CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL TIPS – DAY THREE: Classy Teahupoo kept fresh for Stayers’ Hurdle, while Envoi Allen is raring to go in Ryanair Chase defence – all the best bets for Thursday’s races


The Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race of day three at the Cheltenham Festival

It is the is the most open of the Festival’s feature races — run it 10 times and this line-up might throw up five or six different winners.

Three previous Stayers’ Hurdle winners line up — Paisley Park, Flooring Porter, who has twice been successful, and last year’s scorer Sire Du Berlais. 

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo finished third last year and returns a more mature and complete athlete at the age of seven, the age of five of the past seven winners. 

Mail Sport brings you our racing experts’ tips ahead of day three of the Cheltenham Festival with selections from top tipster Robin Goodfellow, National Hunt legend Peter Scudamore and former Grade One winning jockey Lizzie Kelly.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has kept favourite Teahupoo fresh for the Stayers' Hurdle

Trainer Gordon Elliott has kept favourite Teahupoo fresh for the Stayers’ Hurdle

1.30 TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE

Iroko was an impressive winner of last season’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and made an impressive chasing debut at Warwick in November when he easily brushed aside some fair rivals.

He subsequently picked up an injury which looked like it had ended his season but after some rehab at the Irish stud of owner JP McManus he has made it to the races for his up-and-coming stable, who must feel he is in a place to do himself justice.

Grey Dawning, who looked like he would have beaten consistent Ginny’s Destiny here in December but for an error at the second last, heads the dangers and confidence is boosted by his trainer having two winners yesterday.

Facile Vega should be suited by a step up in distance.

SELECTION: IROKO……………………………………… 11-2 

MAIN DANGER: GREY DAWNING………………………5-2

LIVE OUTSIDER: SHARJAH…………………………….33-1 

Odds supplied by Paddy Power 

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – GINNY’S DESTINY (NB)

PETER SCUDAMORE – GREY DAWNING (nap)

LIZZIE KELLY – GREY DAWNING

CAPTAIN HEATH – IROKO

GIMCRACK – GINNY’S DESTINY

Envoi Allen is chasing a fourth Festival success in Ryanair Chase defence on Thursday

Envoi Allen is chasing a fourth Festival success in Ryanair Chase defence on Thursday

2.10 PERTEMPS NETWORK HURDLE

Emiton has not hit the heights expected early in his career and his jumping has held him back at times. But with his handicap mark having fallen, he has had a resurgence since joining the Alan King stable, with two wins at his favourite track Newbury — most recently beating the consistent Kyntara by a length and three-quarters. 

It is also worth remembering that Emitom was fourth in the 2020 Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle. The soft-ground Flat form of Prairie Dancer gives him a chance, and if a tough slog in heavy ground at Haydock last month hasn’t left its mark, Cuthbert Dibble can figure, given he potentially still has a bit of improvement in him.

Springwell Bay has a touch of class, while Cleatus Poolaw and Gaoth Chuil bring very solid form to the table.

SELECTION: EMITOM…………………………………… 22-1

MAIN DANGER: SPRINGWELL BAY…………………. 16-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: PRAIRIE DANCER……………….. 33-1

Odds supplied by Paddy Power

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – ICARE ALLEN

PETER SCUDAMORE – CUTHBERT DIBBLE

LIZZIE KELLY – EMITOM

CAPTAIN HEATH – EMITOM

GIMCRACK – ANNA BUNINA

2.50 RYANAIR CHASE

Such was the huge expectation around ENVOI ALLEN that his achievements do not get the acclaim they deserve. He is a three-time Festival winner, including in this race last year.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has saved Envoi Allen for this renewal since he was second to Gerri Colombe over three miles at Down Royal in November, and the word is that Rachael Blackmore’s mount is raring to go. Banbridge has a big chance but the testing ground will not suit him and it is probably not ideal either for Stage Star, who won the Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s meeting.

Ahoy Senor, a faller in last year’s Gold Cup, drops down in trip and runs in this race because it represents a more realistic opportunity than Friday’s blue riband race. Course specialist Fugitif can nick a place.

SELECTION: ENVOI ALLEN…………………………….. 9-2

MAIN DANGER: AHOY SENOR………………………… 14-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: FUGITIF………………………………20-1

Odds supplied by Paddy Power 

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – AHOY SENOR

PETER SCUDAMORE – AHOY SENOR

LIZZIE KELLY – PROTEKTORAT (nap)

CAPTAIN HEATH – ENVOI ALLEN (nap)

GIMCRACK – ENVOI ALLEN

3.30 STAYERS’ HURDLE 

READ: IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ON EVERY RUNNER FROM MARCUS TOWNEND, LIZZIE KELLY AND PETER SCUDAMORE

Emitom has had a resurgence since joining the Alan King stable, with two wins at Newbury

Emitom has had a resurgence since joining the Alan King stable, with two wins at Newbury

4.10 TRUSTATRADER HANDICAP CHASE

IN EXCELSIS DEO was a winner in very testing conditions in France and, from what he has shown racing over two miles this season, he should be well-served by the extra half mile he tackles today. His second behind Madara (subsequently a winner at the Dublin Racing Festival) here in December reads well.

