Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tips - March 11-14

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Cheltenham Day 3 Tips - Every race covered on St Patrick's Day

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 11 Mar 2025

Jon Vine 11 Mar 2025

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Free tips through the card on day three of the Cheltenham Festival
The Stayers' Hurdle headlines the card at Cheltenham on Thursday 13th March
Answer To Kayf, Lucky Place and Jagwar feature in our day three selections

Expired

Day Three at Cheltenham. (Getty)

Cheltenham Day 3 Tips

1:20pm Cheltenham - Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips
2:00pm Cheltenham - Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase Tips
2:40pm Cheltenham - Pertemps Final Tips
3:20pm Cheltenham - Ryanair Chase Tips
4:00pm Cheltenham - Stayers' Hurdle Tips
Stayers' Hurdle 2025 Tips
Live Stream
4:40pm Cheltenham - Plate Handicap Chase Tips
5:20pm Cheltenham - Kim Muir Challenge Cup Tips

The Irish will be out in-force on St Patrick's Day at the Cheltenham Festival, where two Grade One races headline another quality card.

The Mares' Novices' Hurdle has been moved to the opening slot on Thursday's card, and that's followed by the new Jack Richards' Handicap Chase. The Ryanair Chase and Stayers' Hurdle are the only Grade Ones to take place on day three.

Here are our free tips for all seven races on day three of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham Day 3 Card

Time	Thursday Races	Status	Distance
13:20	Mares Novices' Hurdle	Grade Two	2m 1f
14:00	Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase	Grade Two Handicap	2m 4f
14:40	Pertemps Final	Listed Handicap	3m
15:20	Ryanair Chase	Grade One	2m 4f
16:00	Stayers' Hurdle	Grade One	3m
16:40	Paddy Power Plate	Grade Three Handicap	2m 4f
17:20	Kim Muir Challenge Cup	Class Two Handicap	3m 2f

Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Tips

1:20pm Cheltenham - Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips

Experience is important going into the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. There's usually a large field and the pace is often frenetic. This year's renewal will be the first race on the card too, which could make the atmosphere even more feverish. You need a horse who can cope with the big occasion.

I've had my fingers burnt backing short-priced runners in this contest in recent years, and I'm keen not to make the same mistakes. Instead, I've picked out two that I want to back each-way, starting with AIR OF ENTITLEMENT (20/1) for Henry De Bromhead.

This Westerner mare won well on her second point-to-point start in December 2023, and cruised to victory on her stable debut in a bumper last April, before finding the ground too quick at the Punchestown Festival.

Air Of Entitlement couldn't have been more impressive in making a winning hurdles debut at Down Royal on Boxing Day. Sean Flanagan's mount travelled and jumped beautifully that day, sauntering to a three-and-a-half lengths victory over Gordon Elliott's Ballybow without ever coming out of second gear.

Ballybow has since boosted that form by winning a Grade Three and could be a lively outsider to watch out for in the Albert Bartlett. Robbie Power, who now works for Henry, said in a recent preview that Air Of Entitlement is scheduled to make the trip to Cheltenham. She's a strong-travelling, experienced six-year-old who has plenty more to give over obstacles.

At an even bigger price, I'd give a small chance to BLUEY (50/1). Emma Lavelle's six-year-old wasn't beaten far when she attempted to hold off Jubilee Alpha from the front at Windsor in January. Ben Jones' mount was last seen beaten a handy mare of Fergal O'Brien's by seven lengths at Market Rasen and Bluey looked good when scoring at Wincanton earlier in the season too.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle 2025 Tips

Value Bet 1 - Air Of Entitlement (20/1)
Value Bet 2 - Bluey (50/1)

2:00pm Cheltenham - Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase Tips

Several classy Irish novices sit atop the betting for the inaugural running of this handicap. Firefox is the big class dropper, but I've come to the conclusion that he's pretty soft, and I don't think Nurburgring has jumped well enough over fences to warrant his position in the market.

ANSWER TO KAYF (9/1) ran a lovely race in the Martin Pipe last year, staying on well from off the pace to finish just three lengths adrift of Better Days Ahead in fourth. Terence O'Brien's nine-year-old then shaped with promise on his two starts in beginners chases, finishing fourth behind Impaire Et Passe and fifth as Lecky Watson beat Slade Steel at Naas.

John Shinnick's mount was last seen making a winning handicap debut over fences at Naas, where Answer To Kayf bullied an inferior field throughout and kicked 12 lengths clear in the closing stages. O'Brien said at the start of the season that the Novices' Handicap Chase was Answer To Kayf's objective and they look to be returning to Cheltenham in fine fettle.

