Live blog from day three of Cheltenham Festival

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Over and out for Day Three

The third day of the Cheltenham Festival draws to an end on a fuzzy feelgood note for Domesday Book's jockey Gina Andrews, who says it was "a lifetime's dream to ride at the Cheltenham Festival, let alone have a winner". 

Personally, I couldn't have touched him with a bargepole despite my utmost respect for his excellent trainer Stuart Edmunds. At least he's prevented today from becoming the answer to a pub quiz question about the day all seven races were won by Ireland.

Now, it's on to the final day of the Festival tomorrow and a wide-open renewal of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Will it be Cue Card's crowing glory or a deserved first success in the race for Djakadam? Could Jonjo O'Neill have a say with Minella Rocco or More Of That. or will Native River deliver under Richard Johnson?

Join me (and our competition winner) back here tomorrow from 0930 onwards for more of the same sort of drama, bad tips and other nonsense.

1740 Nope, me neither

1st Domesday Book 40/1 2nd Pendra 16/1 3rd Premier Bond 9/1 4th Potters Legend 10/1

1725 In the wars

Brendan Powell has posted a pretty visceral picture of his son, Brendan jnr 'having his ear sewn back on' after a fall earlier today. They're made of iron these guys. Well, not literally, otherwise he'd be having his ear welded back on. But you get the point.

1720 The Getting-out Stakes

Or as the bookmakers might see it, the getting-some-of-it-back stakes given that punters have been firmly on top today. What's your fancy for the Kim Muir?

The uncomfortably-named Squouateur heads the betting, ahead of Mall Dini and there's no doubt that both of that pair have a very good chance, but Neil Mulholland seemed very keen on the prospects of Southfield Theatre when we spoke to him at the Cheltenham weights press conference.

Potters Cross is another worth a look at a massive price. His stable were in stinking form when he was well beaten in the Sky Bet Chase last time, but he's a sound jumper who likes good ground and he's capable of a big run if things go right for him.

1715 Party time for Mullins

Literally in this case, as Let's Dance's victory has won a €50,000 bonus for the Mullins stable staff offered by the sponsors after she won the Lacy & Partners Solicitors Hurdle at Leopardstown in January if she could go on to win any race at the Festival.

That's nearly €1,000 a piece for the team who work for Mullins at Closutton, thanks to the generosity of managing partner Nat Lacy, and one that means every member of the team will be joining in the celebrations for their four winners tonight, whether at home or over at Cheltenham.

1655 Bookmakers left battered

Ruby Walsh rode her like she was much the best and so she was. Turning for home, she was back in about 12th, but when Walsh asked her to go forwards before two out the response was absolutely immediate and she shot into contention.

She absolutely winged the final flight, so much so that there were briefly possible shades of Annie Power. But she was much the best and went away to win well from Barra and the consistent Dusky Legend.

It's a fourth win on the day for Mullins and Walsh, but a first of the meeting for Rich Ricci.

1st Let's Dance 11/8F, 2nd Barra 12/1, 3rd Dusky Legend 20/1

1635 Time to Dance?

Next up is the Trull House Mares' Novice Hurdle. Given what's been happening today already, Let's Dance is a predictably hot favourite to leave the bookies battered and make it 6 from 6 so far for the Irish raiders today - it's hard to believe that before the start of the meeting the 'British team' was 1/3 to 'win' the 'Betbright Cup'. 'Team Captain' Phil Tufnell should be ashamed of himself. He has let his country down badly today.

Let's Dance had a number of possible options this week, but she has a number of formlines that make her claims very obvious. Heading the opposition is stablemate Airlie Beach, a seven-year-old mare with an interesting story an old friend has drawn to my attention.

When just a two-year-old, she received the unwanted and unexpected attention of a horse who Willie Mullins' team thought had been gelded. As such, she is already a mother and her youngster, a three-year-old, is now himself in training with Mullins. Sounds like one for Jeremy Kyle to me.

1620 Respect was due

A race for the less-exposed horses as three six-year-olds fought out the finish.

