Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Day 3 of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – 1.20 – Come on St Irene
As ever, this race is a bit of a minefield, and I would always be cautious of backing a short-priced favourite here.
The two at the top look miles clear on form but don’t really offer much value, so I’m keen to find an outsider to ruffle a few fancied feathers, and ST IRENE might just do that.
Nick Scholfield has enjoyed a fine start to his training career, and this mare has been his stable star so far, as she won a listed race at Taunton last time.
A strong travelling mare, she will travel up with these, I think. What she finds up the hill remains to be seen, but at 66/1, I thought she looked too big.
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Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2.00 – Nicholls hoping Regents can Stroll to victory
The Jack Richards handicap chase isn’t as competitive as I thought it might be when I assessed this race last week.
Some have gone elsewhere and some have decided to bypass Cheltenham entirely.
This has narrowed down my shortlist, thankfully, and I have eventually circled REGENTS STROLL, who has had this race on his agenda most of the season.
Paul Nicholls took the race last year with a horse who looked obvious in hindsight and I’m weary of not letting this one pass me by.
He went off the boil slightly last year as a hurdler but did bounce back at Aintree, confirming his quality by finishing second in a hot race.
Chasing was always going to be his game and he seems to have taken to it well despite showing a few awkward tendencies.
I’m sure he will be in tip-top form for this and I can’t see him out of the three here.
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – 2.40 – Feet Of A Dancer to serve it up to hot favourite
I don’t possess a strong opinion in this year’s edition of the Mares Hurdle, so I will try and find something to push the hot favourite Wodhooh close and finish in a place at least.
FEET OF A DANCER looks to be the one who could have more to offer at this level, having progressed through the handicap ranks.
A strong stayer, she will want a good test here to be seen at her best, but at 9/1 she looks to offer the most value against the favourite.
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3.20 – Lavelle experiencing De ja vu with Ma Shantou
Emm Lavelle would never have thought she would have trained another staying hurdler like Paisley Park, especially so soon after his retirement.
But it does seem that MA SHANTOU is on the right path after his cosy success last time out over course and distance.
That wasn’t an overly deep race, but he couldn’t have done it any easier, and he wouldn’t have to improve too much on that to feature in what looks like an open Stayers Hurdle.
Away from the consistent Teahupoo, most of them have questions to answer, which is why I think this fellow could be the one to follow at 8/1.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) – 4.00 – Jonbon to break his Cheltenham hoodoo?
The decision to run JONBON must have been a last-minute call from JP and the team, as Nicky Henderson seemed quite adamant last week that he would skip the Festival altogether.
Fact To File quite clearly has an outstanding chance of retaining his Ryanair crown, so the fact that they do allow him to take his chance is interesting to say the least.
For a horse who hasn’t finished out of the first two all through his career, I also find it interesting that the bookies have him priced up at 15/2.
He looks a solid each way player at that price with only Impaire Et Passé and Heart Wood seemingly being able to match his level.
It would be great to see one of the modern-day legends finally have his big day in the Sun here at Cheltenham, and I’m going to be cheering him on, hoping he can get the job done.
Pertemps Network Final – 4.40 – Absolutely Doyen seemingly absolutely bouncing
This isn’t the strongest of Pertemps ever run and I don’t think you have to be that well handicapped to take this.
One horse who keeps catching my eye as he keeps winning without getting crucified by the handicapper is ABSOLUTELY DOYEN, who arrives here in the form of his career.
Since switching to the Paul Nicholls stable, he has took off on a steep upward curve, and that curve wouldn’t appear to show any signs of stopping yet.
Still winning in the style of a well handicapped horse, he must be a player here at 14/1.
Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase – 5.20 – Whispers to turn to cheers in Waterford
I’ve long been of the opinion that WATERFORD WHISPERS has a big handicap in him off his current mark, although he is yet to prove me right.
He came close in a strong edition of the Martin Pipe a couple of seasons ago, but hasn’t quite progressed since then.
He has shown more this season, especially last time out when finishing third in a competitive handicap chase at Leopardstown.
If able to build on that, I think he shouldn’t be far away here.
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