Neil Morrice shares his race-by-race preview for day 3 of Cheltenham Festival 2023 as well as some quick-fire tips for racing at Hexham, Chelmsford City and Southwell on 16 March 2023.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – Day 3
Race 1 TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No6 MIGHTY POTTER
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Davy Russell
MIGHTY POTTER has looked out of the ordinary in landing Grade 1 triumphs in the Drinmore Chase and the Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase and has done more than enough to erase memories of his flop in last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He sets a high bar for the others to try to jump over and should make it 5 from 5 at the main expense of fellow Irish raider APPRECIATE IT.
The latter let his halo slip when finishing third in the Irish Arkle, but could bounce back and make a race of it with the favourite over this new trip of two and a half miles. The Paul Nicholls-trained STAGE STAR brings handicap chase form to the table and should also leave with a cheque of some kind.
Prediction: 1st MIGHTY POTTER, 2nd Appreciate It, 3rd Stage Star
Race 2 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE
No18 THANKSFORTHEHELP (Each Way)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Mark Walsh
It isn’t the strongest renewal of this race I can remember and it strengthens confidence in THANSFORTHEHELP justifying the pronounced ante-post support for him since his snug success at Chepstow. That came following a breathing operation and the addition of cheek pieces and looked to make the difference between a horse that promised to deliver and one that could. He’d recorded figures of 32234 last season, but after this recent breakthrough triumph the floodgates can open.
WALKING ON AIR has for much of his career been a horse that has shown more in the mornings than on the track itself, but he came good at Exeter last month on a fifth from six career starts that he’s started favourite. Nicky Henderson holds good prospects with this six-year-old, and also with MILL GREEN who ran well on return from a protracted break at Haydock and who finished a creditable third in this contest 12 months ago. Others that can figure in exotic permutations are Jonjo O’Neill’s AN TAILLIUR and THE BOSSES OSCAR
Prediction: 1st THANKSFORTHEHELP, 2nd Walking On Air, 3rd Mill Green, 4th AN TAILLIUR 5th The Bosses Oscar
Race 3 RYANAIR CHASE (Grade 1)
No9 SHISHKIN
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Former champion novice hurdler and chaser SHISHKIN looked right back to his best when an authoritative winner of the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on his first start further than two miles last month. It showed not only that a breathing operation had benefitted him, but also that as he gets older so he wants to go further. The nine-year-old has subsequently dominated the ante-post market for this race and is likely to start a shade of odds on to repel a host of Irish-trained foes.
FURY ROAD could prove the pick of these following his very good efforts in successive Grade 1s over three miles at Leopardstown. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding should take advantage were anything to go wrong with the favourite, though both BLUE LORD and JANIDIL have strong claims in their own right, even though the former was downed when odds-on for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
Prediction: 1st SHISHKIN, 2nd Fury Road, 3rd Blue Lord
No3 DASHEL DRASHER (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
FLOORING PORTER has endured an interrupted preparation in his bid to win this for a third time and is reluctantly overlooked. His minor demise has seen BLAZING KHAL shoot to the forefront of the market following a fifth success on the bounce in a Grade 2 at Navan. That happened after a protracted absence, and while seen as a fine training performance there remains the possibility that the Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old could bounce.
TEAUPHOO offers up better claims, granted how strongly he’s finished his races in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse and when moved up to three miles in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park. Away from the Irish PAISLEY PARK can’t be discounted in spite of increasing years, but the one that could upset the applecart is DASHEL DRASHER. This talented dual-purpose performer doesn’t know how to run a bad race, as illustrated by fine runs in defeat in both the Relkeel and Cleeve Hurdles here this winter. With his liking for the track his bold front-running tactics can carry him to another frame finish, at least.
Prediction: 1st DASHEL DRASHER, 2nd Blazing Khal, 3rd Teahupoo, 4th Klassical Dream
Race 5 MAGNERS PLATE HANDICAP CHASE
No16 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Luca Morgan
Few jockeys have impressed as much as Luca Morgan this month, and it’s pleasing to see him in the hot seat on the Harry Redknapp-owned SHAKEM UP’ARRY. The nine-year-old was a clear-cut scorer on reappearance at Exeter and on his only other start this season weakened up the final hill to finish just out of the money behind Midnight River here on New Year’s Day. The gelding jumped beautifully that day, and should his rider be able to settle him for a lead he can rise to this challenge and bring away a decent-sized cheque.