Road To Respect had been competing in some decent novice chases this season and was presumably one of the horses owner Michael O'Leary felt had been victimised by the British handicappers going into this meeting. Hopefully that's the end of that nonsense now (for another 11 and a half months - or until the clouds part and the means are found to bring the countries together to use the same handicap marks in both countries).

Baron Alco and Bouvreuil (the latter placed at the Festival for the third consecutive season) both emerged with plenty of credit, but they were absolutely no match for the winner, who - not to put too fine a point on it - hosed up.

If you joined in the gamble on favourite Diamond King, bad luck. He made a bad mistake with a circuit to go and was then badly hampered later on in another melee.

1st Road To Respect 14/1 2nd Baron Alco 10/1 3rd Bouvreuil 10/1 4th Thomas Crapper 7/1

1610 And they're off. Again.

At least Ruby Walsh won't win this one as well, as neither he nor Willie Mullins have a runner. 

1605 Golden Brown Advisory?

Such is the nature of the Festival that there's little time for reflection before it's on to the next race. What's going to win the Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase? No idea, but I did back Thomas Crapper last night. And not just because of the name.

1545 Right bet, wrong race

Happily, I had a lumpy ante-post bet on Nichols Canyon back in early January. Unhappily, it was for him to win the Champion Hurdle. 

Still, what are you going to do, eh? With the considerable benefit of hindsight, as a multiple Grade One winner over shorter trips, his claims weren't that far behind those of Jezki, but I still can't say I saw this coming.

You've got to hand it to Cole Harden and Lil Rockerfeller, both of whom contested a very serious gallop from the off, and both remained right on the premises at the finish. Perhaps had either been left alone in front, the result might have been different, and both are truly admirable beasts who have once again rewarded their owners emotionally and financially.

Indeed, listening to Neil King talk after the race about how proud he is of Lil Rockerfeller leaves me with a bit of a speck in my eye. I hope the owners' £64,000 for coming second sugars the sour taste of only just missing out on championship success.

1540 Grand Canyon

Washed-up Ruby Walsh is now the top jockey so far at the Cheltenham Festival. All in the space of four races. What a remarkable game.

Three weeks ago, Willie Mullins told the press that he wasn't even sure if Nichols Canyon would make it to the Festival. Now he's won the Stayers' Hurdle. It's a funny old game.

1st Nichols Canyon 10/1 2nd Lil Rockerfeller 33/1 3rd Unowhatimeanharry 5/6 Fav

1530 Down at the start

Here we go then for the second Grade One of the day. Will Unowhatimeanharry's unbeaten record remain intact or can the bookies get the shock they want? Good luck to all!

1520 Roll up, roll up

No surprise that with a couple of well-backed winner having gone in, the money rolling up on to the next couple of favourites is now quite substantial and bookmakers are taking evasive action with both Unowhatimeanharry and Let's Dance.

Unowhatimeanharry has continually risen to whatever has been placed in front of him for the last two seasons, but this is undoubtedly the biggest question he has been asked. Can he deliver?

1505 Sceaux impressive

Un De Sceaux was so exuberant that coming to the second-last fence, you were left wondering whether there could possibly be anything left in the tank. But the way he has come home must lead you to wonder if his powers could be extended to three miles in next season's King George a la Desert Orchid.

Watching the replay, it's impossible not to have your breath taken away by some of his jumps. He really is a spectacular performer, in all respects. 

Login and see the full replay for yourself.

1455 The old team

And now the punters are firmly back behind the steering wheel of the getaway car and they're singing Ruby Walsh's name again. Did Ruby decide to send Un De Sceaux to the front at the fifth fence, or did the horse simply take him there? It's irrelevant now, because with an exhibition of puissance-style fencing and sheer enthusiasm for galloping as fast as he can, Un De Sceaux has won the Ryanair Chase.

1st Un De Sceaux 7/4F 2nd Sub Lieutenant 8/1 3rd Aso 40/1

1445 Sub Lieutenant getting worked up

Drama in the parde ring as Sub Lieutenant goes a bit wild, scatters the crowd, and is eventually walked out on to the course to be mounted by David Mullins. The jockey ends up kicking his feet out of the irons and riding rodeo-style in order to get him to settle on his way to post, and that trick seems to work.

