Cheltenham Day 3 Tips – Cheltenham Thursday Betting Tips 14th March 2024
Cheltenham day 3 tips and predictions for Thursday 14th March including the big race of the day, the Stayers Hurdle and the first race of the day, the Turners Novices’ Chase.
The day 3 Cheltenham betting tips can be found below as well as a quick preview of each race. Henry Gibbs has picked his win and each-way tips to go alongside the already advised ante-post bets which you will find below the day preview.
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips
| Race | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1.30pm - Turners Novice Chase | Ginnys Destiny | 4/1 |
| 2.10pm - Pertemps Network Final | Cuthbertdibble | 9/1 |
| 2.50pm - Ryanair Chase | Stage Star | 9/2 |
| 3.30pm - Stayers Hurdle | Teahupoo | 7/4 |
| 4.10pm - Plate Handicap Chase | Theatre Man (ew) | 9/2 |
| 4.50pm - Mares Novice Hurdle | Brighterdaysahead | 13/8 |
| 5.30pm - Kim Muir Chase | Whacker Clan | 12/1 |
1:30 Cheltenham
The first race on Thursday is the Turners Novices Chase, a Grade 1 over the 2m4f trip.
It’s GINNY’S DESTINY for me here. He comes into this after having a similar preparation to connections’ winner last season Stage Star. He improved remarkably for his debut for Paul Nicholls to win his next three starts, all here at Cheltenham. He’s a front-runner that is a very assured jumper who finds plenty for pressure. He will have no issues on the ground and should get his own way in front. Grey Dawning ran him close two starts back and many believe he’d have won without the mistake made two out. However, the mistake was made and when Grey Dawning hits the front, he seems to make mistakes. I’d rather go with Ginny’s Destiny out of the two who is straightforward and won’t make mistakes.
Facile Vega is an obvious danger on the ground but he has to step up on what we’ve seen this season and Iroko has not had the ideal preparation.
1.30pm Tip: Ginnys Destiny – 4/1 with bet365.
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CLAIM!2:10 Cheltenham
The first handicap on Day 3 comes up at 2:10, the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle over 3m.
You potentially need a Graded horse to win this race and the one I think could be up to it is CUTHBERTDIBBLE (9/1) EW. He was a solid novice hurdler last season winning two of his five starts and I think he’s improved again this season. He’s won his last two starts including when stepping to 3m for the first time at Haydock last time out. He relishes soft ground which he will obviously get and the Twiston-Davies horses have run well enough on Tuesday to suggest he can go close.
2.10pm Tip: Cuthbertdibble – 9/1 with William Hill.
2:50 Cheltenham
It’s more Grade 1 action at 2:50pm, the Ryanair Chase over an extended 2m4f.
I like STAGE STAR here. Again, I’m hoping Harry Cobden can get to the front and adopt similar tactics to what we seen when he managed to win the Turners last season. I’m happy to draw a line through that effort last time out and prior to that he was 3/3 at Cheltenham over 2m4f and has proven on several occasions soft ground is no problem. He was a really impressive winner of the competitive Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. I’m confident Paul Nicholls will have him back to his best for this big day.
2.50pm Tip: Stage Star – 9/2 with Coral.
3:30 Cheltenham
The feature on Day 3 is the Stayers Hurdle, a Grade 1 over the 3 mile trip.
It’s TEAHUPOO for me here. Arguably should have won this race last year if given a better ride and although this year is a stronger race, I think he’s a better horse that comes here under his ideal preparation and his ideal conditions. He runs his best when fresh especially with cut in the ground which he gets today. He won the Grade 1 Hatton Grace Hurdle earlier this season and has been put away for this race ever since. He’s only 7 so he’s arguably only peaking now and with Jack Kennedy getting the leg up, I think compensation awaits for last year.
3.30pm Tip: Teahupoo – 7/4 with Betfred.
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CLAIM!4:10 Cheltenham
The 4:10 is the Plate Handicap Chase, a competitive contest over the extended 2m4f.
It’s THEATRE MAN EW for me here. He was very eye-catching last time out finishing second behind Ginny’s Destiny in a handicap here at Cheltenham last time out. The soft ground will help him use his stamina and I’m sure he’ll be staying on as strong as anything up the hill. A 3lb rise for that run last time is more than fair and with the Bandey time in decent nick and Cobden taken the ride, he looks a cracking selection.
