2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Preview by Dave Stevos

Honest Vic ran an absolute blinder for us at 33s in the Coral Cup. I look forward to seeing him over 3 miles in the future. Easy Game looks like he doesn’t stay 3 miles and Décor Irlandais would prefer better ground. We got half of the reverse forecast for the Champion Chase correct with Politologue. Unfortunately Defi Du Seuil was not on a going day. Theatre Of War came there with every chance but he was far too wide throughout. Check out Dave Stevos 2020 Cheltenham Day 3 tips below …

1.30: Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

A dozen novices’ will go to post for this 20f Grade 1 chase and Faugheen will surely break some sort of record if he wins a Novice Chase at the festival as a 12yo. The evergreen old boy has looked better than ever this season and the ground has come right for him. He hammered Samcro by 10L when they clashed at Limerick yet that horse is the same price here. It seems like some still believe the hype about Samcro, even though he has won just one race since March 2018. The wind op he has had needs to engineer massive improvement for him to feature.

After his impressive win at Sandown, Itchy Feet is the market leader. He finished a gallant 3rd in the Supreme here last year despite bursting a blood vessel. His last two wins came on soft ground but one gets the impression he would prefer a sounder surface. More rain is forecast and conditions are unlikely to improve before Thursday. The likes of Reserve Tank, Midnight Shadow and Baupame would likely prefer the ground to dry out a bit too.

On the forecast ground it is hard to look past Faugheen, despite his advancing years. He is the highest rated in the field (158) and he was rated much higher over hurdles. He loves it at Cheltenham and he ran a blinder in the Stayers’ Hurdle last season. Poker Play could be one to go well at massive odds on the ground if the wind op has had a positive effect. However, Faugheen looks the one to be on and a small win bet is advised.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: Faugheen win @ 5/1

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 – 2.10: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

To win a Pertemps you need a horse with plenty of stamina, especially on soft ground. Relegate went into lots of notebooks after her decent run at Punchestown (24f hvy). She kept on well that day for her new trainer Colm Murphy. He knows what it takes to win at this festival and you can be sure she will be in tip top shape. Relegate won the Champion Bumper here in 2018 so there are no worries about the track. It is easy to see why so many fancy her but the value is gone from her.

At the prices, A Great View could be worth a punt here. He was a big eyecatcher behind the very well handicapped Mary Frances last time (same race as Relegate). Denis Cullen’s charge beat Relegate by a neck that day and they are off the same terms here. He has been lightly raced this season and it looks like this has always been the plan. This horse could have finished much closer in this two years ago only for a jumping error. He stays well, Mark Walsh is on board, he enjoys big fields and he will love the ground. At odds of 18/1 with 6 places on offer from Skybet, A Great View is worth backing e/w.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: A Great View e/w @ 18/1 (7 Places)

2.50: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

Last year’s novice handicap chase winner A Plus Tard heads the market for the Ryanair Chase. Henry De Bromhead has his string in sparkling form and Rachael Blackmore rides. This horse took the scalp of Chacun Pour Soi last time out, taking a big step forward from his seasonal comeback. That was an impressive performance over a 17f trip and todays distance should suit even better. He is most definitely the one to beat.

Min is next best in the betting for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. This trip is probably his optimum and while he has yet to win at Cheltenham, he chased Altior home twice over 16f. This will be his first festival try at beyond 2 miles and he is 4/5 over 20f. Frodon was an emotional winner last year and he looks sure to run his race. This year’s renewal looks a lot stronger though and he looks plenty short in the betting.

Aso is a standing dish in this race and he could give each way backers a run for their money. He saves his best for Cheltenham and he chased home Frodon last year. Venetia Williams’ charge was also 3rd in this in 2017. Two of his three starts this season came over 3 miles and this drop back in trip is going to suit. He was well beat in the King George but this distance will suit much better and on ground he handles well, Aso is worth a small e/w interest at 25/1.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: Aso e/w @ 25/1

3.30: Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Paisley Park is back to defend his crown and on all known form he is impossible to oppose. He is a horse that has a real will to win and he was ultra impressive last year. He has had just two runs this season, both wins, and he should be in tip top shape. The one worry would be very heavy ground. He was a non runner because of heavy ground at Aintree in December and while he has solid form on soft, if it came up heavy he would have something to prove. I think he would probably handle it fine, but if it came up bottomless it would put me off backing him at 8/13.

