The Punchestown Festival is well and truly in full flow now and day three is headlined by the Champion Stayers Hurdle as Teahupoo bids to retain his crown.

Gordon Elliott's star is one of two horses in our Punchestown day three accumulator bidding to atone for a near miss at the Cheltenham Festival by signing off with a win at peerless Punchestown.

Punchestown Accumulator Day 3

Punchestown Betting Offer

Stealthy Tom can strike for Bolger

There once was a time when Enda Bolger was utterly dominant in Cross Country races both here and in the UK but, with some better class horses now taking aim at these prizes, the Limerick-based handler has plenty more on his plate.

STEALTHY TOM was second in the La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase in 2023 for Bolger and owner JP McManus and is fancied to go a place better now.

Since 2022 his Punchestown record reads 21233. On his most recent visit he was well held in third behind today's rival Vanillier in February. That was over a mile shorter trip and on heavy ground, with trip and conditions much more suitable for Bolger's 10-year-old this time, aided to the fact he is more than a stone better off at the revised weights with that Gavin Cromwell-trainer winner.

Vanillier, the forecast market leader, has been to Cheltenham and Aintree since for tough races, while Stealthy Tom had a preparatory spin around Ballinrobe over hurdles earlier this month. He's set for a big run for the one-time King of the Banks.

Donoghue to take his time on Sixandahalf

Keith Donoghue was a picture of frustration when SIXANDAHALF was left as the bridesmaid in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

The smart Flat mare had created a strong impression in her hurdles debut win at Fairyhouse (2m2½f, yielding to soft) in January and she jumped slickly and travelled powerfully in the Cotswolds where she had been backed into favouritism on the day.

She picked up the running at the last and appeared to have all angles covered but Rachael Blackmore and Air Of Entitlement came over the top in the dying strides, leading Donoghue to suggest later: 'I'm still trying to figure out how I was beaten on her'.

It's the best form on offer coming here and the drop into Listed company gives her a great chance to gain some compensation and a big spring festival success for a trainer nearing the end of a magnificent season.

Teahupoo can masters Stayers again

Another horse that was a victim of Rachael Blackmore's genius around Cheltenham was TEAHUPOO, as he was denied back-to-back wins in the Stayers' Hurdle by Bob Olinger.

Teahupoo and Jack Kennedy got to the front early in the home straight but Blackmore had Bob Olinger stalking in behind and going menacingly well. They stayed on strongly up the hill to deny Teahupoo, Bob Olinger extending an unbeaten record at the Cotswolds track and netting his third Festival win in doing so.

There was a big gap after the front two and a seven-week interval from Cheltenham to here should be optimal for Teahupoo given he likes to be fresh.

He won this race in decisive fashion after Cheltenham last season and, arguably, this field doesn't appear to be as strong now.

Crambo, in first-time cheekpieces, could be the one to fear if Fergal O'Brien's raider can find his best stuff but Teahupoo is hard to knock on form and should land successive renewals of this Grade 1 event