In a race that can work out well for British horses, DATSALRIGHTGINO could raise his game with cheek pieces added and make this a seventh earning run in as many starts since Jamie Snowden switched his attention to fences. WAR LORD also enters calculations for a stable that is knocking on the door with its handicappers while CHAMPAGNE GOLD can lead home the Irish contingent along with paper favourite SO SCOTTISH.
Prediction: 1st SHAKEM UP’ARRY, 2nd Datsalrightgino, 3rd War Lord, 4th Champagne Gold, 5th SO SCOTTISH
Race 6 JACK DE BROMHEAD MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
No1 LUCCIA (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Any further rain would benefit big-priced POETIC MUSIC who could throw up a surprise, but Fergal O’Brien’s charge will need to improve dramatically if she’s to prevent LUCIA making this a fifth success on the bounce for the Henderson/de Boinville combo. Connections of the daughter of The Gurkha seriously considered a tilt at the Supreme but may well applaud their own decision to wait, as if LUCCIA steps up in the same form as when taking out a Listed race at Sandown as well as races in the soft at Newbury and Exeter she will be very hard to beat.
YOU WEAR IT WELL chased the shadow of Hermes Allen in the Challow Hurdle to make her an appealing place investment, while MAGICAL ZOE and JETARA have strong form and could prove the pick of 13 Irish-trained runners in the field of 21.
Prediction: 1st LUCCIA, 2nd You Wear It Well, 3rd Poetic Music, 4th Magical Zoe, 5th Jetara
Race 7 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP CHASE
No3 BEAUPORT (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Zac Baker
BEAUPORT is a bet I’m greatly looking forward to, especially if the forecast rain arrives overnight and into Thursday. The seven-year-old finished fourth in a big handicap hurdle at Aintree last April, and after converting in a Listed chase on his first run over fences at Carlisle, has suffered from a problem with ulcers that affected him in subsequent races at Haydock and here on New Year’s Day. That issue has been successfully addressed, and now back in good form he can put in a big earning run with a rider that has done well for this stable in many important contests.
Away from the selection it should be Irish horses that figure, with hat-trick seeker STUMPTOWN an obvious candidate for Gavin Cromwell and one that’s been heavily punted in the ante-post market. MR INCREDIBLE ran well when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick while another that can earn after disappointing over hurdles at the 2022 Festival is the Gordon Elliott-trained DUNBOYNE for whom top pilot Jamie Codd is an eye-taking booking.
Prediction: 1st BEAUPORT, 2nd Stumptown, 3rd Dunboyne, 4th Mr Incredible, 5th Musical Slave
HEXHAM
Race 1 No7 NINETOFIVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
NINETOFIVE has skipped a couple of recent opportunities in handicaps. While his future undoubtedly lies along that route, he’s shown enough to make an impact against Miss Lamb.
Race 5 No4 ONE FER MAMMA (Each Way)
Trainer: Paula Smith – Jockey: Emma Smith-Chaston
ONE FER MAMMA was underwhelming on her debut for this stable but ran a couple of big races in better company previously, and is surely capable of a stronger showing.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 6 No7 SAAHEQ (Each Way)
Trainer: Adrian Nicholls – Jockey: Mia Nicholls
SAAHEQ isn’t getting any younger but has joined a trainer that specialises in sprinters. If the change of scenery has been beneficial to the gelding he can claim a cheque.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No3 BOARHUNT (Nap)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Luke Morris
This presents a good opportunity for the unexposed BOARHUNT to back up his Wolverhampton success. He scratched from a similar contest to wait for this which is a tip worth taking.
Race 4 No1 FERROUS
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
FERROUS did well in his two races last autumn, finishing third at Windsor before making no mistake at Doncaster. He’s worked well on grass in preparation for this and just needs to show he’s able to operate to the same standard on sand.
