*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Allan Byrne: 13:20 Marsh Novice Chase – Blackbow (Betting Without Envoi Allen)
It’s virtually impossible to oppose Envoi Allen here but the Betting Without market might offer some value on BLACKBOW. Eldorado Allen and Fiddlerontheroof benefitted from really smart rides this week and I expect a similar approach from Bryan Cooper. He knows he is unlikely to be good enough to win this and will likely ride him to pick up the pieces late on when a few of the more fancied runners will have had enough.
Adam Killeen: 13:55 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle – Milliner
Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore have had an excellent Cheltenham so far and look to have a great chance of adding to their tally with MILLINIER managing to get in to the Pertemps final here. Back from a long absence, he has shown promise on both of his starts this year and looks more than capable of playing a part in this race off a mark of 126.
Jamie Smyth: 13.55 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle – Come On Teddy
COME ON TEDDY has good credentials for this race having won impressively at the Cheltenham December meeting before shaping well when finishing third at Warwick to ensure his qualification for this. He is closely matched with Imperial Alcazaar on that run being 8lbs better off and looks to have solid each-way claims with his proven course form and the potential for further improvement.
Conor Murphy: 14.30 Ryanair Chase – Saint Calvados
Last year’s runner up SAINT CALVADOS may not have had an ideal preparation for this having been tried as a 3-miler but back at this trip he’s very dangerous. He shaped very well in the King George for a long way and back at a track he’s always done his best work at with a strong pace in front of him he has all the credentials to go well again.
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Frank Hickey: 15.05 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – Vinndication
Paisley Park deserves to head up the market here but I’m not sure he is that far clear of many of these and I am going to oppose him. VINDICATION was unbeaten as a novice hurdler, beating Champ despite conceding a penalty to him and he also won at Listed level. He obviously has reached a decent level over fences in the interim, finishing a close fourth in the Ultima at last year’s festival, despite carrying top weight off a high mark of 159. He was second to Cyrname in this year’s running of the Charlie Hall Chase and was running a big race when favourite in the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury when tipping up five fences from home. He was running off a mark of 161 there and would certainly have placed at the very least.
He now reverts to hurdles but he has the raw ability to play a huge part in this race. He is a horse whose jumping has held him back over fences and the return to hurdles could see him fulfil his potential, which could see him hit a mark in the high 160’s. If that happens to be the case, then he has a huge chance of winning here.
Ryan McCue: 15.05 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – Sire Du Berlais
This is a really competitive renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle and SIRE DU BERLAIS makes most appeal. He is a dual winner of the Pertempts at the Festival and I can forgive his defeat at Leopardstown as he has never excelled there like he has at Cheltenham. He’s been trained with one race in mind all season and I think he’ll prove up to taking this Stayers’ Hurdle.
Cheltenham tips: Our pundits’ cheat sheet for all Thursday’s races
Niall O’ Reilly: 15:40 Paddy Power Plate – Caribean Boy
CARIBEAN BOY has a big weight though I think he could be the class horse in this race. His best performance this year came on good ground at Newbury, when he beat Fiddlerontheroof in a very fast time, and that form got a boost in the Brown Advisory on Wednesday. High weights can do well in these type of handicaps so I don’t have a major concern, and at the very least I think he’ll place, so rates a decent each-way bet.
Paddy Desmond: 16.15 Mares’ Novice Hurdle – Telmesomethinggirl
TELMESOMETHINGGIRL had a nice comeback at Leopardstown in February where a lot went wrong and that should set her up perfectly for this. Her form got franked at Limerick in a good race at the weekend and in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and with the yard flying she is a good price at double-figure odds.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.
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