Meanwhile, Richard Phillips, who I ended up in the same pub as last night, has just sent out a winner at Towcester. Maybe he'd have given it to me last night if I'd plucked up the courage to ask, but being British, I went and sat on a table on my own and looked at the floor instead.

1435 Inspiration

Still looking for inspiration ahead of the Ryanair Chase? Here's our horse-by-horse guide to the runners. 

Or you could just stick with our headline tipster Ben Linfoot's Value Bet column. He's been tipping up Sub Lieutenant to anyone who will listen for ages now.

Maybe you're just a Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby supporter and just want to back the favourite Un De Sceaux? Sky Bet are offering a Price Boost on him right now.

1430 Irish money rolling up

Un De Sceaux has firmly re-established himself as clear favourite for the Ryanair, something that was very much not the case after racing yesterday. As I said earlier, it's not a race that has a huge appeal as a punting medium to me given that UDS is probably the classiest horse in the race but has his fragilities too - something that's pretty much reflected in the betting. But as I also said earlier, I find myself clutching an each-way ticket on Vaniteux in the hope he might run on into a place at the business end. This is a bit like praying that your very skintest friend will suddenly and unexpectedly get his round in, but without hope we have nothing.

1420 Percy the green engine

Turns out that Alzammaar means 'lazy jumper, couldn't keep up with the, modest late gains'. The winner is Presenting Percy, which to my puerile mind, sounds very much like a metaphor for something I did at around the halfway stage when I noticed nobody was in the toilet. Pat Kelly and Davy Russell take the race for the second year running.

1st Presenting Percy 11/1 2nd Barney Dwan 16/1 3rd Jury Duty 9/1 4th The Tourard Man 66/1

1410 Alzammaar time

I don't know exactly what Alzammaar means in arabic, but I believe it might just roughly translate to 33/1 winner of the Pertemps. Let's hope so anyway.

1355 Mullins reflects

After belatedly getting on the board for the week, the trainer says: "I've no doubt he's a Champion Hurdle horse. Ruby has no doubt he's a Gold Cup horse. Looking at his pedigree, it probably says Gold Cup, so that's probably the way we'll end up going.

"There'd be no fun in winning at Cheltenham unless it was hard to win. We've had a lot of luck for the last couple of years but I knew that and you can't be disappointed when it doesn't all go your way.

"Douvan was disappointing but there was no disgrace for the mares to finish behind a good mare like Apple's Jade and the others probably just weren't good enough.

"Douvan is quite lame behind - it's either pelvis or stifle, somewhere in the upper hind leg. He was quite sore last night and quite sore this morning. We're getting an MRI scan done and we'll hopefully know more tomorrow."

1340 A tasty double?

Mark Erler emailed earlier to say he was backing today's 'good things' double of Yorkhill and Unowhatimeanharry and he can't be the only one with a ticket for that multiple in his pocket. Will the punters get their noses back in front today after a brutal first couple of days? Ruby certainly looks pleased to have got a first winner of the week on board. I don't think I've ever seen him smile so much.

1335 Ruby, Ruby, Ruby

Literally seconds after he has passed the winning post, Ruby Walsh's fan club are shouting from the grandstand. Yorkhill was nursed around the whole way like a frantic parent trying to control a hyperactive toddler at a wedding, sent to the front over the last, and then just about scrambled home as he once again idled badly in front on the run-in. Plucky Top Notch, despite being about half the size of your average racehorse, tried so hard to reel him back in, but Yorkhill had enough in hand.

Result: 1st Yorkhill 6/4F, 2nd Top Notch 7/2, 3rd Disko 4/1 

1330 And they're off!

Good luck with your investments on the third day of action at Cheltenham - they're off for the JLT. Yorkhill takes the first fence last of the eight runners and held up right off the pace.

1325 I told you

He even looks a bit mad at the start, pacing around like a bull about to charge at a matador. What a fascinating race this is going to be. Don't forget the Sky Bet offer on this race - you can get your money back even if you back a loser!

1320 Your nuts, m'lord (copyright R.Barker)

The performance of Yorkhill in about 10 minutes' time is going to have a massive effect on some of the betting markets later today. But it might not be wise to go overboard, either way. Put simply, Yorkhill is probably much the best horse in this race - the form of his victory over Yanworth at this meeting 12 months ago must put him a stone in front of these rivals. But he's also a bit bonkers and he could easily blow his chances away from the start if he jumps as badly as he did over the first two when schooling after racing at Punchestown the other day.