4.10pm Tip: Theatre Man (each-way) – 9/2 with Betfred.
4:50 Cheltenham
The 4:50 is a fantastic renewal of the Mares Novices Hurdle, a Grade 2 race over 2m1f.
It’s BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD NB for me here. She looks like a mare of star quality and Gordon Elliot seems to know it. She has won over a variety of distances and I don’t see this 2m1f trip on soft ground being an issue. I actually think she’s well suited to soft ground as she has a high knee action. She has a serious engine and she jumped the best she’s jumped when winning last time out at Gowran Park. That’s a worry for her rivals and I think her potent combination of speed and stamina will be enough to land this before going onto bigger things next year.
4.50pm Tip: Brighterdaysahead – 13/8 with bet365.
5:30 Cheltenham
The finale on Day 3 is the turn of the amateurs, which t is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, a handicap chase over 3m2f.
I really like WHACKER CLAN NAP in this for the Henry De Bromhead stable. A good winner three starts back at Tramore, he then came to Cheltenham and jumped them silly from the front and won decisively. He had a run over hurdles at Naas last month which I’m sure was just to blow the cobwebs away and put him spot on for this. The ground has come right for him and he sneaks in near the bottom of the handicap. Mr Gleason takes the ride and he’s a worthy amateur. I find it hard to see him out the frame truth be told.
5.30pm Tip: Whacker Clan – 12/1 with Coral.
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Cheltenham Day 3 Ante-post Tips
These tips are still alive from our Cheltenham ante-post previews in the lead up to this year’s Festival.
2.10pm Cheltenham Day 3 Tip
The Pertemps this year lacks the star power of some previous renewals with classy future chasers Delta Work, Presenting Percy and reigning Stayers Hurdle champion Sire Du Berlais on the Roll of Honour. If there is a future Star in this field, it may be Cleatus Poolaw who qualified in straight forward fashion at the weekend. However, this was very much a backup plan after the unfortunate passing of Absolute Notions and with Danny Gilligan having claimed 5 at the weekend, without a claim in this race, he would be running off a 14-pound higher mark. Instead, preference is given to the more experienced GOWEL ROAD (25/1) for the Twiston Davies team who love a Cheltenham Festival winner. A staying-on 7th in a competitive 2022 Coral Cup, he was just 2 lengths behind Crambo when giving that rival a pound on his comeback after a year off the track at Haydock. He followed up with a respectable run in Grade 1 company next time out and qualified in 4th place at Exeter on ground much softer than ideal, subsequently being dropped a pound for that effort. He is a past winner at the track and connections have identified him as one who could run a “Massive Race” on the likely soft ground.
GOWEL ROAD (25/1 with Ladbrokes)
2.50pm Cheltenham Day 3 Tip
I’m happy to take a chance and back the younger horse in STAGE STAR. He has the right profile for the race and if he can repeat his performance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November then it will take a good one to beat him.
STAGE STAR is a dual course/distance winner and was the winner of the Turners Novices chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. He then won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November on reappearance off a hefty weight to push him towards the top of the betting and lay down a marker for the race. That is strong form with 4th place Fugituf then taking the December Gold Cup 4 weeks later. He has since drifted in the market due to being pulled up at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when trying to give lumps of weight to the field. I think that was a big ask and after his trainer Paul Nichols hinted in November that he could go straight to the Festival, this race was almost an afterthought. With that considered I’d be happy to write that run off. He won’t run again now before the Festival and will be freshened up. He’s a huge player in this and ticks a lot of boxes needed to win this race and is now at a price worth backing.
3.30pm Cheltenham Day 3 Tip
The only one I can see playing their part in the finish is Saturday’s winner of this trial, Noble Yeats. Returning to hurdles for his seasonal reappearance at Xmas (33 months after his last hurdle start), the Emmet Mullins trained Grand National winner improved out of sight to win the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, fending off the gallant Paisley Park at the line. He pushed himself way up the ladder in the Stayers Hurdle betting odds and is now as short as 8/1 (12/1 out there) for the real one in March. Like all Grand National winners, he poses never-ending stamina and really relished the Cheltenham hill once again when powering up it on trials day. He is a big player in this now and one I couldn’t write off.