I've also got my eye on LORD OF THUNDER (16/1), who won his final two starts over hurdles and made his chasing debut here at Cheltenham in October. Joe Tizzard's seven-year-old was well-backed that day and was just working his way into contention when he took a tumbling fall at the tricky second-last flight.

After a fourth-place finish at Exeter and a distant second to Handstands in the rescheduled Towton Novices' Chase, Lord Of Thunder got off the mark over fences with an impressive success at Newbury, where he beat another of today's runners, Pic Roc in good style. This lightly-raced seven-year-old remains progressive and will have no trouble seeing out the distance.

Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase 2025 Tips

Best Bet - Answer To Kayf (9/1)
Value Bet - Lord Of Thunder (16/1)

undefined — Nico de Boinville riding Shanagh Bob (R, yellow) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. (Getty)

2:40pm Cheltenham - Pertemps Final Tips

It's been a long time since the top-weight in the Pertemps Final was rated lower than 145. Normally, you'd be looking for horses rated between 138 and 148 when looking for the winner, but this year, 20 of the 24 runners are rated below 138.

There are two runners who interest me, starting with SHANAGH BOB (20/1). Nicky Henderson's star won the Bristol Novices' Hurdle over this course-and-distance last season, and sat close to the head of the betting for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the beginning of the season.

Shanagh Bob failed to take to fences, jumping terribly on his first two starts over the larger obstacles. Henderson's star dropped back to hurdling for the qualifier at Huntingdon in January, and ran an encouraging race to finish second behind the strong-staying Super Survivor.

Henderson's seven-year-old was well-beaten on his most recent start at Warwick, where the soft ground, shorter trip and sharper track all seemed to work against him. On better ground back at Cheltenham, he certainly has a chance.

Only two five-year-olds have ever won the Pertemps Final. However, last year's crop of juveniles have proven themselves to be above average and KARL DES TOURELLES (20/1) remains unexposed over staying distances.

Philip Fenton, who trained the winner of the 2009 Champion Bumper, ran Karl Des Tourelles in some fancy four-year-old races last season, including the Grade One at Punchestown and the Prix Alain du Breil at Auteuil. On his reappearance over hurdles, Brian Hayes' mount came through trouble in-running to finish a very good second in the Punchestown qualifier behind Franciscan Rock - who was getting two pounds at the weights from Fenton's youngster and has boosted the form significantly since.

Karl Des Tourelles paid for trying to hang with the pacesetters at Limerick over Christmas, where he was beaten into third behind Meet And Greet. Stepping back up in trip should certainly suit given the way he finished off his race at Punchestown.

Pertemps Final 2025 Tips

Value Bet 1 - Shanagh Bob (20/1)
Value Bet 2 - Karl Des Tourelles (20/1)

3:20pm Cheltenham - Ryanair Chase Tips

Three of the last five Ryanair's have been won by nine-year-olds, so it's a race that seems to suit older horses. JUNGLE BOOGIE (12/1) is an 11-year-old, but he's also the least exposed runner in the race, having run just six times under rules.

Henry De Bromhead managed to get three runs into Jungle Boogie last season, after Willie Mullins struggled to keep this talented horse sound. Rachael Blackmore's mount beat Classic Getaway in the New Year's Day Chase at Tramore, before a sixth-place finish in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jungle Boogie was held up out the back on his Cheltenham debut, but still seemed to be travelling within himself approaching the third-last, but Blackmore's mount pecked badly on landing that flight. Although he managed to get back on the bridle, that mistake knocked the stuffing out of Jungle Boogie, who trailed across the line 21 lengths adrift of Galopin Des Champs.

De Bromhead's raider won on his only start of this season at Ascot in December. Jungle Boogie's task was made easier when Iroko departed early, but Darragh O'Keeffe's mount went on to hammer Fil Dor and James Du Berlais, despite jumping markedly left at most of his obstacles.

Henry will have been delighted with 90% of Jungle Boogie's run in the Gold Cup, where he proved he could handle this tricky track. Injuries prevented Jungle Boogie from showing his true potential earlier in his career, but he's clearly a top-class horse, who knows how to win and is unbeaten over this intermediate distance.

Ryanair Chase 2025 Tips

Value Bet - Jungle Boogie (12/1)

4:00pm Cheltenham - Stayers' Hurdle Tips

Teahupoo won the Hatton's Grace on his sole start before Cheltenham last season, and relished softer ground when winning his first Stayers' Hurdle. This year, Gordon Elliott's star was beaten in that Fairyhouse Grade One and the ground on day three will be quicker than it was 12 months ago. He's the best horse in this division, but I'm inclined to take Teahupoo on.

