Cheltenham Festival 2023 Thursday odds and tips: Turners, Stayers' Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and Mares Novices Hurdle feature
Cheltenham Festival is nearly here and Thursday looks to be a special treat of the week with a little something for all punters!
The stars of the day include Luccia, Mighty Potter, Shishkin, Paisley Park, Stage Star, Flooring Porter and El Fabiolo.
The Thursday features three Grade 1 races: The Turners, Ryanair Chase and the showpiece the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Though the Ryanair now has a £211,013 winning prizemoney over the Stayers’ £182,878 cash prize.
The penultimate race of the day sees the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle which can turn out some big prices but this year there’s a few races that look set to be dominated by the favourites.
Cheltenham Festival odds and racing tips
Turners Novices’ Chase
Mighty Potter also offers incredible value and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go off odds-on on the day.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse was a big winner at Dublin Racing Festival beating Adamantly Chosen by over eight lengths.
Takes his chase record to three out of three and will be one of the most-backed favourites this festival.
Ryanair Chase
Shishkin, trained by Nicky Henderson, returned to his best last time out when upped in trip from his usual 2m to a 2m5f trip.
Winning the Betfair Chase Grade 1 by an astonishing 16 lengths to Pic D’Orhy and Fakir D’oudairies.
Prior to that win the once 177-rated horse was pulled up at Cheltenham Festival’s Champion Chase and then came a disappointing third behind Edwardstone on his season debut in December.
But that return was incredibly eye-catching and the wind surgery conducted in January has clearly done the trick, immediately!
Wouldn’t be out of place in numerous races at the festival this year but this race will give him a leading chance, by a distance.
Stayers’ Hurdle
The highlight of the day comes in the form of the 3m Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
It’s incredibly open this year with the likes of regular stayers Paisley Park, Flooring Porter, Marie’s Rock and Klassical Dream in the field.
But at the front of the betting it’s newcomers to the hurdling Grade 1 scene Blazing Khal and Teahupoo.
Flooring Porter won this last year with Paisley Park close behind but the Emma Lavelle-trained horse has since had a resurgence of form winning the Long Walk Hurdle by over four lengths.
A typical gutsy performance especially after missing out by just a neck when battling it out with Champ in November’s Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle
There’s been more and more support for this mare trained by Henderson as the festival approaches.
It really wouldn’t be a surprise to see her go into odds-on by the off either.
She’s a talented mare with improvement coming with each step up in grade and contest.
Henderson could have a couple of big favourites come in at the festival this year if they justify their favouritism.
And Luccia resembles the hype seen for Constitution Hill last year.
She’s won two flat contests in 2022 by a wide margin and followed that form over hurdles beating She’s A Saint and Palace Boy in Class 1 events.
It’s possible the latest contest wasn’t as strong as it could be but she won in such a style that suggests she has plenty more to come at the big event and loves to get ahead.
All odds correct at time of writing
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