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JLT Novices' Chase
Day 3 of the Festival starts with the Grade 1 JLT Chase over 2m4f for the novice chasers, a race which has been farmed by the Willie Mullins stable of late with the notable Irish trainer winning the race the last 3 years in a row.
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WILLOUGHBY COURT, last season’s Neptune winner- a race which is working out well with both the 11th & 12th placed horses subsequently winning Grade 1s. The Paul & Clare Rooney gelding is 2 from 3 over fences this season, with feasible excuses for his sole defeat on heavy ground behind Yanworth at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. A worthy favourite, although trainer Ben Pauling has stated he is not 100% guaranteed to line-up following a foot injury in February. |
INVITATION ONLY has always been highly regarded by Willie Mullins as a future chaser, and the well-bred son of leading NH stallion Flemensfirth is beginning to deliver on that promise.
He won the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown in January and also ran well in defeat in Grade 1 company behind Monalee last month.
As is often the modus operandi for the Mullins team, he is also entered in the Arkle, 4miler, and RSA. However, this race looks tailor-made, and owner Graham Wylie has won this race the last 2 successive seasons with Black Hercules & Yorkhill respectively.
He won the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown in January and also ran well in defeat in Grade 1 company behind Monalee last month.
As is often the modus operandi for the Mullins team, he is also entered in the Arkle, 4miler, and RSA. However, this race looks tailor-made, and owner Graham Wylie has won this race the last 2 successive seasons with Black Hercules & Yorkhill respectively.
BENATAR was just short of top-class over hurdles with a career best in that sphere when coming 4th behind Finian’s Oscar in Aintree Grade 1 novice hurdle at the end of last season.
3/3 over fences this season, Benatar got the better of the aforementioned horse in an Ascot Grade 2 novice chase just before Christmas. Remains an unknown quantity for the Gary Moore team who would love a replacement flag bearer following Sire de Grugy’s retirement in December.
3/3 over fences this season, Benatar got the better of the aforementioned horse in an Ascot Grade 2 novice chase just before Christmas. Remains an unknown quantity for the Gary Moore team who would love a replacement flag bearer following Sire de Grugy’s retirement in December.
Ryanair Chase
The second Grade 1 chase on day 3 is the Ryanair Chase over 2m4f, aimed at those lacking the pace for a Champion Chase and the stamina for a Gold Cup.
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UN DE SCEAUX is already a 2x Cheltenham Festival winner (2015 Arkle & 2017 Ryanair) and the admirable tearaway looked better than ever when winning Grade 1 Clarence House at Ascot in January. Last year’s Ryanair win seemingly put to bed any doubts about his ability to handle good ground, and he looks primed to land an historic hat-trick of Festival victories. |
WAITING PATIENTLY, winner of 7 out of 9 starts under rules, winning all 6 starts over fences for Malcolm Jefferson.
Waiting Patiently secured a win for daughter Ruth Jefferson in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase when beating former Ryanair winner Cue Card in the process. He would undoubtedly be the most emotional winner of the week following the tragic passing of his then trainer Malcolm Jefferson back in February.
Waiting Patiently secured a win for daughter Ruth Jefferson in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase when beating former Ryanair winner Cue Card in the process. He would undoubtedly be the most emotional winner of the week following the tragic passing of his then trainer Malcolm Jefferson back in February.
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CUE CARD, like favourite Un De Scueax, is also a dual Festival winner- having won the 2010 Champion Bumper and then this race back in 2013.
Colin Tizzard’s stalwart, who had fallen in successive Cheltenham Gold Cups, had looked destined for retirement before putting in a rejuvenated display to finish 2nd behind Waiting Patiently at Ascot last month. Sure to have his regular popular following and ante-post double figure prices could look big come Thursday morning of the Cheltenham Festival with this his indefinite target. |
Stayers' Hurdle
The jewel in the crown of day 3 is the Stayers Hurdle, also known as the World Hurdle, a race which is 3miles on the Cheltenham Old Course with 12 flights of hurdles to be jumped by the elite long-distance hurdlers.
SUPASUNDAE- the Coral Cup winner of last season. Jessie Harrington’s charge lowered the colours of former Champion Hurdler Faugheen over 2-miles at Leopardstown in February and has solid enough form over this 3mile trip to justify the trainers decision to come here over renewing rivalries in the Champion Hurdle.
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SAM SPINNER- has been a revelation this season for Jedd O’Keefe, winning a competitive Grade 3 handicap at Haydock in November before winning the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December. The very same route was taken by Thistlecrack who then went on to win this race in 2016. |
YANWORTH's season has not quite gone to plan so far for Alan King, with 4 starts over fences producing mixed results. He suffered a heavy fall at Exeter and was subsequently re-routed to this race by connections.
A dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Yanworth had the beating of favourite Supasundae in Aintree Hurdle in April 2017.
A dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Yanworth had the beating of favourite Supasundae in Aintree Hurdle in April 2017.
PENHILL was the Albert Bartlett winner 12-months ago but has not been since beaten in the Irish equivalent last April. Yard broke their duck in this race with Nichols Canyon landing the spoils last year, but a 300+ day absence is not an ideal preparation for any horse in a Grade 1 contest.
