Day Three Of The Festival

Thursday 18th of March is the third day of this year’s four day Cheltenham Festival, and the opening race that day is the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase, starting at 13:30, a race which is run over two miles five furlongs. This race tends to be for those horses that find two miles too sharp and three miles too far and can be a tough betting event, but one that will give a good return if you do bet on the winner. When considering form for this particular race you should be looking out for a proven ability to jump well, as the Cheltenham fences is where they are going to trip up if anywhere. Also look out for those horses that can last the distance, preferably over at least three miles, as the tough uphill finish requires more stamina than a ‘normal’ two mile five furlong race would warrant.

Starting at 14:05 the second on the racing list is the Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle), a Class A listed hurdle run over three miles, the total prize fund for which is £75,000. Open to horses five years old and upwards that have qualified for the final, through having run in qualifiers during the season or coming in the placings. It has been speculated that horses in with a chance of winning are those who have not been subjected to the heavy ground that tends to prevail in the weeks prior to the Festival, it is best if they are run fresh.

The third race of the six being run that day is the Ryanair Chase, also known as the Festival Trophy, which begins at 14:40. A grade one national hunt chase run of two miles five furlongs, aimed at five year olds and over, this chase is meant for those horses whose stamina could not quite take them to the three mile mark – and the Gold Cup standard. Seventeen hurdles have to be cleared during the course of this fast-paced race, and Our Vic, the 2008 Ryanair winner is a prime example of a horse who can do exceptionally well in this race, but could not manage to move on to be a Gold Cup horse.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle, a three mile race, starts at 15:20 on the 18th of March and is the feature race of the day. The World Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race for four year old and above horses, run over three miles on the new course. It was first run in 1972 as the Stayers’ Hurdle, with its name change occurring in 2005. This race is very much for those horses with staying power, and is a hurdlers version of the Gold Cup.

The fifth race of the day is the Festival Plate Handicap Steeple Chase at 16:00. This is a two mile five furlong race for chasers who are five years old and above. There are always a lot of contenders for this race which makes it hard to determine who is most likely to win – in fact only one favourite has won in the past twenty-eight years! Martin Pipe had great success in this race between 1999 and 2001, winning it three times, so his son David who has taken over might be one to watch out for if he is anything like his dad!

The final race of the day, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase starts at 16:40 and is a three mile, one and a half furlong class B race, ridden by amateur jockeys. It is recognised therefore as being one of the hardest races to predict at the Festival, but top yards are more than likely the best bet for this race, as they have an excellent track record.