Seven spectacular races takes place on day three of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March and The Weekend Watch team of Kate Tracey, Andrew Mount and Dave Young preview all the action and pick out their tips for each of the contests.
The Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase are two of the feature events of the afternoon, while the Turners Novices’ Chase kicks off the day at 1:30pm with what should be a fabulous curtain-raiser.
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1:30 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Chase
Andrew: “Next year’s Gold Cup winner Grey Dawning wins this. He’s got a great attitude and he wiped the floor with Ginny’s Destiny in the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick last year.”
Dave: “One I like at a bigger price is Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr. He has been third twice in Champion Hurdles and he’s a very, very good horse.”
2:10 Cheltenham – Pertemps Final
Dave: “I backed Chantry House for this race a long time ago and he’s a terribly short price now and I know he’s a ten-year-old, but he still is very nicely handicapped.”
Andrew: “The last two years I’ve backed Mill Green in this and I see him as a Placepot banker despite him being a 12-year-old. Anna Bunina is another interesting one as she is a real spring performer and she has run well in the Country Hurdle twice. Bold Endeavour is another for Nicky Henderson.”
2:50 Cheltenham – Ryanair Chase
Andrew: “Stage Star won the Turners last year and goes well here and likes to front run and course and distance form often comes to the fore in these sort of races.”
Dave: “Pretoktorat will be mine and I think this trip will be ideal for him and ticks loads of boxes and we know the class he has.”
3:30 Cheltenham – Stayers’ Hurdle
Dave: “Teahupoo is one of my best bets of the entire week! He cannot get beat in my eyes.”
Andrew: “Teahupoo is on my shortlist, as we know he goes well fresh and if the ground is as we expect he will take all the beating. Teahupoo to beat Crambo – there’s your forecast!”
4:10 Cheltenham – TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase
Andrew: “I’d be looking at Madara in here, but it’s a race I will be looking at closer when the final decs are in.”
Dave: “Crebilly is just criminally under-rated. How is this horse rated 140? He would’ve beaten Ginny’s Destiny earlier in the season and was just beaten by Crambo last season when giving weight away.”
4:50 Cheltenham – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Dave: “Brighterdaysahead is probably going to be too good in this. You have to respect Jade De Grugy for Willie Mullins, but I do think Brighterdaysahead wins”
Andrew: “I’ve no strong opinion in this race, but I did like the price of Springtime Promise the Fergal O’Brien second string.”
5:30 Cheltenham – Kim Muir Handicap Chase
Andrew: “I was quite interested in Forward Plan, who I tipped when he was just chinned in the Great Yorkshire Chase and I didn’t back at Kempton. He has a great record in handicap chase company.”
Dave: “Bowtogreatness is one for Ben Pauling and is on my radar, but I’m not confident.”
Don’t forget to check out occasional Weekend Watch pundit, Matty Sutcliffe’s selections for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival as well as Dave Young’s weekly Cheltenham ante-post picks.
Dave Young’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Book
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