Following two days of classic Cheltenham Festival racing, the third day of action is officially here, with several eye-catching horses set to take to the course.
On Tuesday, Honeysuckle rounded out an incredible career with a fitting send-off by emerging victorious in the Mares’ Hurdle, while Constitution Hill lived up to the billing as a potential ‘horse of his generation’ with a nine-length win in the Champion Hurdle.
Wednesday saw Energumene deliver a historic Festival display to romp to glory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Furthermore, Delta Work got the better of Galvin in the Cross Country Chase to defend his title after winning the race in 2022 as well.
The third day of racing promises to be equally as memorable, with Mighty Potter and Shishkin going into the day expected to continue the theme of favourites winning. However, both horses ultimately failed to live up to the hype. Mighty Potter immediately let down punters with a third-place finish in the opening race of the day as Stage Star stole the show to romp to victory after leading from the start. Shishkin was then beaten to the punch by Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase after several jumping mistakes throughout the race.
TODAY’S RESULTS:
16:10 Magners Plate Handicap Chase:
25/1 outsider Seddon cruised to victory in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase beating out Fugitif to hand a landmark win for Ben Harvey.
It was the jockey’s first ever win at the Cheltenham Festival after he kept close to the leaders throughout before putting his neck into the lead after the penultimate hurdle. He held off the challenge from Fugitif to the joy of Harvey.
Coole Cody and So Scottish had led them through the opening stages, with the former holding first place until the challenge from Seddon arrived. Shakem Up’arry finished in third place.
🇮🇪 Another Irish-trained winner – Seddon strikes in the @MagnersUK Plate Handicap Chase for @McConnellRacing & Ben Harvey#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/JnX1OfGSdP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
15:30 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle:
Sire Du Berlais shocked the field in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle as he turned on the pace in the final stages to claim victory for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Mark Walsh jumped perfectly on the final hurdle and stormed past outsider Dashel Drasher on the run to the finish line to secure victory for a horse who had odds of 33/1 before the race.
Sire Du Berlais had to battle to come through the field to add a Stayers’ Hurdle win to his two Pertemps victories at the Cheltenham Festival, a feat he managed to accomplish with aplomb.
Flooring Porter had led from the start, but was unable to last until the finish, with pre-race favourite Teahupoo eventually coming home to finish third. However, there will be a stewards investigation into Dashel Drasher and Teahupoo for their scuffle in the final few metres.
The #CheltenhamFestival specialist does it again! Sire Du Berlais runs out a 33/1 winner of the G1 Stayers’ Hurdle under Mark Walsh for @gelliott_racing
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
🏆 2023: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
🏆 2020: Pertemps Final
🏆 2019: Pertemps Final pic.twitter.com/k6PCJD6FaQ
14:50 – Ryanair Chase:
Envoi Allen sealed a famous victory in the Ryanair Chase after odds-on favourite Shishkin made several jumping blunders to leave it too late to charge down Rachael Blackmore.
Shishkin, who went into the race with odds of 1/1, was unconvincing over several hurdles and Blackmore’s decision to capitalise on Shishkin’s error in the run-in paid off to give Envoi Allen a history win. It means the horse has now won on the flat (Bumper), over fences (Ballymore) and over hurdles (Ryanair) at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nico De Boinville was able to recover well and guide Shishkin to a second-place finish, but it ultimately failed to live up to expectations. Hitman finished third.
Envoi Allen wins the Ryanair! 🏆
— Coral (@Coral) March 16, 2023
That’s wins on the flat, over fences & hurdles (Bumper, Ballymore & Ryanair)!
The #CheltenhamFestival crowd has been stunned by that result.
Were you disappointed by Shishkin’s run? 😳pic.twitter.com/2x5kwouSGq
14:10: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle – Winner: Good Time Jonny
Good Time Jonny came through the pack after the final fence to romp to victory in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle to hand Tony Martin and Liam McKenna a brilliant win.
Jockey McKenna even had time to celebrate before crossing the finish line after he burst away from those chasing, with eight horses covered by just three lengths behind him.
Salvador Ziggy pipped the rest to second place, with Mill Green in third and 40/1 outsider Green Book ending the race in fourth. Walking On Air, ridden by Nico De Boinville, finished in fifth place.
👀 Where did he come from!?
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
Good Time Jonny does the business in the Pertemps Network Final for the shrewd Tony Martin under a jubilant Liam McKenna, staying on strongly to plunder this handicap prize#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/a1A6LscJZv
13:30: Turners Novices’ Chase – Winner: Stage Star
Heavy favourite Mighty Potter was stunned by Stage Star in the Turners Novices’ Chase, with Harry Cobden leading from the front and holding off the chasing pack to secure a famous victory for trainer Paul Nicholls.
Stage Star led from the flag drop and although he faced pressure to keep the lead with two fences to go, an expert jump on the final hurdle gave Cobden the momentum to finish off the job and give Nicholls his 42nd Cheltenham Festival winner. For Cobden, it was his first winner at the Festival since 2019.
As for 4/6 pre-race favourite, Mighty Potter, he spent the entirety of the race in the pack attempting to come from behind, but jockey Davy Russell simply left it too late to charge to victory and a mistake on the penultimate fence left him with too much to do. He eventually finished third, with Notlongtillmay in second.
TODAY’S RACES:
16:50 – Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle:
- Luccia – 2/1
- Lot of Joy – 5/1
- Magical Zoe – 15/2
- Princess Zoe – 17/2
- Halka Du Talbert – 12/1
- Foxy Girl – 12/1
- You Wear It Well – 14/1
- Under Control – 25/1
- Jetara – 28/1
- Ahorsewithnoname – 33/1
- Nikini – 33/1
- The Model Kingdom – 40/1
- Shecouldbeanything – 66/1
- Ladybank – 80/1
- Mullenbeg – 80/1
- Poetic Music – 100/1
- Endless Escape – 12/1
- Banntown Girl – 150/1
- Belle The Lioness – 150/1
- Inspiratrice – 250/1
- Still Ciel – 250/1
17:30 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase:
- Stumptown – 9/2
- Mr Incredible – 6/1
- Dunboyne – 13/2
- Angels Dawn – 9/1
- Beauport – 10/1
- Royal Thief – 14/1
- Dr Kananga – 16/1
- Rapper – 18/1
- Fontaine Collonges – 20/1
- Anightinlambourn – 20/1
- Ballykeel – 28/1
- Captain Cattistock – 28/1
- Musical Slave – 33/1
- Western Zara – 33/1
- Punitive – 33/1
- Annual Invictus – 40/1
- Coeur Serein – 40/1
- Slipway – 40/1
- Lord Accord – 40/1
- Didero Vallis – 50/1
- Emir Sacree – 50/1
- Farinet – 66/1
- Defi Bleu – 66/1
- Coo Star Sivola – 80/1
