'Underestimate him at your peril' - Maddy Playle answers the key questions for day three of the Cheltenham Festival
What's the big story?
Can Fact To File emerge from Galopin Des Champs's shadow in the Ryanair Chase (3.20)? Last year's Brown Advisory winner beat his superstar stablemate in the John Durkan in November but has been firmly put in his place over three miles twice since.
The drop to the intermediate trip in the day's chase feature is expected to suit the eight-year-old, who was placed in the Champion Bumper at the 2023 festival and is expected to have his best years ahead of him.
He won't have it easy, however, with the trailblazing King George runner-up Il Est Francais making his maiden voyage to the festival, and last year's winner Protektorat back for more after a Fleur de Lys rout at Windsor. Don't discount his Peterborough conqueror Djelo either.
It promises to be a cracker.
Who wins the Stayers' Hurdle?
I think it is quite an open race and I'm happy to take on Teahupoo. He was beaten by Sire Du Berlais and Dashel Drasher in this race a couple of years ago and there are some really interesting up-and-coming types taking him on this year.
At a massive price, I don't think there's much wrong with Gowel Road, who loves Cheltenham and boasts a record of 22221 here this season, with his final win in the Cleeve Hurdle nearly a career-best effort over this course and distance.
Don't be surprised if Ga Law, who has excelled over fences at this track, can run a big race as well. He looks like he wants three miles these days and can definitely get involved if replicating his chase rating of 152.
Who else catches your eye on day three of the Cheltenham Festival?
I have long been a fan of Nurburgring in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase (2.00). He was an excellent staying-on fourth in the Triumph Hurdle last year and showed how he could thrive in big-field handicaps when winning the Galway Hurdle in the summer.
His first two efforts over fences were quietly eyecatching and he wasn't given a hard time at all in either so he looks very well handicapped off a mark of 143 for a trainer who targets festival handicaps for fun.
If you want a bigger-priced fancy, look no further than Sine Nomine in the Kim Muir (5.20). She won last year's Hunters' Chase over this course and distance and was running big races the last twice when coming to grief.
She's totally unexposed in handicap company and can exploit a mark of 133 in a race which will play perfectly to her strengths. The 25-1 will do for me.
What's the best bet of the day?
Protektorat to win his second Ryanair Chase. He put up a joint career-best performance when trouncing Djelo in the Fleur de Lys Chase last time and he continues to be disrespected in the market.
Fact To File arguably does not deserve to be as short as he is on the quality of his form, while I have serious concerns about Il Est Francais at this track and over this trip. The French horse should set it up perfectly for last year's strong-staying winner.
Odds of 13-2 represent outstanding value. Underestimate him at your peril.
Which race cannot be missed?
Stay tuned for the Kim Muir for what could be an incredibly emotional finale.
Michael O'Sullivan's brother Alan has been jocked up to ride the plunge horse Walking On Air. There won't be a dry eye in the house if he could emulate his late brother in becoming a Cheltenham Festival winner.
Read these next:
Cheltenham Festival day three accumulator tips: Matt Rennie's Thursday treble
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Published on inCheltenham Festival
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