Cheltenham Festival Day Three predictions: Sixmilebridge can star for O'Brien
Enda McElhinney
Cheltenham Festival Day Three: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
Recommended bets include:
Sixmilebridge to win the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
The action in the Cotswolds continues on Thursday afternoon with the Stayers' Hurdle the feature race over three-miles as we switch across to the New course for days three and four.
Dan Skelton will be aiming to land the feature, while Jonbon's quest for a famous festival win takes him to the Ryanair Chase on this occasion, where he meets odds-on favourite Fact To File defending the crown.
With Bambino Fever a short price in the opening contest, our best bets on day three are avoiding the hotpot races. Here is everything you need to know for Day Three including the day's best bets.
Day 3 – Key info
First race: 1.20pm Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Feature race: 3.20pm Stayers' Hurdle
Cheltenham has been living up to its billing this week with some pulsating finishes for punters to revel in.
They switch to the New course on Thursday and Friday, which is a typically more stamina-based track, and it offers horses a chance to make up plenty ground in the home straight.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Best bet of the day
Sixmilebridge to win the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2.00pm) @ 6/1
Locally-based trainer Fergal O'Brien is still craving his first festival winner and he might just get it with Sixmilebridge. He took his fencing record to 3-3 when winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown and he is still improving. A mark of 150 is within range and he is a course winner over hurdles/fences already.
This was first run as a handicap last year when the classy Caldwell Potter led them a merry dance before winning an Aintree Grade 1. Sixmilebridge may do it the other way around, with a Sandown success already banked.
Best each-way bet of the day
Glengouly each-way in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (5.20pm) @ 40/1
Glengouly made every yard to win at Cheltenham in December over 2m4½f for trainer Faye Bramley. He has been out of sorts since but this is his first run at this sort of trip since joining the yard and he is at his best when allowed to dominate, which is not out of the question in a renewal that lacks many other out-and-out front runners. He could stick at the head of affairs much longer than his odds imply.
Check out the latest information on the Cheltenham Free Bets page
Day 3 acca
We are providing an accumulator suggestion for each day of the Cheltenham Festival and our Day Three treble pays 45/1 with LiveScore Bet.
Bet 1: Sixmilebridge to win the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2:00pm) @ 6/1
Sixmilebridge has already proved himself this season at this track and in Grade 1 company. He is progressing rapidly and can defy a mark of 150 to underscore his talent.
Bet 2: Wodhooh to win the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (2:40pm) @ 4/6
With no Lossiemouth, last year's Martin Pipe winner Wodhooh is seemingly destined to inherit the Mares' crown. She should prove too good for these rivals, many of which she has beaten already this season in Ireland.
Bet 3: Kabral Du Mathan to win the Stayers' Hurdle (3.20pm) @ 3/1
Dan Skelton appeared keen to swerve Cheltenham and wait for Aintree with Kabral Du Mathan but the drying ground has allowed him to give in to temptation. He looks tailor-made for this step up in trip and can emulate the likes of Big Buck's and Flooring Porter by winning this as a six-year-old.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
