Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 3 Preview & Best Bets

13:20 – Mares’ Novices Hurdle

You can easily argue that this is one of the hardest races of the week to work out due to the unexposed nature of a lot of the contenders in this race.

But there is one mare could be a cut above and that is SIXANDAHALF who won her maiden hurdle emphatically. The bare form of that is obviously nothing special but her flat form is very solid as she is rated 94 and finished a good 3rd in an Irish Cesarewitch.

I think she holds a big chance and is probably worth backing at anything over 5/2.

SIXANDAHALF 11/4 1PT WIN

14:00 – Novices’ Handicap Chase

Now, in my opinion, this could be the toughest race of the week as there are plenty of horses with really obvious cases.

The one I am pretty keen on at double-digit odds is CALDWELL POTTER. He was obviously a very good horse over hurdles and despite not living up to that over fences so far, he has still ran respectably. He started with an easy win at Carlisle before being beaten at Cheltenham by Jango Baie and Springwell Bay, the former has just won the Arkle and the latter won a big handicap next time up. He then just didn’t have the pace to win over 2 miles at Windsor.

I presume he has been put away for this race since then and I think a mark of 146 could prove very lenient based off that and I would be shocked to see him out of the first five.

CALDWELL POTTER 10/1 1PT EW

14:40 – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

I think that JERIKO DU REPONET is a huge player in this year’s Pertemps following his effort at Exeter when he was given a very easy time of things by Nico to smuggle him into 3rd place.

Connections obviously held him in very high regard as he was their Supreme horse last season, he obviously didn’t run well there as the stable was under a cloud and things haven’t gone right since then either.

What that does mean is that he has dropped to a mark of 135, which looks extremely lenient for a horse with his class and now he has proven to stay 3 miles, I really fancy him to get his career back on track today and at odds of 8/1, I rate him one of the best bets of the day.

JERIKO DU REPONET 8/1 1PT EW

15:20 – Ryanair Chase

Fact To File has been rerouted here after being put in his place over 3 miles twice and the case for him is very obvious. However, I think IL EST FRANCAIS may be ready to put in another wow performance in this race.

The ground and the trip are perfect for him, and on paper he has the potential to dominate this race from the front. His 2nd in the King George behind Banbridge was an excellent effort and I think a replication of that will see him win this.

Protektorat looks sure to give his running too and I wouldn’t put people off him either – but I think if the Zetterholm team has this horse spot on, he will prove too good.

IL EST FRANCAIS 3/1 1PT WIN

16:00 – Stayers' Hurdle

Last year’s winner, Teahupoo is a massive drifter, out from 5/4 to 7/4 - surely due to the lack of rain and the drying ground. I have to agree with the market and want to take him on at those odds.

The one I am going to chance is NEMEAN LION who is unexposed at this trip but is always very strong at the end of his races. You can argue that he would prefer some cut in the ground too, but I think the slower pace over this trip, will counteract that and I think he could travel in to this race very nicely. He has been priced at 25/1 and I could see him outrunning those odds and I am happy to take a punt on him each-way.

NEMEAN LION 25/1 0.5PT EW

16:40 – Festival Plate Handicap Chase

There is no horse better handicapped here than GINNY’S DESTINY off 149 – I'm certain of that.

He is available at 12/1 and back on song, he can make that look massive as he can be a huge player in this race. Prior to this season which has not gone right, his form figures at Cheltenham are 71112 – with the 2nd being to Grey Dawning in the Grade One Turners’ Novice last season.

I think you can make excuses for his runs this year, first time up, he is never at his best, the 3rd to Djelo at Huntingdon wasn’t that bad and then the recent run, the stable wasn’t in great form following the flu jabs.

The other horse I am keeping on side is JAGWAR (7/2) just because he has been ultra progressive over fences and could still have more to come. My main concern would be his ability to put in a howler which could be very costly here – but I want him on side in case things drop right again.

JAGWAR 7/2 1PT WIN

GINNY’S DESTINY 12/1 1PT EW

17:20 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase

This is not a race I generally put in but YEAH MAN stood out as overpriced at 16/1.

I think 144 is still a fair mark and stamina is certainly no concern for him here. I fancied him for the Grand National trial last month before his unseat and I think he is a decent each-way bet as if he takes to the course, he should run a nice race.

YEAH MAN 16/1 0.5PT EW