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Cheltenham Festival Best Bets Thursday 14th March 2024. Get expert insights, race previews, and secure £1000s in Free Bets
Feel the excitement build as we step into day 3 at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, the pinnacle of jump racing that enthrals both enthusiasts and bettors. We’re here to guide you through Stayers Hurdle day with our comprehensive Trends, Race Previews, and Best Bets.
As bookmakers unveil their most generous deals for the festival, seize the opportunity to amplify your betting game. Whether aiming to secure thousands in Free Bets or venturing into new betting realms with bookmakers you’re yet to explore, rest assured, we’re here to support every step of your betting adventure for the big races like the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
We will take a theoretical 20pts betting bank each day which can be converted to stakes your comfortable with for example £10 per point will be using £200.
| Time | Horse and Bet |
|---|---|
| 1:30 Cheltenham | Iroko 11/2 2pt win – Le Patron 50/1 0.5pt each way |
| 2:10 Cheltenham | Gaoth Chuil 2pt win 9/1 – Prairie Dancer 33/1 0.75pt each way 6p |
| 2:50 Cheltenham | Envoi Allen 2pt win 9/2 |
| 3:30 Cheltenham | Teahupoo 7/4 2pt win win double*- Paisley Park 0.5pt each way 14/1 4p |
| 4:10 Cheltenham | Crebilly 4/1 2pt win- Shakem Up’arry 10/1 1pt win – Fighter Allen 40/1 0.75pt each way 5p |
| 4:50 Cheltenham | Brighterdaysahead win double* |
| 5:30 Cheltenham | Inottewayurthinkin 2pt win 4/1 – Bowtogreatness 14/1 1pt win – Daily Present 14/1 1pt win |
Facile Vega (IRE) finished second to Marine Nationale in last year’s Supreme. He won easily on his Navan chase debut in November but has been beaten twice in 2m Grade 1s at Leopardstown since then. Despite bungling the last in his latest outing, where he finished 3¼ lengths third to stablemate Il Etait Temps, he is now up in trip.
Ginny’s Destiny (IRE) was a useful hurdler for Tom Lacey and has quickly found success over fences for his new yard, completing a course hat-trick in a 21f handicap in January. In his second victory, he beat Grey Dawning by ¾ length, although he received 3 lb from Dan Skelton’s 7-year-old. He is a good jumper and shouldn’t be far away.
Grey Dawning (IRE) was a Grade 2 hurdle winner last term and has transitioned well to fences, winning a 21.5f Haydock graduation event and a 3m Warwick Grade 2. In his most recent outing, he went down by ¾ length to Ginny’s Destiny but conceded 3 lb and blundered 2 out. There are reasons to believe he can turn the tables.
Iroko completed a hat-trick of handicap hurdle victories in the Martin Pipe at this meeting. He resumed with an easy chasing debut success in a 2½m novice at Warwick in November. Although off since then, he could prove to be really smart over fences.
Le Patron (FR) won his first 3 starts over fences, with his best performance coming when taking the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown (2m) in December. However, he lost his unbeaten chasing record with a bit of a whimper in the Scilly Isles back there 40 days ago. Will need to return to earlier form but has scope still and could feature at huge odds.
Gaoth Chuil (IRE) is a progressive mare who won a traditionally-competitive 23f handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in December. She took another step forward when finishing as the runner-up in a similar event there last month, hindering her chance with a last-flight error. She is one to keep on the right side of.
Prairie Dancer (IRE), a three-time hurdles winner in 2022/23 who also bagged a decent pot on the level in October. Not seen out since qualifying for this with a good third in a 25f Carlisle handicap in December, Prairie Dancer lurks on a very fair mark and is one to consider.
Stage Star (IRE): This horse won the Grade 1 Golden Miller at the 2023 Festival and continued his good form with a victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here on reappearance in November. He likely wasn’t right when pulled up back here on New Year’s Day but is expected to bounce back given his good overall record at the course.
Envoi Allen (FR): Envoi Allen secured a third Festival success when defeating Shishkin in this race 12 months ago. He returned to that level of form when finishing neck second of 4 to Gerri Colombe in the 3m Down Royal Grade 1 in November. He has been kept fresh for this race since then.
Banbridge (IRE): This horse won the Martin Pipe at the 2022 Festival and continued his success with a Grade 2 novice chase win in November of that year. He rounded off last season with a Grade 1 novice win at Aintree and returned to beat Pic d’Orhy in the Kempton Grade 2 in January. While he has solid form claims, the soft ground may not be ideal for him.
