Cheltenham Festival 2023: Tips and best bets for day three including the Stayers' Hurdle
The Cheltenham Festival is back on Tuesday 14 March, and two days later all eyes will be on Stayers’ Hurdle, the feature race of day three.
It is a three-mile test of stamina over the New Course that will expose any chinks in the armour of contenders that lack the staying power to get up the famous hill finish.
It is not the only race to look out for on another day of top-class national hunt action.
Here's your full guide to all seven of the races on day three.
The feature race of the day gets under starter's orders at 15.30.
One of the four feature races at the Cheltenham Festival, the Stayers’ Hurdle is an outstanding test of stamina and will expose all but the strongest of finishers.
Just as he had done the year before, Danny Mullins made the running on Flooring Porter, who gave a superb tactical display to burn off his rivals off in the home straight as the Gavin Cromwell-trained star retained his crown to the delight of his large owning group. ‘Canny Danny’, as he was labelled, earned most of the plaudits for getting the fractions just right in front.
ITV will have live coverage fronted by Ed Chamberlin. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and return on the day to follow the race on our dedicated live blog.
The day gets under way with a trip of two and a half miles. This race, first run in 2011, has been a good one for Mullins, with the famous trainer having four winners. Mighty Potter is the favourite at he moment. The Gordon Elliott-trained horse pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year but has since won all three of his following races.
This three-mile trip is the culmination of a series of qualifying races hosted throughout the season and is open to horses five years and above. Third Wind won last year edging out joint-favourite Alaphilippe up the famous hill. Maxxum, Shoot First and Shewearsitwell are among some early entries.
One of the highlights of the festival - this is a Grade 1 run over 2.5 miles and usually sees horses who have one eye on a possible Gold Cup tilt. Frodon and Cue Card are among the former big-name winners and this years sees yet more fancied runners. Shishkin, Fakir D’Oudairies and Gentleman De Mee will all back themselves, but Allaho is the one to watch. Under Rachael Blackmore the nine year old is bidding for a hat-trick in the race.
Favouritism for this race has been hard to hold all season. Home By The Lee had it at one point for Joseph O’Brien following his Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle win at Leopardstown and perhaps he has been forgotten since. Galmoy Hurdle winner Teahupoo and Boyne Hurdle scorer Blazing Khal – now heading the betting at 11/4 – have succeeded him in turn for Gordon Elliott and Charles Byrnes respectively. Nicky Henderson may be tempted to send last year's Mares’ Hurdle winner Maries Rock in against the boys in this race and she’s proving popular in the betting at 7/2.
This is run on the New Course with 17 jumps to negotiate. Three of the past five winners have been the favourite, but last year Coole Cody, at 22/1, shocked Prestbury Park. The ante-post market is pretty open currently, so tough to see who will go off as favourite.
The Mares’ Novices is a Grade 2 hurdle open to fillies and mares aged four years and older. There are eight hurdles to get over on the New Course, with Luccia strongly earmarked for victory. Other contenders could be Ashroe Diamond, Magical Zoe and Night And Day.
This race, better known as the Kim Muir, is an opportunity for amateur jockeys to bask in some Cheltenham glory. Chambard won last year’s race at a tasty 40/1. Early entries for this year's renewal show that the likes of Mr Incredible, Mahler Mission and Indigo Breeze will be the likely ones to watch.
