Our form expert has four selections for day three of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival including in the closing Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
The Verdict: Thursday, March 14
1pt win Farouk D’Alene in 2.10 Cheltenham at 16/1 (General)
1pt win Sir Gerhard in 3.30 Cheltenham at 9/1 (bet365)
1pt e.w. Frero Banbou in 4.10 Cheltenham at 25/1 (bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair 1/5 1,2,3,4,5)
1pt win Cool Survivor in 5.30 Cheltenham at 8/1 (Hills, 888sport, 15/2 in places, 7/1 General)
Sir Gerhard to rule supreme in the Stayers’
Thursday is the best betting day of the week so far at the Cheltenham Festival and the feature Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle looks wide open.
Teahupoo heads the market for Gordon Elliott and he’s respected following his close-up third last year, his trainer holding him back for this after he beat Impaire Et Passe in the Hatton’s Grace in early December.
Given his age and his profile and the fact he goes so well fresh, he probably is the most likely winner, but I don’t think he has pounds in hand by any means.
I’d rather take him on at the prices and Willie Mullins might have an underestimated one here in the shape of Cheveley Park’s SIR GERHARD.
Twice a Festival winner thanks to his Bumper and Baring Bingham successes earlier in his career, he just didn’t take to fences as expected, winning a disappointing one from five in that sphere.
What was noticeable from his fencing career was how strong he was in the market for the Brown Advisory last year, going off 3/1 despite a less than ideal prep, and he travelled into the race well until two from home despite jumping poorly.
Mullins persevered with him over fences until finally pulling the plug after a fall at Naas in November, but he bounced back in style over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve with a decisive win over 2m3f in heavy ground.
He beat a bunch of strong stayers that day and he is unexposed over a staying trip, running just twice over three miles over fences, and the distance could well see him improve significantly on his Punchestown hurdles form.
A three-time Grade 1 winner who will love the ground, he’s an intriguing contender against the market leaders.
The Verdict: Back SIR GERHARD in the 3.30 Cheltenham
Elliott duo of interest in the handicaps
Whether Elliott wins the Stayers’ Hurdle or not he could be in for a really good day and I like the look of a couple of his in the handicaps.
First up is FAROUK D'ALENE in the Pertemps Final, his British mark of 154 giving him a tough assignment on the face of it, but Rob James’ 7lb claim will help and Elliott has a terrific record with highly-rated horses in this race.
Sire Du Berlais won it twice off 145 and 152, while The Bosses Oscar, ridden by a 7lb claimer, was second off 151 and Salvador Ziggy, rated 147, and ridden by a 7lb claimer, was second last year.
Farouk D'Alene has had his issues but he’s a strong stayer with bags of talent.
He beat Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier over 2m7f in heavy ground as a novice hurdler, was a short head second in a Grade 1 on just his second start over fences and he was going well when falling two out in L'Homme Presse’s Brown Advisory two years ago.
Off the track for 613 days after that, he returned over fences this season but looked back in great nick in the Leopardstown Pertemps qualifier at Christmas, a race that has provided six of the last eight Pertemps Final winners, with a neck second to Ted Walsh’s Gaoth Chuil, having tried to concede 22lb.
He gets a 4lb pull at the weights with that horse here, Gaoth Chuil a single-figure price after running second at the Dublin Racing Festival, and he looks a spot of value to reverse the form.
The Verdict: Back FAROUK D’ALENE in the 2.10 Cheltenham
Cool bet in the Kim Muir
The other Elliott horse I like is COOL SURVIVOR in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
This horse was sent off 5/1 for the Martin Pipe last year and has qualified for his chasing mark by running behind Gaelic Warrior and Embassy Gardens over trips short of three miles.
He also caught the eye in fourth in a hot 2m5f handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, but significant improvement is expected now he tackles 3m2f.
A point to point winner, he improved a great deal when stepping up to three miles over hurdles and it’s no wonder Elliott plumped for this race having entered him in the Plate, the Ultima and the National Hunt Chase as well this week.
Harry Swan takes the ride and he could well get the better of another Irish hotpot in Inothewayurthinkin, who has been well found in the market for Gavin Cromwell.
The Verdict: Back COOL SURVIVOR in the 5.30 Cheltenham
Take a chance on Frero for Venetia
Finally, it could be worth chancing FRERO BANBOU to bounce back to form for Venetia Williams in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at 25/1.
This horse had some excellent course form at Cheltenham earlier in the campaign, running third in the December Gold Cup off 136 before he was second to Shakem Up’Arry from an effective rating of 140 when 4lb out of the weights on New Year’s Day.
He went off the boil in January and February, but Williams’ horses were not running well as a collective in those months and her yard seems to be returning to form now following six winners in the last few weeks.
The good thing is Frero Banbou has dropped down to a mark of 133, the same mark he should’ve won off at Newbury in December when he clattered the last, and it looks a rating he can be really competitive off if he can return to his early season form.
Given his yard have won this race three times in the past we shouldn’t be too surprised if he can bounce back, his 10lb pull with Shakem Up’Arry, one of the market leaders, an indication that 25/1 is on the big side.
The Verdict: Back FRERO BANBOU in the 4.10 Cheltenham
Preview posted at 1600 GMT on 13/03/24
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.