Cheltenham Tips: Paddy Pundits’ Epic Thursday Cheat Sheet for day three of the Festival

I fancy a British winner in this as we swap to the New Course for the next two days. Grey Dawning has solid form.

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.

Facile Vega should appreciate the step up in trip and soft ground will help him show his true ability.

I’m not going to desert Facile Vega. The way Willie Mullins turned around Gaelic Warrior shows you can’t go against his runners.

I fancy Facile Vega. He’s crying out to go up in trip.

Icare Allen is very interesting, there’s more to come from him. Mill Green is consistent and has an each-way chance.

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. Will act on the ground.

Gaoth Chuil has been hugely consistent this season and has a lovely light weight.

I’m hoping my dad’s Gaoth Chuil (each-way) can deliver a third Festival winner for him. She will definitely stay and she can run into the money.

I’m going with Gaoth Chuil. She’s been on form all season.

I am wary of the ground conditions for
Banbridge so if he doesn’t run then Envoi Allen is probably the one to beat.

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.

Capodanno will handle soft ground which will help negate the drop in trip to 2m 5f. There are question marks over plenty of others.

In my opinion, Envoi Allen will win at Cheltenham for a fourth time and Henry de Bromhead’s horses have done brilliantly this week.

Banbridge has got a massive chance, hopefully the ground won’t spoil his chances of running if it gets too soft.

Teahupoo is my fancy. He’s still only a seven-year-old and there is definitely more to come. The key to him performing at his best is that he runs well fresh and he hasn’t run since December.

I like the improving CRAMBO (each-way). 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.

Teahupoo was beaten as a six-year-old last year but is in his prime now and holds the best current form, from the Hattons Grace Hurdle.

Noble Yeats
has a huge chance (each-way) now fitted with headgear. I can’t see him out of the places.

Teahupoo was placed last season and can go a couple of places better now.

Crebilly is ticking a lot of boxes for me as he’s been progressive all season.

SHAKEM UP’ARRY 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.

Irish raider Glengouly could still be unexposed and the drop back in trip will help him.

I like Riaan at a decent each-way price. I was really impressed with his run at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Crebilly has made steady progress all season and could be well handicapped on some of his form.

Brighterdaysahead is a major player, the quality is there for all to see and she’s unbeaten.

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.

Dysart Enos (NOW A NON RUNNER)  could be hard to beat getting weight from Jade De Grugy and Brigherdaysahead who both carry a penalty.

The way Gordon Elliott talks about Brighterdaysahead is infectious. I can’t walk away from Willie Mullins’ Jade De Grugy but maybe I should listen to Gordon!

Jade De Grugy looks more the finished article than market rival Brighterdaysahead.

A tricky amateur jockey’s handicap over 3m 2f to end the card. Henry de Bromhead’s Amirite seems fairly handicapped.

AMIRITE is okay in soft ground and has an each-way chance so the pin falls on him for Henry de Bromhead and 3lb conditional Noel McParlan.  Hasn’t won for a little while but last time was fifth in the Paddy Power Chase when running on well.

Amirite has been around the course and ran well in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas at Leopardstown. This is a drop in class for him.

Inothewayurthinkin is at the top of the market but I have my doubts over the 3m2f distance and his pedigree. Instead, I’ll have two picks and side with Amirite and Where It All Began as each-way plays.

Inothewayurthinkin has been lined up for this race all season and can deliver now.