Crambo: This horse has progressed through the ranks over hurdles and had Dashel Drasher and Champ behind when edging out Paisley Park in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (24.4f, good) 82 days ago. He will need to step up again to beat the best of the Irish, but it’s entirely possible given his unexposed form at 3m.
Flooring Porter (IRE): A front-runner who won this race in 2021 and 2022. While he couldn’t complete the hat-trick 12 months ago, he still ran his best race of the season to finish fourth (3½ lengths behind Sire du Berlais). Not performing as well over fences this term, so it’s no surprise to see him back for another crack at this.
Noble Yeats (IRE): A top-class chaser who won the 2022 Grand National. He was only having his third career start over hurdles when narrowly beating the penalised Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 47 days ago. He needs more improvement here but has plenty of scope given his chase form, making him an interesting contender.
Paisley Park (IRE): A veteran stayer showing no signs of slowing down, narrowly beaten in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle, and the Cleeve Hurdle over C&D this term. His record in this race reads 17337, indicating his consistency and competitiveness.
Sire Du Berlais (FR): A grand servant and 3-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, including winning this race 12 months ago. While he should be sharper for his belated comeback run at Navan, no 12-year-old has won this race. However, given his track record, he cannot be dismissed lightly.
Sir Gerhard (IRE): The leading novice hurdler of the 2021/22 campaign and a smart novice chaser last term. He was closing in second when falling heavily 2 out in a Grade 3 chase at Naas on return but showed no ill effects when landing odds back hurdling at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. Unproven beyond 21f but still a strong contender.
Teahupoo (FR): A high-class hurdler who was a close third in this race last year when favourite. He was better than ever when securing back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on return in December. Kept fresh for this, he has a strong record when returning from an absence of 3 months or longer, and a huge run is expected.
Crebilly (IRE): A progressive novice hurdler who was showing promising form before falling on his return/chase debut here in November. He made mistakes when fourth behind Ginny’s Destiny over C&D next time but got off the mark in a 3-runner Exeter novice (19.2f) 32 days ago. He’s the type to do even better now back handicapping.
Shakem Up’arry (IRE): Finished an excellent third in this race 12 months ago and returned better than ever this campaign. He confirmed the positives of his sixth-place finish in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury when winning a C&D handicap on New Year’s Day from Frero Banbou, jumping superbly. He should give another good account, nudged up 3 lb.
Fighter Allen (FR): A useful chaser who ended his time with Willie Mullins with success in a small-field minor event at Sligo (21.2f) in September. He changed hands for 21,000 gns a month later and underwent wind surgery. Jumping is the concern but that is factored into the price and is one at a price
Brighterdaysahead (FR): Unbeaten in 2 bumpers, including a valuable sales race at Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival, and also 3 from 3 over hurdles. He took a big step forward to land a Grade 3 at Down Royal in November before following up in bloodless fashion at Navan. Open to further improvement and boasts excellent claims.
Jade De Grugy (FR): She won her sole outing in bumpers in France and has been most impressive in winning both her starts over hurdles for a new yard, including the Grade 3 Solerina at Fairyhouse (18f, heavy) last time. An exciting prospect who warrants the utmost respect.
Dysart Enos (IRE): He won all 3 bumper outings, including a Grade 2 in decisive fashion at Aintree in April. Also unbeaten in a trio of novice hurdles, scoring in an excellent time over C&D in December before completing a simple task at Doncaster. A major player with better still to come.
Inothewayurthinkin (IRE): A useful hurdler who has shown better form over fences this season. He delivered an excellent third-place finish to Gaelic Warrior in the Faugheen Novices’ Chase at Limerick before not being pushed after a first-fence blunder, finishing ninth of 25 in a 2m5f Leopardstown handicap last month. He’s one to be interested in with O’Connor booked.
Bowtogreatness (IRE): Dual hurdle winner in 2021/22. Yet to score over fences but recorded his best effort of the season when third of 12 to Forward Plan in a handicap chase at Kempton (24f, soft) 19 days ago. The yard is among the winners, but he does flatter to deceive a touch.
Daily Present (IRE): A useful winner at 22f over hurdles. Tongue tied and left previous chasing efforts well behind when switched to a handicap, scoring at Down Royal (3m) in January. Lacks experience but progressive and connections catch the eye.