Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Lucky 15 Tips – Four Selections for Thursday 18th March
Affectionately known as ‘St. Patrick’s Thursday’, day three of the Festival features an Irish ‘banker’, in the form of Envoi Allen in the Marsh Novices’ Chase, but there’s plenty of value to be found elsewhere, we think.
Today’s lucky 15 tips start in the 1.55pm Pertemps Final and then we wait until the Paddy Power Plate at 3.40pm for the second leg. The Stayers Hurdle takes place in between these races but the gloss has been taken off that race with Thyme Hill injured. The last two races of the day make up the final two selections.
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1.55pm – Pertemps Final: Imperial Alcazar
In the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (1:55), trainer Fergal O’Brien has had a few nice things to say about Imperial Alcazar (9/2 with Bet365) in recent weeks, including that he was considering a crack at the Stayers’ Hurdle for the 7-year-old. The stoutly-bred gelding has risen 8lb in the weights as the result of winning a Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier at Warwick in January, but did so comfortably and should be able to confirm the form with those that finished behind him on that occasion. Furthermore, he looks ideally suited to the demands of the New Course, so it’ll take a smart performance to prevent him from following up.
3.40pm – Paddy Power Plate: Paddys Poem
The Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (3:40) is yet another wide-open Festival handicap, but Paddy’s Poem (20/1 with Bet365) is an admirably consistent type, who still looks reasonably treated under a 5lb penalty. Nick Gifford’s 10-year-old has yet to win on going softer than ‘good’, but has run well on good to soft, soft and heavy going already this season, and appeared to improve for stepping up to 2 miles 4 furlongs, for the first time in his career, at Wincanton just over a fortnight ago. He may surprise some better-fancied rivals.
4.15pm – Mares’ Novices Hurdle: Gauloise
Willie Mullins has won all five runnings of the Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (4:15) so far and had a handful of entries at the 5-day declaration stage this time around. Of the quartet that remains, Gauloise (8/1 with Bet365), the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend, makes most appeal. She is actually 6lb worse off for the 1½ lengths she finished behind Royal Kahala at Fairyhouse last month, but 3lb better off for the 3½ lengths she finished behind the winner that day, Roseys Hollow. She is no ‘shoe-in’ at today’s weights, but the Irish maestro probably left to work on after Fairyhouse and she looks decent value at the odds on offer.
4.50pm – Kim Muir Handicap: Deise Alba
Earlier this season, owner Trevor Hemmings stated that Cloth Cap and Deise Alba (5/1 with Bet365) represented his best chances of winning a fourth Grand National. We all know what’s happened to Cloth Cap in the interim so, after returning to form at Sandown last month, Deise Alba looks the one to be on in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (4:50). Fifth, off an identical handicap mark, last year, Philip Hobbs’ 8-year-old has the assistance of Richard Johnson this time around and may well demonstrate his National credentials.
Cheltenham Day 3 Lucky 15 Tip
Imperial Alcazar (1:55)
Paddy’s Poem (3:40)
Gauloise (4:15)
Deise Alba (4:50)
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