Summerville Boy is a former festival winner and he gave Paisley Park a race last time. However, he is unlikely to reverse the form and his odds do not appeal. The one horse in this field that might have the class to ask Paisley Park a question or two is Penhill. Formerly a horse that was hard to keep right, Willie Mullins has had a clear run with him this season.

He has gradually improved with each run and his effort over 21f at Navan last time was very satisfactory. Presumably all roads have led to Cheltenham for him given that he won this race two years ago after a year off the track. Soft to heavy ground should be fine and at odds of 16/1 he looks well worth chancing each way.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: Penhill e/w @ 16/1 NAP

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 – 4.10: Brown Advisory Plate (Grade 3)

I usually relish these handicaps but this one has given me a couple of sleepless nights. 24 will go to post for this 20.5f contest and it really does look wide open. In the hope that we get a bit of better ground on the New Course, Highway One O One is put forward at a big price. I tipped this horse last time at Kempton when he was inexplicably held up. He is a far better horse when ridden aggressively, like when beat 2L by Kildisart and 4L by Mister Whitaker off 143 and 145 respectively over C&D at the back end of last season. He is now 5lb better off with the latter horse.

The ground was reportedly too sticky for him here in January and at Kempton he never raised a gallop. However, Chris Gordon is a shrewd operator and he is sure to have him primed for this. Any more rain is a big negative, but if it stays away this horse could make a bold bid at 40/1. Another one that could go well at a price is Not Another Muddle for Gary and Jamie Moore.

This horse is having his first run after a lengthy break. He ran a blinder here when 5th in the Grand Annual here over 2 miles last season, possibly just getting outpaced but staying on well. Gary Moore’s charge has plenty of winning form on soft and he wasn’t beat far over 21.5f at Fontwell on his final run last season. His form figures after a break read 213 and at odds of 20/1 he is capable of running well with conditions to suit.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: Highway One O One e/w @ 40/1; Not Another Muddle e/w @ 20/1 (both 6 places)

4.50: Dawn Run Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

The Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Hurdle has been a Willie Mullins benefit since its inception 4 years ago. He has won every renewal and we were on Eglantine De Seuil at 50/1 last season. However, on paper at least, his dominance is under threat. The bookies like Minella Melody, the favourite at 7/2 for Blackmore and De Bromhead. She is unbeaten over timber and she lowered the colours of the Mullins no.1 challenger Colreevy last time.

Floressa heads the home challenge for De Boinville and Henderson. She was beat 3L by Lady Buttons last time and that is solid form in the context of this race. Last year’s runner up at 66/1 Concertista is back again and she has more experience under her belt now. She just didn’t get home over 18f last time and this return to shorter should suit. Of those at the head of the market she appeals most at odds of 11/2 and with 4 places available she is the each way selection.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: Concertista e/w @ 11/2 4 Places

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 – 5.30: Kim Muir Handicap Chase (Class 2)

A maximum field of 24 are due to go to post for this 26f slog. On soft ground stamina will be at a premium and only the strongest stayers will feature at the finish. The King’s Writ looks a massive price here for Kayley Woollacott and Joshua Newman. This horse has run huge on his last two starts, over 24f at Exeter and over 25f at Wincanton.

He is now 4lb higher than when a gallant 2nd to Worthy Farm at Wincanton last time (25f sft) and the two were 10L clear of the 3rd. This horse jumps very well and clearly he stays well too. This extra furlong should pose no problems whatsoever for this stoutly bred son of Brian Boru. If The Kings Writ can get to the front and get into a rhythm, he could reign supreme. At odds of 40/1 with 5 places available he is the each way selection.

2020 Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: The Kings Writ e/w @ 40/1 NB (5 Places)