Cheltenham Tips: Paddy Power’s Thursday Cheat Sheet for Day Three of the Festival

It looks a match between Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs in what is a fascinating contest. Galopin Des Champs will make the running but I can see Bob Olinger picking him off in the closing stages.

This is a match between Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger and I’ve always been in the Willie Mullins’ camp. Galopin Des Champs is faster and a brilliant jumper. Bob Olinger’s jumping hasn’t been as good yet.

A return to Cheltenham and the better ground can see Bob Olinger take another step forward ahead of an exuberant and clearly supremely talented Galopin Des Champs.

A small field but the match up we all wanted to see. I’m firmly in the Galopin Des Champs camp against Bob Olinger.

In such a small field hard to get away from the horse who will get an uncontested lead and that is GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. A natural over fences for Willie Mullins this season and he should be very hard to catch.

Alaphilippe ran an eye-catching race in the qualifier at Warwick and was sixth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle last year. Sire Du Berlais is a big danger.

Alaphilippe had a really good run at Warwick last time out in January. His form before that holds up too. He’ll do me in an open race.

Dual winner Sire Du Berlais is back in calmer waters after last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle second to Flooring Porter. Rob James’ 7lb claim puts him right in the mix again.

Folcano qualified early for this race and looks interesting with Jordan Gainford taking 3lbs off. He will do me each-way.

I’ll take a chance with the big-priced THIRD WIND. My hope was fourth in this in 2020 behind the re-opposing Sire du Berlais and loves to run at a strong pace.

Allaho was breath-taking in this contest last year. Irish Gold up winner Conflated rates a bigger danger than Shan Blue.

If Allaho runs anything near like he did last year, that should be more than enough to win again. He has the pace to blow this race apart and put the others under immense pressure. I don’t think that will suit Conflated.

Allaho is one of the bankers of the week and it’s hard to see anything posing a significant problem to last year’s winner of this race. Can give Willie Mullins his fifth win in this contest since 2016.

It will be a massive shock if Allaho gets turned over and I can’t see it happening.

This won’t take long! ALLAHO was outstanding in this race for Willie Mullins last year and there is no reason why he won’t repeat the dose for Paul Townend now. Good win last time and will be very hard to catch.

A few of these like Champ, Klassical Dream, Paisley Park and Flooring Porter have things to prove. Thyme Hill has been kept fresh for this race and could be the answer.

The occasion and the ground will be key for Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream’s chances. The better the ground gets after Wednesday’s downpour, the better the chance of Champ. 

The ultra-consistent Thyme Hill could be the answer. Philip Hobbs’ stable star has very solid Festival form and has been kept fresh and primed for this contest.

Thyme Hill has run well in two previous Festivals and may be the solid option here in a race full of question marks.

I’ve long thought THYME HILL is the one. He’s been laid out for this and stays really strongly which is key.

The Glancing Queen has good form with L’Homme Presse and Oscar Elite and can give Alan King another winner after Edwardstone. Fusil Raffles acts best on better ground if it start to dry up.

The Glancing Queen has impressed over fences this season. She was beaten by L’Homme Presse in the Dipper Chase here last time out, but she can win this.

Lightly raced novice chasers have a good record in this contest and The Glancing Queen can continue the trend on her fourth chase start. The best is yet to come for this mare.

Grand Paradis makes his handicap debut and could be nicely treated off a rating of 145.

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES will be huge odds but might sneak into the frame at least for the Skelton team. He’ll be staying on strongly and loves a decent pace to run at.

Grangee is a backable each-way price. Patrick Mullins is back on board and rode her to win a Punchestown Festival bumper last season.

Dinoblue bolted up at Clonmel but inexperience could catch her out. Brandy Love likes going left so that could help but I’m not sold on her. Party Central is a closer and has a real chance but I’m going to side with Grangee in an each-way punt.

Willie Mullins has seven entries with the once-raced Dinoblue the most likely to bring the prize home after a professional debut to surge clear at Clonmel in January.

A big field will suit Party Central and while she is a bit tricky, she has loads of ability and can be delivered late by Davy Russell.

DINOBLUE will be too good for this lot and be another for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. The mare has only won a small race at Clonmel, but she did it in style scoring by 15 lengths and could be an absolute monster in this grade.

School Boy Hours won the Paddy Power Chase at  Christmas and could still be well treated despite a 9lb hike in the ratings.

I’m a fan of School Boy Hours. He ran a blinder in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December. Derek O’Connor is on board which is always a bonus.

Mister Coffey has made a solid start to his chasing career and races off a very workable mark of 137 in this contest. The step up in trip to 3m 2f could unlock even further improvement.

Mister Fogpatches is extremely consistent and he looks a cracking each-way bet.

COME ON TEDDY is unexposed over fences and might be suited to this test. He’s been third in a Pertemps Final here before and seems to jump fences well enough. Stamina is no issue and could be well handicapped.