The booking of Harry Cobden for Theatre Man is eye-catching, as was his running-on second behind Ginny’s Destiny in a competitive course-and-distance handicap in January.

Crebilly has been strongly touted for this meeting. He has had just three chase runs and ruined his chances in the first two with jumping errors.

James Du Berlais has been running well in handicaps but faces a tricky task off top weight. The outsider Frero Banbou should enjoy the testing ground.

SELECTION: IN EXCELSIS DEO………………………..12-1

MAIN DANGER: THEATRE MAN……………………….. 9-2

LIVE OUTSIDER: FRERO BANBOU………………….25-1

Odds supplied by Paddy Power 

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – SHAKE UP’ARRY

PETER SCUDAMORE – CREBILLY

LIZZIE KELLY – CREBILLY

CAPTAIN HEATH – IN EXCELSIS DEO

GIMCRACK – THEATRE MAN

4.50 RYANAIR MARES NOVICES’ HURDLE

There is a lot to like about the unbeaten Dysart Enos, and if the ground was drier making this was more of a speed test, she might well have been the pick. 

But the testing ground will put more emphasis on stamina and that tilts the scales to BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD. She has never been beaten and is the apple of trainer Gordon Elliott’s eye — he says she may be one of the best horses he has trained. Willie Mullins-trained Jade De Grugy, another mare with an unblemished record who has looked pretty good, represents a stable which has won five of the eight runnings of this race. She also has a big chance.

Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace, an eye-catching winner of two hurdles at Taunton, would probably be a shorter price if housed in one of the bigger stables.

SELECTION: BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD………………13-8

MAIN DANGER: DYSART ENOS………………………….5-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: GOLDEN ACE……………………….14-1

Odds supplied by Paddy Power 

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

PETER SCUDAMORE – JADE DE GRUGY

LIZZIE KELLY – BETTERDAYSAHEAD

CAPTAIN HEATH – BETTERDAYSAHEAD

GIMCRACK – BETTERDAYSAHEAD

5.30 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE 

COOL SURVIVOR has rubbed shoulders with some of the better Irish novice chasers this season. He stayed on steadily last time when thrown into a two-mile five furlong Leopardstown handicap chase in which front-running Chavez — who re-opposes — fell at the last when coming to the end of his tether. 

The longer distance looks likely to enhance Cool Survivor’s chance and he has a decent amateur jockey booked to ride. Angels Dawn won the race last year. A higher handicap mark makes it tougher but he is a contender for a place.

Where It All Began has been hiked by the handicapper for his win in the Punchestown Grand National Trial but his stamina will be invaluable if the race becomes a slog. Fakir D’alene, fourth in this race in 2022, can outrun his odds.

SELECTION: COOL SURVIVOR…………………………8-1

MAIN DANGER: ANGELS DAWN………………………..9-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: FAKIR D’ALENE…………………..28-1

Odds supplied by Paddy Power

TIPSTERS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW – WHACKER CLAN

PETER SCUDAMORE – AMIRATE

LIZZIE KELLY – WHACKER CLAN

CAPTAIN HEATH – COOL SURVIVOR

GIMCRACK – BOWTOGREATNESS

Iroko was an impressive winner of last season’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

Iroko was an impressive winner of last season’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

PUNTER POWER 

Your best chance of beating the bookies this week is to stick with Mail Sport’s brilliant team of tipsters, led all the way through the Festival by National Hunt legend Peter Scudamore, former Grade One winning jockey Lizzie Kelly and our very own Robin Goodfellow.

PETER SCUDAMORE (EIGHT-TIME CHAMPION JOCKEY)

SELECTIONS

1.30………………….GREY DAWNING

2.10………………CUTHBERT DIBBLE

2.50……………..AHOY SENOR (EW)

3.30……………………….TEAHUPOO

4.10………………………….CREBILLY

4.50…………………JADE DE GRUGY

5.30…………………………..AMIRiTE

GREY DAWNING was a decent novice hurdler but he promises to be an even better chaser. He finished second to Ginny’s Destiny over course and distance in December yet would probably have won but for a mistake at the penultimate fence.

The Dan Skelton-trained gelding then put it all together to easily brush aside useful opponents at Warwick.

It helps Grey Dawning’s case that the Irish challenge for this race doesn’t look so formidable, with Willie Mullins-trained Facile Vega being a rare disappointment for the trainer in his last couple of races.

My partner Lucinda Russell and I have decided to run Ahoy Senor in the Ryanair Chase rather than tomorrow’s Gold Cup and he has decent each-way claims. He was still going well and leading the field in the Gold Cup last season when he fell at the 17th fence.

All of his best performances have come over the sharpish three miles at Aintree, where there is not so much emphasis on stamina, and we have a suspicion that the longer trip just stretches him — especially on a stamina-sapping course.

That is a theory which will be tested, but we felt that this was the best route to take.

Crebilly looks like he could be a few steps ahead of the handicapper in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.

