Neil Morrice tips – Cheltenham Festival 2025 – Day 3

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 3 BEST BETS THURSDAY

Race 1 RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)

No6 DIVA LUNA (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods

This race run in memory of Dawn Run sets a big poser for punters as the best young mares from Ireland and England clash without many collateral formlines. SIXANDAHALF has made an immediate impact since switching to hurdling from the Flat on which she was a more than decent stayer. She destroyed her rivals on latest start at Fairyhouse, and is almost guaranteed to start favourite to get the Irish off to a flyer. Her compatriots MAUGHREEN and GALILEO DAME also command respect and especially the former who has won a bumper and a maiden hurdle but beat nothing and lacks experience. One that can ripple the pond from the home contingent is DIVA LUNA, who has very strong form to bring to the table. She let her halo slip when beaten as a 2-9 shot at Sandown but came back with genuine excuses. Look at her other form in bumpers and over hurdles and she has to be a player, while she’s been going great guns at home. A word should also be said about Jamie Snowden’s HOLLYGROVE CHA CHA who is three from four this season and hails from a stable that knows what it takes to win this.

Prediction: 1st DIVA LUNA, 2nd Sixandahalf, 3rd Hollygrove Cha Cha, 4th Maighreen

Race 2 JACK RICHARDS NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 2)

No14 PIC ROC (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones

Ben Pauling has expressed quiet confidence in PIC ROC who is arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten over fences and looks one of the most attractive betting propositions of the week. He overjumped on chase debut at Carlisle before running down the final fence at Newbury in a manoeuvre that probably cost him outright victory. He put in an exceptional piece of work last week while Ben Jones reckons he’s his best in an enviable book of rides at the Festival. The Nap is reopposed by the Newbury winner LORD OF THUNDER, but while that one should go well there are others to consider and especially SPRINGWELL BAY who is capable of a big earning run under top weight. FIREFOX is another from near the top of the weights who can get into the argument while ANSWER TO KAYF and MOON D’ORANGE add to a strong Irish challenge on the contest.

Prediction: 1st PIC ROC, 2nd Moon D’Orange, 3rd Springwell Bay, 4th Lord Of Thunder, 5th Firefox, 6th Answer To Kayf

Race 3 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE

No13 WILL THE WISE (Each Way)
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell – Jockey: Keith Donoghue

JERIKO DU REPONET has been the go to horse in the ante post market following his eye taking run at Exeter which was his best in three outings this season. This is only a second visit to Prestbury Park for the six-year-old, who since being pulled up in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has been trained with a kid glove. He’s making only an eight appearance under Rules and could prove a blot on the handicap, especially with blinkers added. Both SUPER SURVIVOR and WILL THE WISE have been making hay and seek the clinching leg of hat-tricks. Super Survivor is a tasty proposition at his price, but Will The Wise brings plenty to the table for the win, having looked in cruise control at the end of his Naas race two weeks ago. Any money for WIN SOME LOSE SOME could prove significant as he bids for a third triumph in his last four outings, though another to bear in mind at a working man’s price is GUARD THE MOON. He blotted his copybook when posting only a midfield finish at Chepstow but his earlier form entitles him to the greatest respect, consisting of successes at Hexham and Warwick and near misses at Aintree and Newbury, at the last named track finding only the useful Impose Toi his master.

Prediction: 1st WILL THE WISE, 2nd Guard The Moon, 3rd Jeriko Du Reponet, 4th Super Survivor, 5th Win Some Lose Some

Race 4 RYANAIR CHASE (Grade 1)

No3 FACT TO FILE
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Mark Walsh

In the most competitive of the Grade 1 chases at the meeting FACT TO FILE can prevail. The eight-year-old has chased the shadow of Galopin Des Champs for much of the season, but as a Grade 1 winner over fences in his novice season he shouldn’t have any problem dropping back on the trip ladder whilst he was the winner of the Brown Advisory over these fences 12 months ago. IL EST FRANCAIS adds considerable spice to the line up on his first visit to the Cotswolds, with the question mark of whether he can bring his dominating A-game to the table. The 2023 King George winner and last year’s runner-up has a tendency to blot his copybook but if assuming an uncontested lead could take a lot of stopping. PROTEKTORAT is one that will no doubt attempt to hassle the French raider, and his connections are of the opinion the recent Windsor scorer has never been better. Outside the ‘big three’ don’t dismiss JUNGLE BOOGIE who impressed on his winning return at Ascot since when he’s been cotton wooled to strip fresh for this.