LUCKY PLACE (7/1) is a young stayer that is firmly on the upgrade. Nicky Henderson's six-year-old is unbeaten in two starts this season, having won a competitive renewal of the Ascot Hurdle on his reappearance, before seeing off future Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road to land the Relkeel on New Year's Day.

Considering there was a black cloud hanging over Seven Barrows in March of last year, Lucky Place's run in the Coral Cup has to be regarded as a monstrous effort. He was the only Nicky Henderson horse during the entire meeting to mount a challenge, staying on from well off the pace to finish fourth behind Langer Dan.

Lucky Place's novice form has a nice ring to it. Henderson's six-year-old was narrowly beaten by Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner, Golden Ace at Taunton, and came close to upsetting hot-favourite Gidleigh Park in the Classic Novices' Hurdle here at Cheltenham.

With his form this season franked, and the promise of more progression to come, Lucky Place could be the biggest danger to Teahupoo.

Stayers' Hurdle 2025 Tips

Best Bet - Lucky Place (7/1)

Live Stream

Visit our Stayers' Hurdle Live Stream page if you want to watch any race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival via a mobile or tablet.

4:40pm Cheltenham - Plate Handicap Chase Tips

I said in my ante-post guide that this year's Plate was crying out for a novice or two. On Tuesday, five novices were confirmed for this handicap rather than the Jack Richards and they've immediately risen to the head of the market.

JAGWAR (9/2) claimed an impressive course-and-distance victory in the Novices' Handicap Chase on Trials Day. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's star was a big drifter as money arrived for stablemate Billytherealbigred, but it was Jonjo O'Neill Jnr's mount who pounced after the last to claim his third victory over fences.

That was Jagwar's third victory in four starts over fences, with his only loss coming behind the classy Jingko Blue at Uttoxeter. Jonjo O'Neill Jnr's mount ticks plenty of boxes when looking for the winner of the Plate and the market leader remains open to further progress off this fresh mark of 139.

FUGITIF (16/1) is worth backing too from a value standpoint. Richard Hobson's ten-year-old finished second to Seddon in the 2023 Plate and won the December Gold Cup here at Cheltenham last year. Hobson's 11-year-old didn't jump fluently on his two starts around Cheltenham earlier this year, but still managed to record fifth and third-place finishes. Sean Bowen's mount has been dropped to a lenient mark. He should go well again.

Plate Handicap Chase 2025 Tips

Best Bet - Jagwar (9/2)
Value Bet - Fugitif (16/1)

5:20pm Cheltenham - Kim Muir Challenge Cup Tips

I have no interest in backing anything near the head of the betting in the Kim Muir. I will, however, be cheering Walking On Air home if Alan O'Sullivan - brother to the late Michael O'Sullivan - gets him in a position to challenge.

Toby McCain-Mitchell rode a winner at Cheltenham's October meeting and he takes three pounds off the back of WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (28/1). Nigel Twiston-Davies' eight-year-old will be having his third run at the Cheltenham Festival, having placed sixth in the 2023 Albert Bartlett and sixth again in last year's Ultima.

After a brief spell with Christian Williams, Weveallbeencaught returned to the Twiston-Davies' in December and won at Doncaster on his second start back for the stable. McCain-Mitchell's mount ran fairly well in the Grimthorpe a couple of weeks ago and should know Cheltenham like the back of his hand.

Another with the potential to put in a big performance is MANOTHEPEOPLE (40/1). Fergal O'Brien's ten-year-old won over this course-and-distance at last year's April Meeting, where he beat Moroder, Stumptown and Some Scope, who've in turn won the Grimthorpe, the Crystal Cup and the Rowland Meyrick this season.

Manothepeople ran fairly well on his reappearance at Chepstow, before disappointing on his last two starts. O'Brien has freshened this strong stayer up since he ran in the Edinburgh National and excellent amateur Gina Andrews has been booked to ride.

Kim Muir 2025 Tips

Value Bet 1 - Weveallbeencaught (28/1)
Value Bet 2 - Manothepeople (40/1)

Verdict

Cheltenham 2025 Day 3 Tips

Cheltenham 2025 Day 3 Top Tips:

Jagwar

4:40pm Cheltenham

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Lucky Place

4:00pm Cheltenham

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Jungle Boogie

3:20pm Cheltenham

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Air Of Entitlement

1:20pm Cheltenham

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