1315 Paddock inspection

Wisdom from paddock expert Paul Morrison on Racing UK - he's keen on Yorkhill's chance. "This game is a big up and down affair, but saying that, he is the first or the second of the Mullins horses to have really gleamed in their coat this week - the others were a bit dull."

1300 Badge

I found that much sought after Gold Cup club enclosure badge for tomorrow's racing. I asked former racing journalist of the year Lee Mottershead (who was innocently walking past) for a number and he said 12, so it goes to the 12th emailer of today - step forward Jamie Askew. See you tomorrow.

1255 Emails

Mike in Turkmenistan: "Yesterday was a strange one for me as my bet of the week somehow managed to win after looking like messing so I was on a high. The coral cup not one of my fav races but I did think Tombstone would take all the beating till I noticed a horse I watch trot up in a bumper 2 year or so back at Ascot for a training I very much like Andrew Baldwin, that day it beat the fav  who just happened to be fav for the champion hurdle on Tuesday. I still believe if Supasundae was not taken from Baldwin it would of won the bumper that year. That was my last bet of the day as in shock, as was my OIM who doubled up with me. My thoughts on Mullins horses, not running up to their rating, would place a bet on one. This is a strange Cheltenham."

JP in spring-like Paris: "Just had my first winner in the lucky last yesterday, so yes all that scarce ammo is going straight into today's racing, and they were all made yesterday evening too but without 6 pints...I cannot pick a winner just yet in the first, but I cannot let a free losing bet go by...ground, form and trainer form seem to open this race up...Sutton Manor and Alzammaar in the 2nd...nothing yet and no Vain in the 3rd, more like Vein (of form) needed...Snow Falcon in the 4th...Tango and Rock gone in the fifth (that may point to Disko in the first)...Verdana Blue and Titi de Montmartre in the penultimate...and Premier Bond in the lucky last...best of luck to all."

1250 I'm back

Sorry about that. Just putting some more bets on. It's just not possible to have enough, is it? So that was an exciting false alarm from the Tizz, who it turns out just wanted to have a chat with us about Native River and Cue Card which was nice. I hope he wins the Gold Cup with one, or ideally both of them, as they're both  lovely, honest horses who have never had their lights hidden bushels. Or something.

1220 'Crack update

It's a great shame Thistlecrack isn't running in the Gold Cup tomorrow, but there is at least some positive news on his recovery.

"I trotted him out this morning," Tizzard says. "The swelling has gone and he seems fine. I see no reason at all why he shouldn't be racing again at Christmas."

1215 Nothing to see here

Panic sweeps the press room as a press conference is called for Colin Tizzard at noon and rumours immediately begin about the wellbeing of one or all of his team.

Happily, there's nothing to see here. I am writing this from the press conference which is still happening as I type and Tizzard began by saying 'Don't worry, Cue Card's not in foal' which put everyone at ease straight away.

He admitted that it had come as a relief when Fox Norton ran as well as he did yesterday after some disappointing performances from other members of his team but says overall most of his horses are 'doing pretty much as well as we could have expected'.

As for the stress of training two of the leading hopes for tomorrow's Gold Cup he delivers another typically amusing dry line.

'You have to remember it's only a horse race and nobody's going to die... at least I hope nobody's going to die.'

1155 Uno the score

I completely get the Unowhatimeanharry thing, Tom. He's a hard who is so hard to crab in almost every respect, but if he comes to the last neck and neck with Jezki, I can't quite believe that the Irish horse won't just be able to outsprint him. Of course, by then he may be away and gone and I think Cole Harden's presence in the line-up definitely ought to help Unowhatimeanharry as he will ensure it is a thorough test, but I can't bring myself to back him at the prices.

