Cheltenham Tips: Matt Chapman’s best bets for day three on Thursday

Matt's on the hunt for winners on St Patrick's Thursday and like the look of Le Milos for some tasty odds in the 14:10.

Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips

13.30 Grey Dawning
14.10 Le Milos
14.50 Protektorat (each-way)
15.30 Crambo
16.10 Shaken Uparry (each-way)
16.50 Brighterdaysahead
17.30 Amirite (each-way)

*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.

13.30 Grey Dawning

Day 3 of Cheltenham 2024 gets underway with the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles. Now the mud has come I’m all over GREY DAWNING for the team of jockey Harry and trainer Dan Skelton. This grey has always had plenty of talent and looked good as a hurdler at Warwick in heavy.

He was back at that track last time when hacking up from Apple Away and he looks primed to run a huge one here in conditions that will bring his stamina to play. I think he can reverse his December Cheltenham form with Ginny’s Destiny where he was giving 3lb.

14.10 Le Milos

A big betting race in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle over three miles. Could LE MILOS be well handicapped? He’s on 142 here and was second at Kelso in a chase in March last year off 152. Remember this is a horse who has scored in heavy and won the race once known as the Hennessy at Newbury. He stays and could surprise a few for trainer Dan and jockey Harry Skelton.

14.50 Protektorat (each-way)

The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs. If the Skelton crew have a bad day so will I! I’m thinking if his breathing allows him – always been a little problem – PROTEKTORAT has a cracking each-way chance for trainer Dan and jockey Harry Skelton. Rated 165 he’s bang in the mix and he’s not been disgraced behind Shishkin and L’Homme Presse this term. The mud will help him and he really should have place claims. Remember he was fifth in last year’s Gold Cup, not far behind Conflated.

15.30 Crambo

This is just huge. The Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles. A cracking field and one of the races of the meeting. I like the improving CRAMBO for Fergal O’Brien and Jonathan Burke. My selection should be unbeaten this season having been unlucky when third at Haydock. Since then he has defeated Paisley Park at Ascot but, most importantly, is back on watery ground which he hasn’t had since loving heavy at Sandown in March last year. A cracking chance to get in the frame at the very least.

16.10 Shaken Uparry (each-way)

Now the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs. SHAKEM UPARRY loves soft ground and won really well at the track last time. He’s up 3lb for that but in these conditions that might not stop him. He’s relatively lightly raced and stays very well. An each-way chance for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.

16.50 Brighterdaysahead

Grade 2 fair now in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over 2m1f. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD has been a talking horse and all we have to hope is that she’s not another Samcro! The mare is the apple of trainer Gordon Elliott’s eye and looks very special indeed, jumping for fun last time at Navan. Jack Kennedy is on top and in what looks like a cracking heat she will take all the beating.

17.30 Amirite (each-way)

Day 3 closes with the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup over three and a quarter miles. This bus really tough. AMIRITE is OK in soft ground and is not in bad form so the pin falls with him for Henry de Bromhead and 3lb conditional Noel McParlan. My selection hasn’t won for a little while but last time was fifth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and when running on well and before that was fourth at Cheltenham when his saddle slipped. He has an each-way chance.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips

13.30 Grey Dawning
14.10 Le Milos
14.50 Protektorat (each-way)
15.30 Crambo
16.10 Shaken Uparry (each-way)
16.50 Brighterdaysahead
17.30 Amirite (each-way)

*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.

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