Cheltenham Festival day 3 tips: five horses to back on Thursday

Handicappers' nap

Conflated (4.40 Cheltenham)

Well into the veteran stage and yet to fire this season, but last year's Ryanair third subsequently split Jonbon and Protektorat at Aintree last April. He could prove well treated off 157 back in handicap company.
Steve Mason

Conflated16:40 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mr R James (7lb)Tnr: Gordon Elliott

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Eyecatcher

Zain Nights (2.40 Cheltenham)

The better ground should help the Lucy Wadham-trained Pertemps Final contender, who came home well in the Huntingdon qualifier.
Richard Lowther

Zain Nights14:40 Cheltenham

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Jky: Charlie Deutsch Tnr: Lucy Wadham

The Punt nap

Protektorat (3.20 Cheltenham)

The ten-year-old looked as good as ever with an effortless win at Windsor last time, with the form handsomely franked since. Last year's impressive winner appears to have been primed for this day all season.
Matt Rennie

Protektorat15:20 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Skelton Tnr: Dan Skelton

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Speed figures

Pic Roc (2.00 Cheltenham)

Best hurdle runs came in big fields and if he can improve on the decent speed figure clocked when second at Newbury last month, he should go close.
Craig Thake

Pic Roc14:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Ben Jones Tnr: Ben Pauling

West Country

Pic Roc (2.00 Cheltenham)

Has some solid form and could step forward in a big-field handicap.
James Stevens

Pic Roc14:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Ben Jones Tnr: Ben Pauling

Dark horse

Shanagh Bob (2.40 Cheltenham)

Didn't take to fences earlier in the season but could be well treated with the headgear returning and stepping back up in trip. He won a Grade 2 novice last term over course and distance.
Simon Giles

Shanagh Bob14:40 Cheltenham

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Jky: Paul O'Brien Tnr: Nicky Henderson

Signposts: punting pointers for Thursday's racing 

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