Cheltenham Tips: Paddy Power’s Thursday Cheat Sheet for day three of the Festival

Day three of the Festival and the team are ready to take us through the best picks.

Two down, two to go – you spend so long wishing Cheltenham would start and then you never want it to stop!

At least there’s still an armful of top racing action still to go in the 2023 staging of the greatest Festival on earth – take that Glasto.

The headline act on Thursday is the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – you’re very welcome, by the way – at 3:30pm, where Flooring Porter is going of a hat-trick of wins having claimed the last two runnings, though Blazing Khal, Teahupoo and Home By The Lee all have claims to his crown, and there’s six other races for your enjoyment too across the afternoon.

THAT’S DAY 3 DONE, FOLKS. BUT DON’T MISS MORE TOP TIPS FOR FRIDAY AT CHELTENHAM:

But who should you be backing? If our band of top pundits can’t get a tune out of the seven-race card no one can. so it’s over to Ruby Walsh, Mick Fitzgerald, Jane Mangan, Matt Chapman and Frank Hickey for their picks in every race.

Just scroll down for their picks in our handy interactive cheat sheet – or click here to download a PDF version – the Milky Bars are on us if they pull out a few winners…

Ruby Walsh

Mick Fitzgerald

Jane Mangan

Matt Chapman

Frank Hickey

Ruby Walsh

MIGHTY POTTER is probably the best horse but I won’t be surprised if Appreciate It (each-way) turns up and gives him a big fright. It looks a match and I’ll even go for the forecast of Mighty Potter to beat Appreciate It.

Mick Fitzgerald

Joseph O’Brien’s BANBRIDGE is two from two at Cheltenham. He won the Martin Pipe Conditionals’ H’cap H’dle last year and that form is very solid.

Jane Mangan

I believe this year’s crop of novice chasers to be a strong group, with Gordon Elliott’s MIGHTY POTTER to be the top of that group. I cannot look past him  to get us off to a flyer.

Matt Chapman

MIGHTY POTTER bombed out badly in the Supreme last year but he’s proved himself a pretty useful chaser this term. He stays well and ultimately was a ready winner of a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time.

Frank Hickey

It’s difficult to get away from MIGHTY POTTER with the only negative being his run at the Festival last year.

Ruby Walsh

I have no opinion here and I’m not going to give you a horse for the sake of giving you a horse. Let’s move on.

Mick Fitzgerald

The faster they go the better he looks and CAPTAIN MORGS has winning form at the track. He looks a good each-way play.

Jane Mangan

My idea of the winner is MAXXUM who has progressed into a proper stayer this season. He might have 11st 12lbs to carry but the fact that connections have decided not to claim off him suggests they have confidence in his ability.

Matt Chapman

It would be great to see the Pipe family back in the big time at Cheltenham and THANKSFORTHEHELP has every chance of doing that. Might be chucked in off 128 after bolting up at Chepstow last time.

Frank Hickey

SALVADOR ZIGGY may have top weight but he has a decent 7lb claimer easing the burden. He is completely unexposed at three miles  and looks to have solid each-way claims.

Ruby Walsh

It looks like it’s SHISHKIN’S race to lose if he’s back to his best.

Mick Fitzgerald

I’m a huge SHISHKIN fan. There’s a concern about the ‘bounce’ factor but I think he can under perform and still win the Ryanair Chase.

Jane Mangan

SHISHKIN let us down last year in the Champion Chase but he had valid excuses. He looked back to near his best at Ascot last time out and the step up in distance will suit.

Matt Chapman

I’m the biggest fan of Shishkin and expect him to take all the beating. As a wager I’ll be having a bit each-way on FURY ROAD for Gordon Elliott. The nine-year-old is owned by the sponsors.

Frank Hickey

SHISHKIN bounced back to his best last time at Ascot and should win if repeating that run. French Dynamite could hit the frame at rewarding odds.

Ruby Walsh

A huge day for Davy Russell and the softer the ground the better his chance on TEAHUPOO. I can’t see the ground drying up enough for Home By The Lee.

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Mick Fitzgerald

HOME BY THE LEE certainly looks the safest option in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle in what is a trappy race. He’s improved in leaps and bounds this season.

Jane Mangan

My vote goes to TEAHUPOO. His Hatton’s Grace performance was top drawer and he proved that the 3 miles trip wasn’t an issue at Gowran Park last time out. A perfect partner for Davy Russell.

Matt Chapman

I’ll stick with hat-trick-seeking defending champion FLOORING PORTER. Although beaten twice this season he comes alive at this track

Frank Hickey

If BLAZING KHAL is 100 per cent fit I fully expect him to take all the beating.

Ruby Walsh

The step up in trip is going to suit Irish raider So Scottish but should suit FRERO BANBOU (each-way) who should also appreciate the ground. 

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Mick Fitzgerald

This looks the perfect opportunity for FRERO BANBOU (each-way) to do just as well as least year when placed in the Grand Annual. Stepping up to 2m 4f shouldn’t be an issue. SO SCOTTISH is the big danger.

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Jane Mangan

SO SCOTTISH was just denied by Boothill at Ascot on his latest run but remains open to further progression for the team that produced The Shunter to win this in 2021.

Matt Chapman

IL RODOTO has at least an each-way chance for the UK champion trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden. A mark of 146 is high enough but he won well at Cheltenham last time and the cheekpieces help.

Frank Hickey

FUGITIF has improved with every start this season. Despite a 6lb rise for his second place to Il Rodoto on Trials day, he’s a decent each-way price.

Ruby Walsh

LOT OF JOY is the win option at the prices but don’t discount Gordon Elliott’s HALKA DU TARBET each-way.

Mick Fitzgerald

Nico de Boinville was very keen on LUCCIA (nap) running in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and that tells you how good they think she is. The New Course puts less pressure on her jumping which is a slight weakness.

Jane Mangan

Nicky Henderson and LUCCIA might stop the might of Mullins on this occasion. This mare was considered for the Supreme Novices Hurdle against the geldings but reverts to her own sex.

Matt Chapman

I’ll be very surprised if LUCCIA doesn’t take all the beating for Nicky Henderson. She hasn’t lost yet and jumped very well at Exeter and Newbury.

Frank Hickey

LOT OF JOY bumped into two good horses on her first two starts over hurdles. Back against mares again, she could take plenty of stopping.

Ruby Walsh

STUMPTOWN was really good at Sandown and he’ll be hard to beat. He’s my nap of the day. 

Mick Fitzgerald

Patrick Mullins rides the top weight MR INCREDIBLE who has some really good back-form. This 3m 2f trip looks tailor-made for him.

Jane Mangan

With the benefit of Barry O’Neill and a workable mark of 135, STUMPTOWN has been my fancy for this race ever since he destroyed a good field at Sandown last month.

Matt Chapman

BEAUPORT has a huge run in a handicap hurdle at Aintree to his name and has been tackling tough novice company over fences. He will relish this trip and has a fine each-way chance.

Frank Hickey

BEAUPORT looks very well handicapped here off a mark of 143 and has decent each-way claims.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR CHELTENHAM DAY 3: LATEST WEATHER UPDATES & GOING | TODAY’S RACECARD AND ULTIMATE GUIDE | TRENDS FOR EVERY RACE ON THURSDAY’S CARD

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