Cheltenham Festival day 3 tips: David Mullins' selections for Thursday
David Mullins is backing his uncle Tony to have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.
You can read his thoughts on all seven races below:
Turners Novices' Chase 13:30 – Mighty Potter
Mighty Potter is going to take a lot of stopping in the opener on Thursday!
He has been one of the highlights of the whole season and the ground has come right for him as well as he likes it a bit soft. While Appreciate It and Banbridge are good horses, we may just be looking at a very, very smart one in Mighty Potter. He should get favourite backers off to a good start against the best betting sites.
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 14:10 – Takarengo
This is another very competitive Cheltenham Festival handicap, but I can see Takarengo, trained by my father, run a big one at huge odds.
While he hasn’t found winning all that easy in the last two years, Takarengo has performed well on numerous occasions and at 7 years old he may just be improving yet. He was really unlucky at Leopardstown when getting a horror passage through and if things go better here, he can get a lot closer.
A strong pace here will really suit him and Danny (Mullins) is a brilliant booking as I don’t think any jockey is riding better than him this season.
Ryanair Chase 14:50 – Shishkin
While it is a bit boring putting up a favourite, it is very hard to see Shishkin beaten.
On ability alone he is a good bit clear of this field, and after a few poor efforts, last time he bounced back to his very best in the Ascot Chase. He was faultless on that occasion and if avoided the bounce factor here he should take the world of stopping.
Stayers Hurdle 15:30 – Blazing Khal
This is one of the deepest editions of the Stayers Hurdle I can remember in a long time, but Blazing Khal might just be the star in here.
Charles & Philip Byrnes were unlucky not to have a winner yesterday with Byker and there is a big chance Blazing Khal can go one better. He looked a real star in the making last season and a big Albert Bartlett contender before he got injured. His participation in this contest had been in doubt but he bounced back last time brilliantly to see off a good field at his ease.
That performance was one of a very, very smart animal and he should go well.
Magners Plate Handicap Chase 16:10 – So Scottish
It is another very difficult handicap to take apart here, but I am going to opt with the JP McManus option here in So Scottish for my cousin Emmet Mullins.
When you look at this field it is definitely fair to say he lacks the experience of the others, however I think he’s a very smart horse who might just a good bit better than handicaps. This will probably have been the plan for him all season and if he gets around without complications he should go very well.
Mares Novices’ Hurdle – Princess Zoe
Princess Zoe has been an absolute revelation for my uncle Tony (Mullins) on the level and I think she can go well here on her second start over hurdles.
She needed that run badly last time I think when dead-heating and should improve a lot for that. Her jumping will come on too for that experience and the rain will have been a big help as well. She’s a Group One winning mare on the flat and I think she can definitely get involved here at the very least.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase 17:30 – Mr Incredible
The Kim Muir is always a great spectacle and I like the look of Mr Incredible for Patrick and Willie (Mullins).
This horse has been a tricky customer, but Patrick and everyone in Closutton seem to be improving this horses’ mentality. He ran a great race in the Classic Chase at Warwick under Brian Hayes and should improve for that effort.
