Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Cheltenham day 3 tips & preview
You’re reading the Horsebetting.com guide to St Patrick’s Thursday, the penultimate day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. This contains our top Cheltenham day 3 tips with insight into all the big races at the premier National Hunt horse racing event of the season.
The Marsh Novices’ Chase which begins St Patrick’s Thursday at 1:20 features the banker of the entire meeting in ENVOI ALLEN. An unbeaten horse and dual Cheltenham winner, this has been his target all season, so looking past him is very difficult.
Envoi Allen isn’t a type that bolts up in races, but does enough for victory. It’s the sign of a very intelligent horse. There’s no real case against him, because major opposition runs elsewhere at the Festival.
The Pertemps Final at 1:55 is the end of a series of staying handicap hurdles. Like all the Cheltenham handicaps, this is fiendishly competitive but COME ON TEDDY brings course form to the table. Trained locally by Tom George, he defeated the thriving On The Blind Side at this track two starts ago. He is well worth considering each-way, then.
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Ryanair Chase ace and could be race of Festival
In a wide-open renewal of the Ryanair Chase at 2:30, you can make a case for many runners. Willie Mullins trio Allaho, last year’s winner Min and Melon all have claims on the pick of their form.
Fellow Irish raiders Fakir D’Oudairies and Samcro are in with chances too. The best of British for this include previous Festival winner IMPERIAL AURA, trained very close to Cheltenham at Kim Bailey’s stables.
Last year’s runner-up Saint Calvados and Peterborough Chase scorer Mister Fisher are both worth considering too. If Imperial Aura gets over his fall at Kempton and resumes the excellent progress he made in 2020, then he could be the one to beat.
Stayers’ Hurdle another highlight
Next in our Cheltenham day 3 tips is a look at the Stayers’ Hurdle at 3:05 where PAISLEY PARK bids to win back the crown. A superb success story of 2018-19, he flopped when trying to follow-up on that unbeaten campaign in this race last season.
However, Paisley Park has since been treated for a fibrillating heartbeat. He returned to the track with a fine second behind Thyme Hill conceding weight and then reversed form off level terms in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Paisley Park looked beaten turning for home, but showed tremendous stamina and dug in to get up and win in gutsy style.
It highlighted all his ability is still there. Paisley Park faces new dangers in Irish trio Flooring Porter, Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller, however. He but may well beat them all. Paisley Park looks sure to give a better account of himself this time around now back to his best.
Dawn Run yet another wide-open contest
In the Dawn Run Novice Hurdle for mares at 4:15 later on, run under the sponsorship of Parnell Properties, SKYACE looks a great each-way bet. She looks like one that got away from Mullins and really delivered for current trainer Shark Hanlon in the autumn.
Given a winter break to freshen up, Skyace defied a Grade 3 penalty when following-up at Listed level around Punchestown. Using Global Equity as a form marker, she should have the beating of Gauloise and Roseys Hollow.
Hook Up may be the best of the Mullins mounts here. She drops down in grade and goes back against her own sex. Our Cheltenham day 3 preview suggests a watching brief for the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase and Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
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