The Irish Edge: Johnny Ward's day three Cheltenham tips

Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival is just a sleep away and it is laced with talent and incredible prize money. We have 3 Grade 1’s, 2 Grade 2’s and 3 Handicaps to look forward to.

The feature races on Thursday are the Stayers’ Hurdle, in which last year’s winner and people’s favourite, Bob Olinger bids to defend his crown. Half an hour later, Fact To File is odds-on favourite to take the the Ryanair Chase.

The first race kicks off at 13.20 and follows through to the final race at 17.20.

Johnny Ward and Tommy Lyons have provided expert analysis and given their selections on Thursday’s card on the latest episode of The Irish Edge. Here are Johnny’s selections.

15.20 Stayers’ Hurdle

Not everyone loves the Stayers' Hurdle. People say it's for failed chasers, but year in, year out Teahupoo drifts in the betting and either wins or goes very close in this race.

I got a bit of information on Saturday at Gowran. Someone said Bob Olinger is flying. He won this race last year, beating Teahupoo, and Gordon Elliott said afterwards Jack Kennedy might have ridden the race differently.

Bob Olinger is 11 now - which is quite old, but not unheard of for this race.

At the prices I'm going to chance him each-way.

I can't have Ballyburn myself. I don't think this trip - a proper stamina test - suits him at all.

Ballyburn obviously has a chance, and Home By The Lee as Tommy said last week,

probably has one big run in him.

What I'd actually do is back Bob Olinger and have a saver on the owner's other horse Teahupoo, who has been drifting like he does every year.

16.00 Ryanair Chase

The Ryanair Chase is a race people sometimes knock, but the fact that Fact To File and Jonbon are declared makes it really interesting.

I'm delighted Jonbon runs. He's like the Teahupoo of chasing - never out of the first two. What a racehorse.

People say he doesn't act around Cheltenham. I'm actually a subscriber to that idea, but he still has a chance.

Another horse I like is Banbridge.

I tipped him earlier in the week. The lads said he might go to Aintree instead, so I put him out of my mind, but they've decided to run here because of the ground.

He was second to The Jukebox Man in the King George. He bombed in the Gold Cup last year, but he's better than that.

Fact To File probably comes right on the day, but I'm not sure about taking 8/13.

Two of his last four runs were disappointing. He bombed at Punchestown last year and didn't fire in the King George after that brilliant seasonal reappearance.

He loves Cheltenham, but at 8/13 it's a watching brief for me.

16.40 Pertemps Final

I'm going to sound like an absolute mug here, Tommy, but I'm going with Supremely West.

His first run for the Skeltons this season at Cheltenham - he finished an eye-catching third behind Ma Shantou That looks like solid prep for this race.

Somehow he's 2lb lower now. He was 11/1 the last day. You always sympathise with the mythical man in the betting shop who backed him the previous three times when he finished nowhere, then can't back him the day he wins.

Dan Skelton loves Cheltenham. Supremely West looks like a bit of a plot. But historically this has been the toughest race to solve at the entire meeting.

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