4.50pm Cheltenham Day 3 Tip
Of the top 3, while I respect the talents of Dysart Enos and while she is getting weight from both rivals, Racing Post Ratings give her significantly more than that penalty to this to find (12/13 pounds). Also, while coming from a clearly likeable stable, it’s hard to ignore their lack of a festival winner to this point, especially when up against Mullins and Elliott. And in that battle, I am just about going to side with the Gigginstown Mare Brighterdaysahead. Gordon Elliot has been effusive in his praise for her and indicated that due to a slight setback, he expects her to progress from her latest run. If that’s the case, Jade De Grugy will have to be very special to beat her and while that is not outside the bounds of possibility, at a slightly bigger price of 3/1, and with the extra run under her belt, I am backing Gordon to bag his first winner of the race and put the money back in the Sponsors pockets.
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2024 Cheltenham Day 3 Race Schedule
| START TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE | TELEVISED |
| 13:30 | The Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m abt 4f | Chase | ITV |
| 14:10 | The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) | Abt 3m | Hurdle | ITV |
| 14:50 | The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1) (feature race) |
2m abt 5f | Chase | ITV |
| 15:30 | The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | abt 3m | Hurdle | ITV |
| 16:10 | The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Grade 3) | 2m abt 5f | Chase | ITV |
| 16:50 | The Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m 1f | Hurdle | |
| 17:30 | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (sponsored by the JRL Group) (0-145) | 3m abt 2f | Chase |
2024 Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Ante-Post Betting Tips
Day 3 is always an exciting one, with both the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase among the most popular to back. As always, our resident tipsters have been hard at work in the leadup to Cheltenham, studying form and all the latest news to bring you the finest ante-post betting tips you’ll find on the Thursday of Cheltenham.
Take a look at our top picks below…
Where Can I Bet On Cheltenham Festival Day 3?
There will be plenty of money backed on Day 3 of the festival as we start to approach long weekend territory, and with the Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase, the bookies have plenty of offers going on.
The likes of SBK and LiveScoreBet have a great offering when it comes to Cheltenham with superb offers and great value odds, while the big hitters like Coral, Betway, William Hill and 888sport will all have plenty of markets for you to back too.
All our favourite bookies will be offering odds on each race across both Day 3 and the festival. To start playing, simply clikc a bookie below, sign-up and away you go…
Turners Novice Chase Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 11 of the last 12 winners were aged 6 or 7
- Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 10/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 9 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Turners Novices Chase, 9/12 winners ran in the last 54 days
- Previous Course Form – 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 8/12 had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 19-21 furlongs, 10/12 had at least 1 previous win over 19-21 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 12/12 winners had at least 3 runs over hurdles, 9/12 winners had at least 3 wins over hurdles
- Previous Chase Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 previous chase runs, 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous chase wins
- Rating – 11/12 winners were rated 146 or higher
- Graded Wins – 9/12 winners had at least 1 win in a grade 1 or 2 race
- Season Form – 12/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least 2 wins that season
Pertemps Final Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8
- Price – 2 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 4/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting, 8/12 winners were priced 10/1 or bigger
- Last Run – 3/12 winners won on their last run before the Pertemps Final, 11/12 winners had their last run with the last 61 days
- 6/12 winners ran in a Pertemps Qualifier on their last run, 1 of the 6 won, 2 placed
- Previous Course Form – 7/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 3/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 23-25 furlongs, 8/12 winners had at least 1 win over 23-25 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 12/12 winners had at least 6 previous runs over hurdles, 8/12 winners had at least 2 previous wins over hurdles
- Rating – 11/12 winners were rated 138 or higher
- Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 5/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Ryanair Chase Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 11 of the last 12 winners were aged 7-9
- Price – 6 of the last 12 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 11/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 6 of the last 12 winners won on their previous run before Ryanair Chase, 11/12 winners ran within the last 77 days
- 3/12 winners ran in the King George VI Chase (Kempton) on their last run, 0 of the 3 won, 1 placed
- 2/12 winners ran in the Ascot Chase (Ascot) on their last run, 2 of the 2 won, 0 placed
- Previous Course Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs at Cheltenham, 8/12 winners have had a previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 9/12 winners had at least 4 previous runs over 19-21 furlongs, 10/12 winners had at least 2 wins over 19-21 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 12/12 winners had at least 4 runs over hurdles, 8/12 winners had at least 2 wins over hurdles
- Previous Chase Form – 10/12 winners had at least 7 chase runs, 10/12 winners had at least 4 chase wins
- Rating – 11/12 winners were rated 162 or higher
