heltenham Festival continues today with another intriguing afternoon of action on day three at Prestbury Park.
Plenty will fancy their chances in the feature race of the day, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, as Flooring Porter looks to win it for a second year in a row.
Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger go toe-to-toe in the Turners Novices Chase to kick off the day, in what should be an electric opening race.
Willie Mullins got three winners on day two and is fancied to continue adding to his tally, with Allaho an odds-on favourite in the Ryanair Chase.
On day two, Shishkin was primed to shine in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but he never got going and it was Mullins who got his first win in the race as Energumene powered home in style.
There was also the small matter of Tiger Roll – he produced an incredibly brave run in unfavourable conditions but was run down by Delta Work as he finished second in the Glenfarclas Chase and his retirement was confirmed.
Scroll down for Standard Sport’s comprehensive preview of the rest of the festival…
Cheltenham Festival 2021 – In pictures
Date, time and venue
​The Cheltenham Festival got underway on Tuesday, March 15 and will continue until Friday, March 18.
​Cheltenham Racecourse, Prestbury Park is the venue, the track being within walking distance of the town itself.
​There will be seven races per day, with the first going off at 1:30pm GMT and the last at 5:30pm. The feature race is staged at 3:30pm each day. For individual race times, check the full schedule below.
Tips
Johnny Ward’s Thursday’s selections
- 1:30 – Bob Olinger
- 2:10 – Winter Fog
- 2:50 – Allaho
- 3:30 – Flooring Porter
- 4:10 – Grand Paradis
- 4:50 – Mighty Blue
- 5:30 – Rightplacerightime
You can read Johnny’s full tipping piece here.
Weather and going
The going description at the track on Wednesday was changed to heavy, after the rain continued to pour down.
Thursday’s weather forecast is for drier conditions with temperatures at around 14 degrees.
Schedule and results
All times GMT. ​Feature race at 3:30pm each day.
Thursday schedule
|
1:30pm |
Turners Novices’ Chase |
|
2:10pm |
Pertemps Network Final |
|
2:50pm |
Ryanair Chase |
|
3:30pm |
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle |
|
4:10pm |
Paddy Power Plate |
|
4:50pm |
Mares Novices’ Hurdle |
|
5:30pm |
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup |
Friday schedule
|
1:30pm |
JCB Triumph Hurdle |
|
2:10pm |
County Handicap Hurdle |
|
2:50pm |
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle |
|
3:30pm |
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup |
|
4:10pm |
St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup |
|
4:50pm |
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase |
|
5:30pm |
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle |
Wednesday results
|
1:30pm |
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle |
|
1 Sir Gerhard (IRE) Paul Townend 8/11 |
|
|
2 Three Stripe Life (IRE) Davy Russell 8/1 |
|
|
3 Whatdeawant (IRE) Danny Mullins 18/1 |
|
|
2:10pm |
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase |
|
1 L’Homme Presse (FR) Charlie Deutsch 9/4 |
|
|
2 Ahoy Senor (IRE) Derek Fox 4/1 |
|
|
3 Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR) Paul Townend 11/1 |
|
|
2:50pm |
Coral Cup Hurdle |
|
1 Commander Of Fleet (IRE) Shane Fitzgerald 50/1 |
|
|
2 Fastorslow (FR) Darragh O’Keeffe 18/1 |
|
|
3 Ashdale Bob (IRE) Jack Foley 14/1 |
|
|
4 Camprond (FR) Aidan Coleman (10/1) |
|
|
3:30pm |
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase |
|
1 Energumene (FR) Paul Townend 5/2 |
|
|
2 Funambule Sivola (FR) Charlie Deutsch 40/1 |
|
|
3 Envoi Allen (FR) Rachael Blackmore 10/1 |
|
|
4:10pm |
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase |
|
1 Delta Work (FR) Jack Kennedy 5/2 |
|
|
2 Tiger Roll (IRE) Davy Russell 3/1 |
|
|
3 Plan Of Attack (IRE) Darragh O’Keeffe 25/1 |
|
|
4:50pm |
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase |
|
1 Global Citizen (IRE) Kielan Woods 28/1 |
|
|
2 Andy Dufresne (IRE) Mark Walsh 100/30 |
|
|
3 Frero Banbou (FR) Charlie Deutsch 6/1 |
|
|
4 Editeur Du Gite (FR) Joshua Moore 15/2 |
|
|
5:30pm |
Wetherbys Champion Bumper |
|
1 Facile Vega (IRE) Mr P W Mullins 15/8 |
|
|
2 American Mike (IRE) Mr J J Codd 5/2 |
|
|
3 James’s Gate (IRE) Sean O’Keeffe 16/1 |
|
|
4 Seabank Bistro (IRE) Brian Hayes 18/1 |
Tuesday results
|
1:30pm |
Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle result |
|
1 Constitution Hill Nico de Boinville 9/4 |
|
|
2 Jonbon (FR) Aidan Coleman 5/1 |
|
|
3 Kilcruit (IRE) Mr P W Mullins 6/1 |
|
|
2:10pm |
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy result |
|
1 Edwardstone Tom Cannon 5/2 |
|
|
2 Gabynako (FR) Keith Donoghue 25/1 |
|
|
3 Blue Lord (FR) Paul Townend 4/1 |
|
|
2:50pm |
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase |
|
1 Corach Rambler (IRE) Derek Fox 10/1 |
|
|
2 Gericault Roque (FR) Tom Scudamore 9/1 |
|
|
3 Oscar Elite (IRE) Harry Cobden 22/1 |
|
|
4 Tea Clipper (IRE) Stan Sheappard 12/1 |
|
|
3:30pm |
Unibet Champion Hurdle |
|
1 Honeysuckle Rachael Blackmore 8/11 |
|
|
2 Epatante (FR) Aidan Coleman 16/1 |
|
|
3 Zanahiyr (IRE) Jack Kennedy 28/1 |
|
|
4:10pm |
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle |
|
1 Marie’s Rock (IRE) Nico de Boinville 18/1 |
|
|
2 Queens Brook (IRE) Jack Kennedy 4/1 |
|
|
3 Mrs Milner (IRE) B J Cooper 14/1 |
|
|
4:50pm |
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle |
|
1 Brazil (IRE) Mark Walsh 10/1 |
|
|
2 Gaelic Warrior (GER) Paul Townend 13/8 |
|
|
3 Bell Ex One (IRE) Harry Cobden 28/1 |
|
|
4 HMS Seahorse (IRE) B J Cooper 8/1 |
|
|
5:30pm |
Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup |
|
1 Stattler (IRE) Mr P W Mullins 2/1 |
|
|
2 Run Wild Fred (IRE) Mr J J Codd 15/8 |
|
|
3 Vanillier (FR) Mr Derek O’Connor 11/4 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup odds
- A Plus Tard 3/1
- Galvin 3/1
- Minella Indo 9/2
- Protektorat 15/2
- Al Boum Photo 10/1
- Tornado Flyer 12/1
- Chantry House 16/1
- Royale Pagaille 16/1
*Odds provided by Betfair, NRNB market, correct as of Tuesday, March 15.
Contents