The Cheltenham Festival is now halfway gone for 2026, but there are still 14 top class contests to be won. They include the Mares’ Hurdle, Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase on Thursday.
In the Stayers’ Hurdle and three other races, GG tipster Joe Napier picks out our lucky 15 best bets on the card.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Thursday 12 March)
The third day of the Cheltenham Festival features three straight Grade 1s in its midst. In one of those and three other cracking contests, race our Lucky 15 tips for Thursday.
2.00 Cheltenham – Kiss Will (1pt e/w – 18/1)
Willie Mullins has never won a handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he throws a fair number of darts at the novices’ handicap with Kiss Will the most appealing. The six-year-old has placed in all three starts over fences to date. In all three, he has been beaten by useful winners, while himself finishing ahead of smart rivals down the field. Having won a Listed novice hurdle at Perth last season, which drew a talented field due to the trainers’ championship battle, a mark of 141 does not look overly harsh. JJ Slevin rode a winner for Mullins recently and they may team up for an historic success.
3.20 Cheltenham – Ballyburn (1pt e/w – 10/1)
His career has not taken the trajectory hoped when storming to victory at the 2024 Festival, but Ballyburn may have untapped potential in this division. Mullins and Townend are unsurprisingly among the winners this week and first-time headgear has worked well for their runners. He was only just touched off by Teahupoo to start this season in the 2m4f Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. Ballyburn was the one finishing the stronger, auguring well for 3m. He cannot have been right when a distant third over Christmas at Leopardstown. Mullins’ horses were not running well then, but they are now and the selection can be another.
4.40 Cheltenham – C’Est Different (1pt e/w – 9/1)
Supremely West could be the next Skelton handicap plot, but there are some form rivals to face here. The most prominent of those is C’Est Different, who goes up in class, but is in tremendous nick. He has won all four of his handicaps so far, improving this season no end. His two runs this term not only suggest he has improved as a specimen, but also for stepping up in distance. Both wins have been over around 3m, firstly in a class 2, latterly off 12st 1lb. He may not have stopped improving yet.
5.20 Cheltenham – Jeriko Du Reponet (1pt e/w – 7/2)
A selection based on potential, but Jeriko Du Reponet has been tenderly handled this campaign. He won a Punchestown handicap hurdle off 139 last season in a 23-runner field. Fences have sometimes got in the way, but he has gradually improved that element of his racing this term. He has run against some talented rivals and he has slipped to a mark of 145 with the British handicapper. That looks generous on his form over 3m and with more to come over fences. Derek O’Connor chooses him of the JP McManus-owned contingent too.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Cheltenham Festival, Thursday 12 March
2.00 Cheltenham – Kiss Will (1pt e/w – 18/1)
3.20 Cheltenham – Ballyburn (1pt e/w – 10/1)
4.40 Cheltenham – C’Est Different (1pt e/w – 9/1)
5.20 Cheltenham – Jeriko Du Reponet (1pt e/w – 7/2)
Kiss Will
Jeriko Du ReponetGG Lucky 15 – Cheltenham Festival, Thursday 12 March
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Cheltenham – first race 13:20
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Thursday 12 March, which include selections at the Cheltenham Festival.
When were Thursday’s Lucky 15 tips for Cheltenham published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Cheltenham were published at 2.35pm on Wednesday 11 March.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.