- Graded Wins – 11/12 winners had at least 1 win in a grade 1-3 race, 9/12 winners had at least 1 win in a grade 1 race
- Season Form – 8/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Stayers Hurdle Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8
- Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 6/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 7 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Stayers Hurdle, 10/12 winners had their last run with 80 days
- 5/12 winners ran in the Cleeve Hurdle (Cheltenham) on their last run, 3 of the 5 won, 1 placed
- Previous Course Form – 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 7/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 9/12 winners had at least 3 runs over 23-25 furlongs, 8/12 winners had at least 2 wins over 23-25 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 8 previous runs over hurdles, 10/12 winners had at least 4 previous wins over hurdles
- Rating – 9/12 winners were rated 156 or higher
- Grade 1 Wins – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous grade 1 win
- Grade 2 Wins – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous grade 2 win
- Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 9/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Festival Plate Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 8 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
- Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 5/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Weight – 9/12 winners carried less than 11st
- Last Run – 5/12 winners won on their last run before the Festival Plate, 8/12 winners had their last run within the last 47 days
- Previous Course Form – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 4/12 winners had a previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over 19-21 furlongs, 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over 19-21 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 10/12 winners had at least 5 runs over hurdles, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win over hurdles
- Previous Chase Form – 10/12 winners had at least 5 previous chase runs, 9/12 winners had at least 2 previous chase wins
- Rating – 9/12 winners had a rating of 140 or higher
- Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 9/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Mares Novices Hurdle Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 7 of the last 7 winners were aged 5 or 6
- Price – 3 of the last 7 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 5/7 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Last Run – 4 of the last 7 winners won on their last run before the Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle, 6/7 winners ran within the last 47 days
- 2/7 winners ran in the Solerina Mares Hurdle (Fairyhouse) on their last run, 2 of the 2 won, 0 placed
- 2/7 winners ran in the Mares Handicap Hurdle (Leopardstown) on their last run, 0 of the 2 won, 2 placed
- Previous Course Form – 2/7 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham , 0/7 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham
- Previous Distance Form – 4/7 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 6/7 had at least 1 previous win over 15-17 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 7/7 winners had at least 2 previous runs over hurdles, 5/7 winners had at least 3 previous runs over hurdles, 6/7 winners had at least 1 win over hurdles
Rating – 5/7 winners were rated 136 or higher - Graded Wins – 4/7 winners had at least 1 previous win in a grade 1-3 race
- Season Form – 7/7 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 6/7 winners had at least 1 win that season
Kim Muir Trends & Stats 2024
- Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
- Price – 3 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 7/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
- Weights – 10/12 winners carried 11st 1lb or more
- Last Run – 1 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, 11/12 winners had their last run within the last 76 days
- Previous Course Form – 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous Cheltenham run, 3/12 had at least 1 previous Cheltenham win
- Previous Distance Form – 8/12 winners had at least 2 previous runs over 24-26 furlongs, 5/12 winners had at least 1 win over 24-26 furlongs
- Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 5 previous runs over hurdles, 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over hurdles
- Previous Chase Form – 11/12 winners had at least 5 previous chase runs, 10/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase win
- Rating – 10/12 winners were rated 137 or higher
- Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs that season, 3/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
What Are Other Pundits Predicting For Cheltenham Festival Day 3?
As well as all our best picks for Day 3 of Cheltenham, you’ll also find plenty of pundits having their say too, both on the television and in the wider media. Many have great reputations for picking winners and we’ll always pluck out the best and place them on our pundits tips page.
Legends like Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy will be having their say on ITV Racing, while popular pundits including Matt Chapman and Kevin Blake are among the best out there for their predictions. They’re always worth looking up and you’ll find them all right here with TAG to then go and place your bets on.
2024 Cheltenham Festival Free Bets for Day 3
Whether you’re up, down or breaking even, placing a Cheltenham bet with a free bet is always worthwhile, and across Day 3 there will be plenty of offers to make the most of. We pride ourselves on collating all the very best, so whether you’re looking for a top Betfred Cheltenham offer or the latest SBK are bringing, we’ve got you covered.
You’ll find a selection of our favourite free bets to place on Cheltenham below, while there are many more, as well as all the details for signing up on our free bet page.
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