Cheltenham Day 3 Tips: 7/1 Nap heads Owen’s best bets

The Cheltenham Festival invariably writes the most special of stories and Wednesday was no different as Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, whom the late Michael O'Sullivan rode to victory in the Supreme and Fred Winter respectively on the opening day in 2023, won this year's Champion Chase and Grand Annual in under an hour. 

Emotions could be running high again on Thursday as Michael's brother Alan rides the current favourite in the Kim Muir, who features in my Cheltenham Day 3 tips alongside a 7/1 Nap.

13:20 - Karoline Banbou @ 7/1

There's a case to be made for most of the 24 runners in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, but my vote is for KAROLINE BANBOU.

Coming into the season, there was significant confidence behind Willie Mullins' daughter of No Risk At All, purchased from France after winning a Grade 3 bumper and finishing runner-up at the highest level in November 2023.

She was backed into 1/2f for a highly-competitive mares' maiden at Naas on her jumping debut in mid-December, but was headed by stablemate Baby Kate in the final strides. Her jumping left a lot to be desired, though, and perhaps she needed the run more than the market suggested.

The five-year-old improved plenty in the 51 days between that and her easy victory at Fairyhouse last month. She made all under a motionless Mark Walsh to see off stablemate Place De La Nation - an outsider for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday. I'm certain she'd have beaten Gordon Elliott's Swing Davis, who fell two out, just as easily and she bolted up by over eight lengths at Navan next time out.

She's still very much in the 'could be anything' bracket and at the prices, she's well worth chancing to land Thursday's opener.

14:00 - Nurburgring @ 6/1

In the last week or so, I've come around to NURBURGRING in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase.

His awarded mark of 143 is nonsensical on what he's achieved in three starts over fences this season, but it looks very attractive on his seven-length Galway Hurdle victory off just four pounds lower.

The suspicion is Joseph O'Brien, an outstanding target trainer, has had this race in mind all year and we're going to see a vastly-improved performance on Thursday.

He's fancied to beat the likes of Firefox, Springwell Bay and Answer To Kayf who I don't think hold any secrets on the handicapper.

14:40 - Feet Of A Dancer each-way @ 8/1

Paul Nolan won the Pertemps Final with a mare in 2021 and there's a good chance he does so again four years later with FEET OF A DANCER.

The six-year-old daughter of Authorized ran solid races behind the likes of Jetara (rated 146 and fourth in the Mares' Hurdle on Tuesday) and Lot Of Joy (135) at the start of term before finishing third in her Qualifier at Leopardstown over Christmas.

She travelled extremely well that day and probably traded quite short in running, hitting the front at around the two-furlong pole under a confident-looking Sean O'Keefe, but she was picked up after the last by the reopposing Win Some Lose Some and another rival.

To my eye, she was coming back a bit at the line, so I think she'll absolutely relish the extra half a furlong on Cheltenham's testing New Course.

The selection is seven pounds better off with the shorter-priced Win Some Lose Some on Thursday and I fancy that form to be reversed.

It's of course a deep enough race - so my selection for this Super Extra Place Race (6 available instead of 4) is an each-way one - but her claims are as good as any as far as I'm concerned.

Selected race(s). Applies to Each Way, Single & Multiple bets only. Best Odds Guaranteed & Antepost bets do not apply. Min. runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

15:20 - Il Est Francais @ 3/1

IL EST FRANCAIS made a believer out of me in the King George on Boxing Day, despite the fact he was ultimately chinned by Banbridge late on, and I fancy his chances in the Ryanair.

When on a going day, Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm's seven-year-old is an exceptional jumper of a fence, which was very much on show over Christmas.

He's almost certain to make the running and try to jump his eight rivals silly. He's done it many times in France, as a novice at Kempton in 2023 and almost pulled it off in the King George.

I think three miles just stretched him there. Down to an extended 2m4f, he could be very hard to peg back if getting a lead and if his jumping holds up.

Fact To File is a formidable opponent and I'm a fan of Henry de Bromhead's duo Heart Wood (tipped at 25/1 antepost) and Jungle Boogie, but the best bet as far as I'm concerned is the French horse.

Selection must finish 2nd in selected race(s). Win singles & win part of E/W bets only. Cash within 24 hours, max £10. Min runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

16:00 - The Wallpark @ 5/1

I'm one of Teahupoo's biggest fans and he remains the one to beat in the Stayers' Hurdle after winning it last year before landing the Irish version at the Punchestown Festival a couple months later. His second to Lossiemouth over an inadequate trip on lively ground in the Hatton's Grace back in December hardly looks bad now, either.

However, I'm very wary of his stablemate THE WALLPARK. Why is he running here and not the Pertemps? I've thought he was a certainty to contest the latter all season.

I understand the seven-year-old son of Ask has been impressing at home and reading between the lines I see that as a bit of a negative for the champ.

Not only that, but he's entitled to be given every chance in this race after winning four on the spin between July-October last year, culminating in a career-best victory at the track - but on the Old course - in a Qualifier, giving four pounds and a beating to Cleeve Hurdle hero Gowel Road.

Then, just before Christmas, he was an eye-catching fourth in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, coming from towards rear to finish a staying-on fourth. I think he's a good bit better than the bare result.

Only seven years old, there's every chance of further improvement and he's a very fair price to put it up to his stablemate.

16:40 - Thecompanysergeant (Nap) @ 7/1

My Nap for Day 3 is Gavin Cromwell's THECOMPANYSERGEANT in the Plate. In fact, he's one of my best bets of the entire Festival.

This time last year, the son of Kayf Tara was runner-up to Willie Mullins' 146-rated Mister Policeman in a Grade 3 at Thurles, before a career-best fourth in the G1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, getting within six lengths of the 165-rated Spillane's Tower. In second was Tactical Move (145) and Blood Destiny (152) was third.

He failed to run to that level - around the 145 mark in my book - in his next six starts for Denis Gerard Hogan, and then joined Cromwell's operation in November.

He was given a spin over the smaller obstacles at Navan a couple months later and fared very well under the circumstances, and now he reverts back to chasing with Festival aspirations.

I was really encouraged by his return to action and first run for Cromwell, who's been full of praise for his new recruit in the build-up to this week. That makes me think he's him back to his best.

If he has, then I believe he's extremely well-handicapped off 139 - essentially 136 when you factor in Conor Stone-Walsh's valuable three-pound claim.

I don't think this is a particularly strong renewal of the Plate either, so it's fair to say my hopes are quite high about this one.

17:20 - Walking On Air @ 9/2

Last but not least, I'm backing WALKING ON AIR to bring the house down (again) in the Kim Muir.

Gary Brown's eight-year-old will be ridden by Alan O'Sullivan, brother of the late Michael, in the amateur jockeys' handicap chase over 3m2f and it's fair to say there wouldn't be a more popular winner all week.

I think the eight-year-old son of Walk In The Park, previously trained by Nicky Henderson, has a mighty chance.

He showed little in his first three starts for new connections, dropping from a mark of 137 to 125, but bounced back to form at Doncaster last time out in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase, looking booked for victory before falling at the final fence.

Given The Changing Man, who's since won a Grade 2 and finished second in the Ultima here on Tuesday, that looks a very strong piece of form.

The selection has been raised only four pounds to a mark of 129, which looks very lenient if he's anything like back to his best. He was fifth in a Pertemps Final off 138 and just six starts ago was second to a 126-rated Henry's Friend over the bigger stuff. That horse is 19lbs higher today.

With O'Sullivan, who's ridden his fair share of winners between the flags in preparation for today, taking five pounds off his back, he's a great bet.

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