners Novices’ Chase (13:30): The opener on day three looks to be at the mercy of the Gordon Elliott-trained Mighty Potter, a comprehensive victor of the Drinmore at Fairyhouse as well as the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
What a talent.
Mighty Potter - three-time Grade 1 winner and unbeaten over fences! @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/ecX6fRNJtp
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 4, 2022
His main market rival Banbridge is drifting in the betting on account of the rain and may even be unlikely to run, while former Supreme winner Appreciate It goes for leading trainer Willie Mullins. The British are led by Stage Star for Paul Nicholls, who was a taking winner of a course and distance handicap on Trials Day in late January.
Pertemps Network Final (14:10): Ante-post favourite Shoot First has withdrawn through a setback, meaning the first of three handicaps on day three is as wide open as ever.
The JP McManus-owned Thanksforthehelp heads the market for the British and trainer David Pipe, with Nicky Henderson’s Walking On Air and Jonjo O’Neill’s An Tailliur also prominent.
Maxxum holds the best form from the Irish contingent. The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old smashed in in a Pertemps Qualifier at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, winning by 16 lengths, but must carry 11-10 here.
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle qualifier @LeopardstownRC always throws up a few good 'uns.
This season's renewal looked bang up to scratch, but
Maxxum - up 17lb for last month's victory @NavanRacecourse - was a class apart for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 👀 pic.twitter.com/oeMbZFrLmr— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2022
The horse in third on that occasion, Tony Martin’s Good Time Jonny, is also expected to run well.
Ryanair Chase (14:50): Former Festival winner Shishkin looked back to his best for Nicky Henderson when stepped up in trip for the Betfair Ascot Chase when romping home, and duly slashed in to almost even money favouritism for this year’s Ryanair.
The absence of Willie Mullins’ two-time winner Allaho takes from the spectacle, with it seemingly a case of how far rather than if should Shishkin be anywhere near his best.
Shishkin is back in the winners enclosure! 🏆 🟡⚫️
He wins the Betfair Ascot Chase in some style!#ITVRacing | @sevenbarrows | @NdeBoinville | @Ascot pic.twitter.com/qNHXstxZkU
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 18, 2023
Mullins bloods some challengers in the form of Blue Lord and Janadil, while seven-time Grade 1 winner Envoi Allen goes for Henry de Bromhead, at odds of 10/1.
Stayers’ Hurdle (15:30): The featured race of day three is a very competitive renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle with a number of doubts surrounding the top three in the market.
Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo has been slashed into favouritism following the overnight rain, but there were doubts over his suitability without his favoured ground. Blazing Khal has carried a number of injuries for Charles Byrnes, running just once since December 2021, while the hattrick-seeking Flooring Porter has been out of form and injured for Gavin Cromwell.
The Joseph O’Brien trained Home By The Lee looks their greatest threat, having captured the Lismullen Hurdle and Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle already this season.
Crikey, that was good ...
Progressive stayer Home By The Lee (7-1) rubber-stamps Lismullen Hurdle form with a seriously good display in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle @LeopardstownRC 👀@JosephOBrien2 | @JJjslevin pic.twitter.com/jqGq7GSe0a
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2022
Klassical Dream returns from a lay-off for Willie Mullins, while Cleeve Hurdle victor Gold Tweet will hope to land a win for France and trainer Gabriel Leenders.
Magners Cheltenham Plate (16:10): Handicap number two sees another JP McManus-favourite in the form of the Emmet Mullins-trained So Scottish.
Second to Boothill at Ascot last time out, this has always been the target of the six-year-old, who receives weight from the vast majority of his market rivals.
Last year’s winner Coole Cody is now 12 and stands at 33/1 off a 4lb lower mark, with Midnight River, Il Ridoto and rain-loving Fugitif all currently short in the betting for the British, as is Datsalrightgino.
👏 Coole Cody - the @CheltenhamRaces specialist
A brilliant performance from Coole Cody who keeps on strongly to land the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase for @EWilliamsRacing & @Adamkwedge#TheFestival pic.twitter.com/NJkzZPgPwc
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2022
Henry de Bromhead is doubly-represented via Marvel De Cerisy, a Punchestown novice chase winner, and Champagne Gold, winner of a beginners’ chase at Wexford in July.
Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (16:50): Race 6 is the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle with five runners for Knockeen in a race named in honour of the late Jack (13).
Unbeaten Magical Zoe, winner of a Grade 3 in Down Royal, looks the strongest of the Knockeen hand and will be ridden by Adrian Heskin, while Robcour-owned Foxy Girl, the mount of Rachael Blackmore, has also attracted market support.
Magical Zoe (18-1) arrives from another parish to claim Grade 3 honours in the @IrishEBF_ Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle @Downroyal 🏇
Brilliant from @adrianheskin as @HenrydeBromhead's mare takes within her stride a huge step up in class. pic.twitter.com/6hIhFLVHyF
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 4, 2022
Ladybank will be ridden by Aidan Coleman, while yesterday’s winning rider Darragh O’Keeffe is aboard Belle The Lioness, with Shane Fitzgerald riding Still Ciel.
Former Group-winning Flat star Princess Zoe runs for Tony Mullins, while brother Willie holds a very strong hand with Lot of Joy. Gordon Elliott has Halka Du Tabert, while Noel Meade also has a consistent sort in The Model Kingdom.
Still, the threat-in-chief comes from the British, with Nicky Henderson’s Luccia likely to go off as 6-4 favourite having never had to come off the bridle in her successes so far, the last of which was a listed chase at Exeter.
Kim Muir Handicap Chase (17:30): The closing race on the penultimate day is the Kim Muir, where Gavin Cromwell’s Stumptown will go off a worthy favourite following a superb jumping display at Sandown last time out.
Thyestes Chase runner-up Dunboyne could go close for Gordon Elliott, with the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Incredible also prominent in the market. The British are represented by Angels Dawn for Sam Curling, and the Nigel Twiston-Davies hopeful Beauport.
Henry de Bromhead has one runner, which comes in the form of the Gigginstown-owned Royal Thief. A 14-1 shot, he was a ten length winner last time out when Patrick Mullins rode him at Punchestown, and he could well hold an each-way chance for Knockeen.
Royal Thief - off the track for 782 days - narrowly jumps the last in front of Fakiera en route to victory in the Total Event Rental Amateur National (Q.R.) Handicap Chase @punchestownrace 🏇@HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/E4Ti1tFO5q
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 15, 2023
Western Zara goes for Wexford trainer Paul Nolan, while Anightinlambourn has won three of his last four starts for Ben Pauling.