LIZZIE KELLY (FESTIVAL WINNING JOCKEY) 

SELECTIONS

1.30………………….GREY DAWNING

2.10…………………………….EMITOM

2.50…………………..PROTEKTORAT

3.30………………………….CRAMBO

4.10………………………….CREBILLY

4.50………..BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

5.30…………………WHACKER CLAN

I am sweet on Protektorat as he drops back to two-and-a-half miles to have a crack at the Ryanair Chase. Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old has run credibly in the last two Gold Cups. He finished third two seasons ago and fifth last year. But this shorter test looks potentially better for the chaser, who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and ridden by the trainer’s brother Harry. He’s a strong-travelling horse, jumps very well and has a huge amount of class when he is right. The Ryanair Chase is very open and Protektorat is a bit of a forgotten horse in the line-up.

Skelton also has a great opportunity in the opening Turners Novices’ Chase with Grey Dawning, and you can make a case too for Le Milos, his runner in the Pertemps Hurdle, but I marginally favour Emitom over him. Crebilly is improving and showed he had brushed up on his jumping to beat two nice horses at Exeter on his last run. He has just the right profile for the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.

The mare Brighterdaysahead is beautifully bred, being related to the very talented Mighty Potter and French Dynamite. Those genes seem to have come up trumps again and she has been impressive so far in her short career and looks to be the solution to the Mares Novices’ Hurdle.

STEVE RYDER (ROBIN GOODFELLOW) 

SELECTIONS

1.30…………GINNY’S DESTINY (NB)

2.10……………………..ICARE ALLEN

2.50…………………….AHOY SENOR

3.30……………..FLOORING PORTER

4.10……………….SHAKEM UP’ARRY

4.50………..BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

5.30…………………WHACKER CLAN

The opening Turners’ Novices’ Chase looks a competitive race but Ginny’s Destiny can extend his winning sequence to four.

With a similar profile to last year’s winner Stage Star, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old has improved 22lb this season, with all three of his successes coming at Cheltenham. He beat the re-opposing Grey Dawning by three-quarters of a length in receipt of 3lb earlier this season and, despite his rival making a mistake at the second-last that day, he can confirm that form.

In the Stayers’ Hurdle, two-time winner Flooring Porter bids to regain his crown. Victorious in 2021 and 2022 when making all, the Gavin Cromwell runner had an interrupted preparation for the race last season when fourth, beaten just three-and-a-half lengths. 

He has run well in three chase starts this season, including when winning here in October, but connections send him out here over hurdles and he should get an easy lead.

HORSE OF THE DAY 

ENVOI ALLEN — BY DOMINIC KING

To get a horse to Cheltenham once, in rude health, is an achievement. To do it a second and third time is testament to a trainer’s ability. But to have a horse capable of running in seven consecutive Festivals is something rare and remarkable. Kauto Star, who ran in six Gold Cups, and Quevega, the mighty Willie Mullins mare who won the David Nicholson for six consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2014, set the template for iron horses and perhaps we should now recognise Envoi Allen in the same bracket. 

He was first sent to Cheltenham in the colours of his owners, Cheveley Park Stud in March 2019, when he won the Champion Bumper. Twelve months later, he made a victorious return in the race that was then called the Ballymore Hurdle.

Envoi Allen had won the first 12 races of his career but 13 was unlucky at Cheltenham in 2021, when he fell in the Turners Novices’ Chase — his first start for new trainer Henry de Bromhead after Cheveley Park removed their horses from Gordon Elliott.

Perhaps because Envoi Allen never delivered the Gold Cup triumph that had been predicted for him in his youth, he has never had due credit, but he is a model of consistency — a third-place finish in the 2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase and a win in last year’s Ryanair prove that. Now 10 years old, he returns to defend his Ryanair crown this afternoon and the vibes have been relentlessly positive for him in recent weeks.

He has not run since November, when pipped by Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe at Down Royal, but do not take that as a bad sign. ‘Henry is very happy with him,’ reports jockey Rachael Blackmore.

‘I know he’s another year older but the Ryanair is there to be won. I hope he will run a big race. He is really sharp and he has been a star.’

THE WIZARD OF ODDS 

GINNY’S DESTINY (nap) has progressed with each of his four starts over fences and recorded a third consecutive victory at Cheltenham on Trials Day. That performance prompted high praise from trainer Paul Nicholls, and further improvement looks likely.  7-2

CUTHBERT DIBBLE won novice hurdles either side of a fifth-place finish in the EBF Final at Sandown at the end of last season. Nigel Twiston-Davies’s charge returned in fine form this year, with two wins at Chepstow and Haydock. He should relish the race conditions. 9-1

STAGE STAR, winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival, justified favouritism in the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup on his reappearance in November. Excuses can be made for his disappointing run last time and he is fancied to bounce back. 7-2

THE PLACEPOT MOLE

The Placepot involves selecting a horse to place in races one to six, with the chance of winning large payouts from a £1 stake.

These are our picks today…

RACE ONE: (5) GREY DAWNING

RACE TWO: (12) CUTHBERT DIBBLE

RACE THREE: (2) BANBRIDGE

RACE FOUR: (9) NOBLE YEATS

RACE FIVE: (5) SAINT FELICIEN

RACE SIX: (5) DYSART ENOS



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