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- Day 3
Day 3: St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday 12 March 2026
Cheltenham 14 March 2025 Bob Olinger and Rachael Blackmore win
Healy Racing PhotosDay three of the Cheltenham Festival kicks off at 13:20 with the Mares Novices’ Hurdle and runs through to the finale at 17:25 with the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Vincent Finegan's Day 3 Tips
Nap - Teahupoo - Stayers HurdleTeahupoo looks one of the bets of the week at Cheltenham this year. He won this race in 2024 and in my view was unlucky in last year’s renewal when beaten by Bob Olinger. On that occasion Jack Kennedy waited in front before being run down in the closing stages by Bob Olinger. In this season’s Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown Kennedy kicked on turning for home and quickly put the race to bed with Bob Olinger 7 lengths adrift in second place. A similar positive display at Cheltenham will make him extremely difficult to beat again.
Next Best - Haiti Couleurs - Pertemps Network Handicap HurdleIrish and Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs is a possible for the Gold Cup enroute to the Aintree Grand National, but connections also have the significantly easier option of coming here for this handicap hurdle. He won a qualifier on his seasonal debut at Newbury in November and is potentially well-treated over hurdles.
Laurence Morter's Day 3 Tips
Our expert, Laurence Morter, has provided selections and analysis for three of the races on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
- Thursday’s Tips
15.20 Cheltenham - Teahupoo
16.00 Cheltenham - Fact To File
16.40 Cheltenham - Ace Of Spades
15.20 Cheltenham - Teahupoo
Teahupoo has been a class act this season with a perfect two wins from two. After a narrow defeat in this race last year he went to the Punchestown Festival to win the Stayers’ Hurdle before his two wins this season, first in the Hatton’s Grace and then when last seen in the Christmas Hurdle.
What is most noticeable about him is that he will not allow himself to be beaten and we have seen time and again him rallying in the closing stages in order to get to the line first, and while he only has one win at Cheltenham to his name, he is the one to beat in this field.
He will go toe to toe with some old foes, such as Bob Olinger and Ballyburn, but he has beaten them already this season which suggests that, all being well, he is likely to come out on top once again.
16.00 Cheltenham - Fact To File
Fact To File has been running well this season and looks well set to back up his win in this race 12 months ago.
A narrow second on his seasonal reappearance, he was slightly disappointing in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, finishing some way back from the leaders with no obvious reason for such a lacklustre display.
However he bounced back with a terrific win in the Irish Gold Cup to show that his previous run was merely a blip and he is still a class act on his day.
He may have a bit to find if connections choose to send Gaelic Warrior down this route instead of the Gold Cup, but Fact To File has beaten that rival this season, having only been a neck behind on his reappearance, so could once again come out on top.
16.40 Cheltenham - Ace Of Spades
Another who has run superbly this season and looks to be flying slightly under the radar in the betting is the Dan Seklton-trained Ace Of Spades.
Rarely finishing outside the first two home throughout his career, his recent form has given cause for optimism coming into this. A narrow second place at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day was followed up with a brilliant win in a Pertemps Qualifier at Huntingdon three weeks later.
He also has a course win to his name to go with his second place in January, which suggests that he likes the track, and while he was put up 5lb for his win last time out, his consistent nature means he cannot be discounted.
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