Daniel Hussey is here with his Cheltenham Day 3 Preview.
Small improvements as the week goes on and expecting a big day today with a couple of strong fancies.
You don’t have to have a bet in every race at the Cheltenham Festival so just sit back and watch these two magnificent horses go at it.
Sire Du Berlais is a Cheltenham Festival stalwart, winning this race twice in 2019 and 2020 before a good second to Flooring Porter in the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle last year.
It’s unclear whether this has been the plan all year, given he pitched up once again in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, but he has essentially followed the same prep as his win in 2020 heading to the Pertemps Qualifier Warwick.
The handicapper has given him a chance here, only raising him a 1lb from his Irish mark.
With Rob James taking 7lb off, he has to be in the picture here and at 9.0, I still think his Cheltenham form has been underappreciated by the market.
Winter Fog should also go here for Emmet Mullins. Danny Mullins got their too soon in the Pertemps Qualifier in December.
Under a more patient ride here, he could come swinging as they turn for home.
Another no bet race for me as expect Allaho to dominate the race once again. Hard to pick one in the without markets on Matchbook.
I’m plumping for last year’s winner Flooring Porter to regain his Stayers’ Hurdle. Sent off at 13.0 Industry SP (and 16.0 on Matchbook) in 2021, he was very impressive winning going away from Sire Du Berlais.
He had excuses at Christmas given the head-start Paul Townend stole on Klassical Dream, and with the horse freshened up and following the same prep as last year, expect the Gavin Cromwell-trained horse to be bang there at the finish.
The Glancing Queen got given a massive form boost after L’Homme Presse’s Brown Adisory win on Wednesday and she could take all the beating here.
The soft ground should be no problem to her and she is a worthy favourite.
Bet Now
Dinoblue deserves her place at the top of the market here after her dominant display at Clonmel.
However, she is getting short so at the prices, I like Party Central in this race.
I was very impressed with her at the Dublin Racing Festival when winning the Mares Handicap Hurdle.
That was off a mark of 121 so she’ll have to improve for this but under a cold Davy Russell ride, I can see her travelling the best of these.
Frontal Assault has been the ante-post favourite for the Kim Muir and despite the money coming for School Boy Hours, I’m happy enough to stick with him.
Gordon should have him primed for the race and the step-up in trip should suit.
My second swing here is Ain’t That A Shame for Henry De Bromhead. He was well beaten by Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown (losing by 22lbs) but HDB’s horses were out of form in December and given his improvement last time out over 3 miles, this course and distance could bring out a big run.
Double: Sire Du Berlais (NAP) & Flooring Porter (NB)
Subscribe to the Matchbook Betting Podcast here
Subscribe to the Matchbook YouTube Channel here
Check out our Cheltenham YouTube Playlist here