1150 It's a hard knock life

Sometimes it's hard not to feel that I've simply wasted my life away. Ricky went for a walk in the countryside in Luxembourg this morning. Tim's in Thailand, for goodness sake. Every day must be a living dream for both of them. On the other hand, I'm trying to win enough money to pay for a new pair of rear subframe bushes on a clapped-out Mondeo and repeatedly pressing 'refresh' on the HSBC balance-checker app, hoping my request for another overdraft extension has been approved. But hey ho, at least I'm at Cheltenham.

1145 Emails

James:  Quite a frustrating week thus far, as I am sure most will agree. It’s my little saver bets that keep pulling me back level and I must thank you for giving me Special Tiara yesterday, which was one of my savers. Now, surely today is the day for us punters! I fancy Top Notch in the first. Yorkhill didn’t look too impressive last time out but Top Notch, who isn’t the biggest horse, jumped expertly last time out and he looks progressive to me. What are your thoughts? The Ryanair looks a bit of a conundrum but Sub Lieutenant’s name keeps popping up…  

Tom:  Tricky day today but perhaps solid option is top notch in the opener.  I’m a huge UNOWWHATIMEANHARRY fan so the week’s success will depend on him.  

Ricky: This morning on a lovely pre-work walk around the countryside of Luxembourg I chased off a magpie then caught sight of a rabbit (supposedly lucky, albeit I didn’t rob its foot for a keyring). Can you please post a winner on your blog to bring some kind of reason to the insanity that is my ´Cheltenham lucky rituals week'.  And not Vaniteux, I think you had more than 6 pints to pick that one (perhaps pick forge meadow, name links in with this morning).

Tim:  Your humour has already brightened my day.  I'm hoping La Bague Au Roi can do the business today. I'll need a good winner to pay for my ticket from Thailand for tomorrow's racing. Please let me know immediately if you are awarding me a ticket as I need to set off a few hours ago. I might be a few minutes late.  Have a good day.  

1140 Mullins mulling

Are the Mullins horses really that badly out of form, Stuart? Douvan finished lame, which seems excusable. Bacardys was put out of the race by a faller. Bellshill didn't run too badly in the RSA and Mullins saddled a decent fourth in the bumper yesterday, not to mention Melon's big run in the Supreme on day one.

I must admit I cringed when I heard Racing UK's paddock expert Paul Morrison say after the last race yesterday that he felt the Mullins horses "hadn't quite been looking right in their coats". I just wonder whether once Yorkhill and Let's Dance have both won today, they might be looking a bit better in their coats again. Time will tell.

1130 And there's more

I'm not sure about the Ryanair, but I do think Jezki is too big in the Stayers' Hurdle. This is a horse who raises his game at the Festivals and on good ground. With his 'bounce' run out of the way last time out, he's just the type of horse to deliver again on the big stage. Does he really stay three miles here? We won't know for sure until he tries it, but he got home okay over the trip at Punchestown in April 2015 and now at the age of nine, I strongly suspect it won't cause him any problems.

The Mildmay of Flete looks impossible, I'll be backing Let's Dance in the mares' novice hurdle as long as Yorkhill and Un De Sceaux don't both blow out horribly, but the Kim Muir is a race I like the look of more than most of the handicaps at the meeting, given that there are quite a lot of absolute no-hopers in the field. Mall Dini, Another Hero and Southfield Royale are my three against the field.

There you go then. Good luck to all of us.

1120 At the risk of sounding old..

I can't say I'd ever heard of Miles Kane before your email, Andy. But I'm listening to the relevant tune right now in my left ear. It sounds like the sort of thing I'd have appreciated coming on at the indie disco 25 years ago when I wasn't busy trying to act cool, behave improperly with girls and get served illegally.

As for today's chance of getting out of here with 'the lot', I ought to clarify that MB's thoughts on Special Tiara were borrowed from the man sat next to him. Me. Needless to say, I didn't have anywhere near enough on, but I did manage to sling another few bob on him in-running at 16s at halfway when the race seemed to be going so perfectly to plan. So I am going into bat today with something in the tanks, for a pleasant change, although God knows I tried my best to give it all back on the final three races yesterday.

I don't have much of a view on the JLT. Yorkhill might be brilliant and might be awful. If he behaves himself, he could win by 20 lengths, but there are enough doubts about him and a mild concerns over the stable form (more of which later) to persuade me to stay out of the market.