Prediction: 1st FACT TO FILE, 2nd Protektorat, 3rd Jungle Boogie, 4th Il East Francais

Race 5 PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE (Grade 1)

No14 TEAHUPOO
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Jack Kennedy

Light rain on Tuesday and snow yesterday morning has kept underfoot conditions suitably easy for the 2024 winner TEAUPHOO who is Gordon Elliott’s best winning chance of the week. With only four outings in the last two seasons the eight-year-old is very much a horse for the big occasion and reports from Elliott country are that he’s as good as ever and that he can retain his crown. HOME BY THE LEE ran a cracker when third in the same race 12 months ago and comes here off the back of a couple of impressive triumphs. He should again make the frame but the one that can give the favourite most problems is LUCKY PLACE, whose progression in two success from as many starts for Nicky Henderson this season has greatly impressed the Seven Barrows handler. Those looking for value outside these might consider NEMEAN LION, though whether three miles is going to prove a comfort zone for a horse with such natural speed has to be open to question.

Prediction: 1st TEAUPHOO, 2nd Lucky Place, 3rd Home By The Lee, 4th NEMEAN Lion

Race 6 TRUSTATRADER PLATE HANDICAP CHASE

No6 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Callum Pritchard

Lightning rarely strikes twice in the old Mildmay Of Flete, but even though he’s underwhelmed on his two starts this season SHAKEM UP’ARRY can make a bold bid to repeat his 2024 triumph in the colours of Harry Redknapp. Having fallen on his return here he was in need of the race at Warwick, and could raise his game after pleasing in his work. Ben Jones has chosen PERSONAL AMBITION who has earned in all four starts over fences in novice and novices’ handicap company. This is a young horse with scope for progression, and has to be taken seriously from a tempting corner of the weights. PATH D’OROUX has a habit of making the frame and hails from a Gavin Cromwell outfit that fields a handful with proper chances in the handicap chases. He goes into all exotics along with GINNY’S DESTINY, who peaks at this time of year and could easily leave previous efforts this season behind. The one that will control a large part of the handle on the race however is JAGWAR, who if enjoying the rub of the green will surely finish in the thick of things for Oliver Greenall and Jonjo O’Neill Jr.

Prediction: 1st SHAKEM UP’ARRY, 2nd Jagwar, 3rd Personal Ambition, 4th Path D’Oroux, 5th Ginny’s Destiny

Race 7 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS HANDICAP CHASE

No4 JOHNNYWHO (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Mr Derek O’Connor

The presence of top Irish pilot O’Connor is a boon to the prospects of JOHNNYWHO in the nightcap. The selection runs here in favour of several engagements at the meeting, and as he’s barely out of the novice stage could have more to offer. He’s taken on smart horses like The Jukebox Man and Jingko Blue and not been disgraced, but the key to success for him on handicap bow is not just his rider but the fact that he’s stretching out to the three and a quarter mile trip for the first time. With his happy knack of making the podium, MIDNIGHT OUR FRED needs to be taken seriously and rates an absolute must for all exotic wagering in the race. SINE NOMINE could contend for honours at a price if his suspect jumping holds up. SA MAJESTE comes here in good order and fresh from two wins from his last three, while GIT MAKER is a fresh horse with scope to do better NINE GRACES also has much to recommend her and is having just a sixth outing over fences.

Prediction: 1st JOHNNYWHO, 2nd Midnight Our Fred, 3rd Nine Graces, 4th Sa Majeste, 5th Git Maker, 6th Sine Nomine