Watch: Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott steal Day Three at Cheltenham

Dive back into the drama of the penultimate day of the Festival that brings the UK and Ireland to a standstill…

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 6 years ago

You’d be forgiven for believing that things would slow down on Day Three, but despite the heavy going we feel like Altior heading into the final straight.

Gordon Elliott started the day as he meant to go on as Jack Kennedy did the business on board Shattered Love in the opener, while Penhill charged to victory in the Stayers Hurdle.

Cheltenham 2018 might be set for its final furlong tomorrow, but there’s still plenty of history to be written on Friday.

Before that though, let’s take a look back on Day Three…

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Jack Kennedy repeated his trick from Day Two by claiming Thursday’s opener on Shattered Love, breaking the hearts of those who backed favourite Terrefort.

Shattered Love had a bit of a scare at the last fence, but eventually showed his class to stretch away to victory in the JLT Novices’ Chase.

13:30 JLT Novices’ Chase

1st Shattered Love (4/1)
2nd Terrefort (3/1F)
3rd Benatar (10/1)

The day’s closest finish came in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle as Davy Russell needed a photo finish to secure his first win of the day.

Delta Work and favourite Glenloe battled ferociously all the way to the winning post, but eventually the judges declared the Gigginstown horse the winner.

14:10 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

1st Delta Work (6/1)
2nd Glenloe (9/2F)
3rd Connetable (33/1)
4th Taj Badalandabad (40/1)
5th Who Dares Wins (14/1)
6th A Great View (12/1)

All eyes were transfixed on Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair Chase, but it was yet another winner for Davy Russell and Michael O’Leary as Balko Des Flos powered home.

Amazingly, having been a long-term sponsor of the race, it’s the first time a horse owned by the airline’s CEO had won the race bearing its name.

14:50 Ryanair Chase

1st Balko Des Flos (8/1)
2nd Un De Sceaux (8/11F)

After watching Gordon Elliott charge out of the blocks, Willie Mullins will have been relieved to get on the board in the day’s feature thanks to Penhill.

It really was anyone’s race facing up to the final obstacle, but Paul Townend guided Penhill to see off Supasundae and take home the bacon.

15:30 Stayers Hurdle

1st Penhill (12/1)
2nd Supasundae (6/1)
3rd Wholestone (14/1)

They may yet write tales of Davy Russell’s Thursday at Cheltenham as he made it a hat-trick of wins for himself and Gordon Elliott in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase on-board The Storyteller.

Splash Of Ginge was brave all the way to the line, but Russell timed his run to perfection to come late and score the win.

16:10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase

1st The Storyteller (5/1F)
2nd Splash Of Ginge (25/1)
3rd King’s Odyssey (14/1)
4th Ballyalton (16/1)
5th King’s Socks (7/1)

Described by many as ‘the banker of the Festival’, Laurina’s performance in the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle justified all the hype and promise beforehand.

Willie Mullins’ super mare blew the field apart in the final stages and canter up the hill for victory. She really was a class apart.

16:50 Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

1st Laurina (4/7F)
2nd Cap Soleil (10/1)
3rd Champayne Lady (80/1)

Missed Approach prevented an Irish shut-out on the day by just seeing off Mall Dini to win the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.

Warren Greatrex was the only trainer from Great Britain to net a win on the day, but his charge was made to work for it by a tenacious Mall Dini.

17:30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase

1st Missed Approach (8/1)
2nd Mall Dini (4/1F)
3rd Squouateur (5/1)
4th Double Ross (40/1)
5th Actinpieces (33/1)

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