I've backed about 10 of them in the Pertemps. Clondaw Cian is better than he has showed the last twice and the cheekpieces come out at the right time, Barney Dwan doesn't know how to run a bad race and is just the right type for this even if he's got plenty of weight, Jury Duty and Impulsive Star look obvious enough, but the one that wins me the most is Alzammaar. He loves good ground and was a major eyecatcher for me at Musselburgh last time. His trainer is very, very interesting and Nietzsche did the form of his previous Catterick run no harm whatsoever yesterday. I think he's a big, big price. So stick that one in your coupon, as it were.

1100 Correspondence

Andy Hughes: "Will, where the hell have you been and is Matt still droning on about how he had Douvan beat by Special Tiara yesterday?! Onto today. Picture the scene. You give us the winners of all 7 races today. We bust the bookies. We all retire on our £1 e/w coupons. Forever more every time you walk into a pub your entry song comes on and the pub erupts...'Will Hayler. Will Hayle-e-e-er.  Yeah yeah yeah'*. Make it happen Will. Thanks in advance."

*To the tune of Inhaler by Miles Kane.

James Ross: "Does it feel to you there are less Irish there this year? I was at Cheltenham on Tuesday and it felt less Irish partisan support than usual. Now back at work slugging away dreaming of getting the badge."

Stuart: "Looking forward to today, I think Top Notch looks a good thing in the first, particularly with Mullins horses being so badly out of form, Empire of Dirt in the Ryanair and Uknowwhatimeanharry in the Stayers. Should be a nice little trixie. Thoughts? P.S I genuinely want to come to the races tomorrow, I am free to meet you to collect it from you at about 11.30am, no comment on the raging psychopath bit!"

Jamie: "I don't think I am alone in fending off the bailiffs with a stick after the first two days of this impossible Festival. So bad were things yesterday that I decided it would be unwise to continue my annual tradition of backing Special Tiara for the Champion Chase, thinking the money would be better spent elsewhere, a cross country bet on Any Currency perhaps. Alas. I am hoping Unowhatimeanharry can pull one back for the punters today, and Top Notch can do me a good turn.  Happy hunting."  

1040 Last night, she said

The plan last night was to keep things steady away and it started well with a very self-disciplined Falafel salad (delicious) and a slow pint on my own in a nice pub. Unfortunately, it finished with an utter lack of self-discipline, six pints and some enormous sweet and sour chicken balls. They were genuinely off the scale. Such behaviour goes a long way to explain why I've woken up with what could only be described as a substantial portfolio of investments on today's racing. Some stand up fine to scrutiny in the cold light of the day. Others include a stupidly large bet on Vaniteux in the Ryanair. I mean, seriously, Vaniteux?

1035 Big prize news

Congratulations to whoever Matt Brocklebank picked to win a Gold Cup badge on the first day (probably someone, entirely coincidentally, with the same surname) and the exciting news is that I have another to give away today. Please only email me if you genuinely want to come to the races tomorrow, are free to meet me to collect it from me at about 11.30am, and if you're not a raging psychopath. Send me your thoughts on today's racing action to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and someone will win this prize today. If I can find it. I thought it was in my bag, but it could be in the car. You know how it is.

1030 Hear me now

Click here to listen to some waffle from me about today's racing 

1015 Latest news from the track

I'm not surprised that Simon Claisse chose to water the course given the lack of rain in the weather forecast for at least the next 24 hours, but conditions are markedly cooler and breezier this morning than was the case yesterday and I am surprised to read that 10mm of water was added across the course - that sounds rather a lot to my inexpert mind. The official going is 'Good, Good to Soft in places' and the bends have been dolled out to add some distance to all races on the chase course.

Poor Mark Walsh will have to wait even longer for his first Cheltenham Festival winner as he broke his leg yesterday in a fall. Robbie Power takes over on Stayers' Hurdle winner (you heard it here first) Jezki and Wayne Hutchinson on Uxizandre.

1000 Good Morning from Cheltenham

My brain is addled, my limbs are aching, for the last 48 hours my body has been abused in the most hideous way, my wallet is nought but a weeping wound. It can all only mean thing. I'm live from the Cheltenham Festival. Good morning.