World domination not possible for Harry but Stayers' title is at stake

The highlight of the Cheltenham Festival's third day once again does what is said on the tin.

For the contest's new sponsor, the World was not enough, which means, in a blast from the past, we now look forward to the Stayers' Hurdle. Unowhatimeanharry, the sport's latest dominant stayer, is red-hot favourite to be crowned.

Between 1972 and 2004, backed by Lloyds Bank, Waterford Crystal and Bonusprint, the Stayers' Hurdle (which had been the Spa Hurdle during the crossover from black and white to colour) was a support act to either the Champion Hurdle or Gold Cup. Then the festival gained a fourth day and the support act was given centrepiece status under a new bookmaker partner that fancied adding a little razzmatazz.

So it was that in the build-up to the 2005 festival Cheltenham announced it was "thrilled to see this race rebranded as the Ladbrokes World Hurdle". The new name did the race no harm.

Inglis Drever won it three times, Big Buck's a record four times and 12 months ago, when Ryanair flew in for a one-year-only arrangement necessitated by Ladbrokes being shown the red card, Thistlecrack produced the best hurdling performance seen at the festival in 30 years.

For the race's first incarnation under the Sun Bets banner, the World has reverted to being the Stayers' - a move instigated by the sponsor not the racecourse - and sitting atop its betting market is an athlete who last season rose through the ranks at astonishing speed. This season he has soared ever higher.

When making his first start for Harry Fry at Cheltenham in November 2015, Unowhatimeanharry, previously a loser in 12 consecutive races, landed a gamble off a BHA rating of 123. On the day he captured the festival's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle – these days coincidentally registered as the Spa – his mark had climbed to 152. Now, following three more high-profile victories and a sale from Fry's racing club to JP McManus, he is up to 167, undefeated in eight outings and, at face value, by far the likeliest winner of racing's championship marathon hurdle.

Some bookmakers believe the biggest danger will come from within the McManus operation in the guise of 2014 Champion Hurdle hero Jezki, while a past winner of this event, Cole Harden, represents a solid threat should sunshine continue to dry the track.

On Tuesday the ground on Cheltenham's Old course was pounded quite brilliantly by the McManus-owned Buveur D'Air. He had been the mount of Noel Fehily before the star switched to green and gold hoops, but the injury sustained by Barry Geraghty gave Fehily the chance to reforge an old friendship.

Similarly, it was Fehily who partnered Unowhatimeanharry to festival triumph last year only to then lose the ride when McManus swooped. His misfortune was Geraghty's good fortune. As on Tuesday, a slice of rotten luck for Geraghty has given Fehily the opportunity to make a happy reacquaintance.

In the preceding Ryanair Chase Wayne Hutchinson is the supersub aboard Uxizandre, on whose back Sir Anthony McCoy, pre-knighthood, secured such a momentous success two years ago.

This time, the former champion must reverse January course form with the Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux, albeit over a longer trip and on quicker ground, both of which could count against one of the sport's most popular and flamboyant performers. Potentially an even more significant hindrance could be Empire Of Dirt, owned by Ryanair's Michael O'Leary and trained by Gordon Elliott, the man who has shattered Mullins' domination of Cheltenham and Ireland.

Quicker ground and a longer trip must both be overcome by Un De SceauxCredit: Patrick McCann

In the JLT Novices' Chase – which like the Ryanair has attracted only eight runners – Mullins need not fret about Elliott. He may only need to worry about his own horse, for although Yorkhill boasts an abundance of talent (witness his stunning win here last year) he is also either ignorant or quirky – possibly both – as highlighted by his occasional nerve-racking antics in a Leopardstown schooling session.

While Yorkhill represents elite forces in Mullins, Ruby Walsh and Graham Wylie – and so do obvious dangers Top Notch and Politologue – those at the industry's opposite extreme will be shouting for Welsh phenomenon Tobefair in the Pertemps Network Final.

Tobefair and Trevor Whelan (nearside) on their way to another battling win at NewburyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

In what has been an unstoppable run reminiscent to that of Unowhatimeanharry, Tobefair has landed seven consecutive races since joining Debra Hamer. In his case every one of those races has been a handicap. Having climbed from a mark of 81 to 143 he attempts to score for the 17 owners who share not only a marvellous hurdler but also a fondness for the Cresselly Arms pub on the Cresswell Quay estuary.

Like Tobefair, the Stayers' Hurdle favourite used to represent racing's grassroots. He returns to Cheltenham as very much one of the big boys. With punters set to pummel his price, big money is at stake.

Thursday's Cheltenham card