Neil Morrice shares all of his tips and picks for the third day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Race 1 RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
No3 BAMBINO FEVER (Nap)
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey:
With a record of five successes from six starts, including last year’s Festival Bumper, BAMBINO FEVER is, in the opinion of many good judges, the best bet of the week. Course experience counts for a lot, and this should be a straightforward assignment before she reverts to taking on males.
In a race likely to be dominated by Irish runners, Gordon Elliott’s OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW bids to remain unbeaten while in the tenure of her trainer. She’s looked assured in two races over hurdles, but on the book has something to find with the Nap.
Another from the half dozen Mullins saddles that could outrun her price is BLUE VELVET, whose Punchestown triumph has been endorsed. CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE is consistent and could also get onto the podium.
Prediction, 1st BAKBONO FEVER, 2nd Blue Velvet, 3rd Oldschool Outlaw, 4th Carrigmoornasspruce
Race 2 JACK RICHARDS NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE
No3 SLADE STEEL (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead – Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
SLADE STEEL is looking for a first win since landing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle here two years ago, but can achieve it. There’s nothing ungenuine about the eight-year-old, but he’s finished second in four of his five races over fences and was turned over at odds-on in a beginners’ Chase at Navan. He travelled much the best before succumbing to Joystick and now needs to prove he is no paper tiger. His ability is there for all to see, he just needs to show it over this shorter trip.
REGENT’S STROLL has done well to go 312 in his limited time as a chaser but was a costly victim of Miami Magic at Chepstow, although the winner has, in fairness, franked the form. JORDANS CROSS has looked very good in his three wins for Anthony Honeyball and has to go into the mix, with WESTERN KNIGHT the most attractive of the longer priced runners.
Prediction: 1st SLADE STEEL, 2nd Regent’s Stroll, 3rd Jordans Cross, 4th Western Knight
Race 3 CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No6 TAKE NO CHANCES (Each Way)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
WOODHOOH looks to hold the cards and the 2025 Martin Pipe winner is hard to fault given her clear-cut triumphs at Ascot and Leopardstown. Her record is something you could only dream about, numbering nine successes from ten hurdling outings.
The Le Havre mare is pretty well bombproof, but TAKE NO CHANCES can cause her problems. The Skelton mare carried my money when third in the mares’ hurdle last year and beaten 10 lengths by Lossiemouth. She’s kept good company in four starts this season including when chasing home Potters Charm at Windsor and is no slouch.
JADE DU GRUGY reverts to hurdling after a successful flirtation with fences over which she scored at Thurles. She has her tail up, and should get involved.
Prediction: 1st TAKE NO CHANCES, 2nd Woodhooh, 3rd Jade Du Grugy
Race 4 PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No2 BOB OLINGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead – Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Arguably, BOB OLINGER has a better Cheltenham record than any other hurdler in training. He has the honour of being a three-times winner at the Festival, comprising the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, the Turners Novices’ Chase, this race in 2025 and away from that the Relkeel Hurdle in 2024.
He was put in his place by arch-rival TEAHUPOO in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown but that was a highly encouraging first effort of the current campaign, and he can improve sufficiently to turn the tables. Gordon Elliott has suggested TEAHUPOO is his banker of the week, but on the balance of form from their previous encounters, there’s not a lot between this pair, while take note the price of my selection is three times bigger.
There are a couple of jokers in the pack and Emma Lavelle’s MA SHANTOU is a much-improved individual reminiscent of the now-retired Paisley Park. If he can cross the divide into the Grade 1 division, he could be dangerous, while KABRAL DU MATHAN looks a pea out of the same pod. He’s also won his last two and is unbeaten this season. Furthermore, he looked really good in taking out the Grade 2 Relkeel here on New Year’s Day and could have a lot more to offer.
Prediction: 1st BOB OLINGER, 2nd Teauphoo, 3rd Ma Shantou, 4th Kabral Du Mathan
Race 5 RYANAIR CHASE (Grade 1)
No3 FACT TO FILE
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Mark Walsh
Considered by many to be the best chaser in training, FACT TO FILE has taken the ante-post market for this race apart since Mullins elected to swerve the temptation of pointing him towards the longer Gold Cup. The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old put a dismal effort in Kempton’s King George behind him when running away with the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. He’s looking for a third win over fences in as many years at this meeting and granted a clear round it’s hard to find one that can trouble him.
Only a nose separated BANBRIDGE and The Jukebox Man in the King George, which demonstrated how close the former is to reaching his seasonal peak. He reacted positively to the visor which is understandably retained by Joseph O’Brien today.
JONBON was a surprise acceptor in lieu of what his connections had said about him missing the meeting previously, but his inability to win at three previous Festivals casts a shadow over his prospects. He made costly mistakes in last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, and his chance lies in what difference going over a much longer trip means to him.
At a big price, there could be value in JPR ONE, who operates well at this course, is a good jumper and one that can travel close to the pace, Should a couple of the leading fancies fluff their lines he could trouble the judge. MATATA is another that can’t be completely dismissed and especially as he showed a liking for waiting tactics when scoring here on New Years Day, but he then flopped at Windsor.
Prediction: 1st FACT TO FILE, 2nd Jonbon, 3rd Banbridge, 4th JPR One
Race 6 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE
No19 C’EST DIFFERENT (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
In his bid for a nap hand of victories, C’EST DIFFERENT can step up to the parapet for a trainer that boasts an enviable strike rate. The selection looked better than ever when defying a market drift to romp home at Newbury in January and this good-to-soft ground is perfect for him. He stays well, can race handily and has a very good turn of foot.
From a handicapping perspective, Dan Skelton has done a great job with SUPREMELY WEST, who has been kept under wraps since running at Aintree on Boxing Day. His price has subsequently collapsed. ELECTRIC MASON is another that’s been freshened up since his winning effort at Haydock and could get into the shake-up. He’s lightly raced and open to further improvement.
MINELLA EMPEROR frequently troubles the judge and could prove the pick of seven Irish-trained runners in the race, from whom his stablemate MELBOURNE SHAMROCK is also not discounted.
Prediction: 1st C’EST DIFFERENT, 2nd Supremely West, 3rd Electic Mason, 4th Minella Emperor, 5th Melbourne Shamrock
Race 7 ROSCONN GROUP FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP CHASE
No1 JERIKO DU REPONET
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Mr Derek O’Connor
For much of his early career, JERIKO DU REPONET had the reputation of being a talking horse, but there’s a firm argument that he can win this amateur jockeys’ race under top weight. During a second stint racing over fences, he’s run well but been beaten on three straight occasions, but the money that’s come for him for today has to be viewed as significant.
Carrying the same colours, WATERFORD WHISPERS needs respecting as you form the impression everything about his campaign this season has centred on winning this one contest. KIM ROQUE brings solid form to the table for Joseph O’Brien and figures to be dangerous as for a long way in the Leopardstown Chase he looked like winning.
JARRIVE DE L’EST would be a major consideration if he gets into the race, while any move in favour of SANDOR CLEGANE might need to be heeded.
Prediction: 1st JERIKO DU REPONET, 2nd Kim Roque, 3rd Sandor Clegane, 4th Waterford Whispers, 5th Jarrive L’Est
