Cheltenham Festival Day 3

More good action from Cheltenham yesterday, it wasn’t quite the madness of Tuesday bit still superb viewing. Topofthegame was a 4-1 winner on here whilst Brewin’upastorm rewarded EW support. I didn’t understand the ride given to Min who must have a sore neck this morning, he was strangled by Ruby Walsh and never put in the race. It was a bizarre effort.

Thursday at Cheltenham is always big fields and winners aren’t easy to come by. It’s a day where you can do your conkers.

Lostintranslation can hopefully get the day off to a good start in the JLT at 1:30. Trained by Colin Tizzard, Lostintranslation has a bit of ground to make up on Defi Du Seuil but I’m hopeful he will on this stiffer track that will play to his strengths. It’s a wide-open race but the selection won’t be far away if running to form. A few bookies are going 9-2, he can be backed EW.

It not hard to work out Sire Du Berlais has been laid out for the Pertemps by Gordon Elliott. The horse was seen running on strongly into 6^th place at Leopardstown last time. This was his first start over three miles, Sire Du Berlais wasn’t given a hard time. Fourth in the Martin Pipe last year, this race looks to have been the plan for months. Odds of 9-2 are short for such a race but a big run is expected, he's the one to be on. I’m hoping Aaron Lad, Champers On Ice and Abolitionist all run well for obvious reasons.

Road To Respect is my pick in the Ryanair Chase at 2:50, priced at 9-2 EW. Road To Respect could have ran in the Gold Cup and has been running against the top Irish three milers all season. The last time he was was seen over 2m4, he beat Yorkhill at Fairyhouse. The time before, won the Brown Advisory here at Cheltenham. If Road To Respect still has the pace for this trip, he’ll be staying on very strongly up the Cheltenham hill and could take some passing.

Paisley Park is the very warm favourite for the Stayers Hurdle priced at 7-4. Those odds seems very short in such a race. You could lay Paisley Park and have the likes of Faugheen, Supasundae and Black Op running for you. Paisley Park is no doubt the worthy favourite, but his trainer doesn’t have a great record at the big meetings. He could win easily but at current odds, I have to take him on.

I’ve backed Black Op EW at 14-1. Most bookies are paying 4 places. Black Op was 3^rd behind Paisley Park last time out but hit the front early and perhaps did a bit much too quickly. He only faded after jumping the last. I’m sure Noel Fehily will wait a bit longer today. Black Op looks to have a solid chance of placing and maybe more at decent odds.

Over at Market Rasen, keep an eye out on Big Difference in the 4:25 priced at 5-1. If odds move join in.