Cheltenham Festival Day 3

Cheltenham day 2 was again very enjoyable, it helped to have a good bet on Bob Olinger who was super impressive. He looks very smart and will be a big name over the coming years.

The Champion Chase was a disappointing race, the winning time was slower than the Grand Annual whilst runners finished in a heap. Chacun Pour Soi wasn’t at his best but from a punting point of view, backing Put The Kettle at 8-1 made it a bit more interesting.

Monkfish got the job done, there was a few scary moments with the loose horse, but he won easy enough in the end. Sir Gerhard won the bumper or stole it with a good ride from Rachael Blackmore. Kilcruit should have won and did get backed into odds on. Sir Gerhard won despite things going against him. Sign of a good horse.

The Thursday of Cheltenham I’ve found over the years is the most difficult. I’ll run through the races, but it’s a day when I don’t go mad and look for some big priced horses for a bit of fun.

Envoi Allen should get the big hitters off to a good start. Word has it, the horse didn’t settle very well into his new home, but we’ll wait and see. There’s some EW value in the race as something has to finish second.

I can see Shan Blue popping out and setting a good pace under Harry Skelton. Shan Blue got stuck in the mud last time out, today’s quicker ground will be right up his street. Shan Blue might a get an easy lead, he’s a grand jumper and can hopefully grab a place at worst. 11-1 EW. Another option is to take the 11-8 for a place.

The Ryanair looks to be one of the races of the week. I would want to back five horses and still might not find the winner, I’m sitting it out.

This time last year, Lisnagar Oscar gave us a huge 66-1 winner on here. I know he paid for a new car for one reader. I don’t see any reason why Lisnagar Oscar can’t run well again. He’s coming back to form after a wind operation, will be fine on the ground and should give his running. Not quite 66-1 this year but 10-1 EW will do.

We’ve seen front runners do well over the past couple of days, good horses don’t stop on nice ground. At huge odds and going with the same type of thoughts as per Shan Blue, I’m hoping Magic Daze in the Mares’ Novice priced at 22-1 can outrun her odds. She’ll pop out, keep galloping and looks unexposed. Her previous win was very good.

A steady day on what’s normally the most tough of the Festival. If one or two of the above could grab a place that would do nicely.