Our Cheltenham Festival day three tips feature two championship races, with the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase sharing top billing on Thursday.
There is more graded action with a couple of mares-only events, plus a trio of typically tricky handicaps, but here are our expert picks for punters to consider.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Tips
Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tip
Cheltenham 13:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Tip: Bambino Fever (NAP)
Brings winning Cheltenham form to the table after landing last year’s Champion Bumper and is a hot favourite to follow up with a second Festival victory in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Bambino Fever suffered a surprise defeat in her first go over timber but proved that to be a minor blip when galloping home by 12 lengths at Fairyhouse and must take all the beating.
14:00 Tip
Cheltenham 14:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Tip: Sixmilebridge
Local trainer Fergal O’Brien can celebrate his first Festival winner with this classy seven-year-old, who has plenty of weight in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase but boasts a Grade One victory in the Scilly Isles at Sandown among a trio of smart triumphs over fences.
Mares' Hurdle Tip
Cheltenham 14:40 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
Tip: Wodhooh
Her only defeat in 10 outings over timber came when second to Lossiemouth at Aintree last April and she can take full advantage of that opponent’s absence to land Grade One glory in the Mares’ Hurdle.
Wodhooh is two from two at Cheltenham, including a convincing course-and-distance triumph in the Martin Pipe event to conclude the 2025 Festival, and she is on a hat-trick this term following rock-solid strikes at Ascot and Leopardstown.
Stayers' Hurdle Tip
Cheltenham 15:20 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
Tip: Teahupoo
The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old can win at the top level for the eighth time and regain his Stayers’ Hurdle crown from old rival Bob Olinger.
Teahupoo, an impressive scorer in 2024, had to settle for second best behind Bob Olinger 12 months ago but comfortably accounted for Henry de Bromhead’s veteran in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Stablemate Honesty Policy and Dan Skelton’s Kabral Du Mathan are rising stars in this division, but the tried and tested Teahupoo will be a tough nut to crack.
Ryanair Chase Tip
Cheltenham 16:00 – Ryanair Chase
Tip: Fact To File
Willie Mullins’ star swerves the Gold Cup to defend his title in the Ryanair Chase and is hard to oppose after being such a convincing nine-length winner of this race last season.
Fact To File warmed up for his Cheltenham assignment with another most impressive victory in the Irish Gold Cup during the Dublin Racing Festival and is expected to gallop clear of his rivals up the hill if in a similar mood.
Pertemps Network Final Tip
Cheltenham 16:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Tip: Absolutely Doyen
This strong-travelling six-year-old has rattled off five straight wins since joining Paul Nicholls and may still have enough left up his sleeve to land a devilishly difficult Pertemps Network Final.
Kim Muir Tip
Cheltenham 17:20 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Tip: Il Ridoto
Nicholls can complete an emotional double when putting up daughter Olive on this admirable stable stalwart, who has raced 17 times around Prestbury Park and can boast two course wins among a number of commendable efforts in big handicaps here.
Cheltenham Day 3 Predictions
Cheltenham Day 3 Predictions – 2026 Cheltenham Festival
13:20 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Bambino Fever @ Evens
14:00 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase: Sixmilebridge @ 6/1
14:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle: Wodhooh @ 8/11
15:20 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle: Teahupoo @ 10/3
16:00 Ryanair Chase: Fact To File @ 8/11
16:40 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle: Absolutely Doyen @ 14/1
17:20 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup: Il Ridoto @ 33/1
Simply click/tap on the selections above to add them to your betslip.
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