Cheltenham Day 3 picks as Tote ambassador and leading jockey Danny Mullins continues his head-to-head battle with oddschecker’s Steve Ryder.
Cheltenham Day 3
Mullins has two rides on Cheltenham Day 3, including the well-fancied defending champion Flooring Porter in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He gives us his thoughts on their chances and who he would put in his Placepot for the rest of Thursday’s action.
| RACE NUMBER | DANNY MULLINS | STEVE RYDER |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galopin Des Champs | Bob Olinger |
| 2 | Sire Du Berlais | Sire Du Berlais |
| 3 | Allaho | Allaho |
| 4 | Flooring Porter | Thyme Hill |
| 5 | Grand Paradis | Fusil Raffles |
| 6 | Dinoblue | Party Central |
And don’t forget, there is a free Placepot for all tote.co.uk customers on each and every day of the Festival. For all the information you need, click on the offer below.
Race 1 (13:30) – Turners Novices’ Chase
Danny Mullins - Galopin Des Champs
This looks like a matchup between the big two; Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger. I’ll go with the former. There is very little between the two, but Galopin Des Champs’ jumping is a little bit sharper, so that’s enough for me to take him.
Steve Ryder - Bob Olinger
This looks a match race between Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger and preference goes to the latter. The Henry de Bromhead trained seven-year-old has only tasted defeat once in his seven-race career and that came behind Ferny Hollow on his hurdling debut. Since then, he has won easily over both hurdles and fences with his shortest winning distance being by 4 ¾ lengths.
He showed last year with his victory over Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle that he handles the track well and he has very little question marks coming into this race. Many crabbed his jumping technique on his chasing debut but I didn’t feel it was too bad and he progressed well with an impressive victory in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time.
Last year’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle winner Galopin Des Champs is obviously respected following his impressive victory at the Dublin Racing Festival last time but I feel Bob Olinger will have too much speed for him and expect the de Bromhead trained gelding to win this.
Race 2 (14:10) – Pertemps Network Final
Danny Mullins - Sire Du Berlais
Sire Du Berlais has a great record around Cheltenham. I think with Rob James’ 7lb claim here it puts him right back into the reckoning. He's sure to be there with a chance at the finish.
Steve Ryder - Sire Du Berlais
This is a wide open renewal of the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle but Cheltenham brings the best out of Sire Du Berlais and I feel he holds strong claims of winning this race for a third time.
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The Gordon Elliott-trained 10-year-old won this race off a mark of 145 in 2019 and 152 in 2020 before finishing second in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year behind Flooring Porter. His runs so far this season have been extremely eye-catching and he has been given a chance by the handicapper off a mark of 156 which is only 1lb higher than his Irish mark.
Race 3 (14:50) – Ryanair Chase
Danny Mullins - Allaho
I think it looks like a fairly straightforward task for Allaho. His victory here last year was very good, and he's kicked since. So far this season he has been top class; he should take all the beating here.
Steve Ryder - Allaho
The likes of Conflated, Shan Blue and Eldorado Allen will ensure that Allaho doesn’t have it all his own way in the Ryanair Chase this year but a repeat victory in the race looks extremely likely. The Willie Mullins trained eight-year-old won this race by 12 lengths last season in an impressive front running performance and I expect him to do the same again this year.
He won on his reappearance at Punchestown in the John Durkan Chase before winning easily at Thurles last time. Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated looks the biggest danger to the selection but I expect Allaho to win this race for a second time.
Race 4 (15:30) – Stayers’ Hurdle
Danny Mullins – Flooring Porter
It's a very competitive race but I think he has every chance of repeating last year’s victory.
Steve Ryder - Thyme Hill
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of Flooring Porter, Klassical Dream, Champ or Paisley Park win the Stayers’ Hurdle this year but for the purpose of a placepot the only logical selection is Thyme Hill.
Forgiving an uncharacteristic below par run in France on his reappearance, the Philip Hobbs trained eight-year-old has been a model of consistency in his career which is what you want from a placepot selection.
He missed this race through injury last season but won the Grade 1 at Aintree instead and comes into this race having finished a close second behind Champ at Ascot in the Long Walk Hurdle.
He ran well to finish third in the Champion Bumper behind Envoi Allen and a close fourth behind Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett so he brings Festival form into the race and he looks the most solid of those at the top of the market.
Race 5 (16:10) – Paddy Power Plate
Danny Mullins - Grand Paradis
I think Grand Paradis is running off a nice mark and Davy takes the ride. He’s been placed in a few nice beginners chases in Ireland through the winter and he could be one to hit the frame here.
Steve Ryder - Fusil Raffles
The UK have a strong hand in the Plate this year and preference goes to the Nicky Henderson trained Fusil Raffles off a mark of 149. The seven-year-old finished second in the Turners Novices’ Chase last season before pulling up when sent off favourite for the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
He was a fortuitous winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby before finishing fourth over this course and distance off a mark of 152. He didn’t jump well when pulled up over 3 miles in the Sky Bet Chase last time but that has meant he has dropped 2lbs down to a mark of 149 and I think he will outrun his odds.
Race 6 (16:50) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Danny Mullins - Dinoblue
Dinoblue was very good in Clonmel and judging by her work at home she's very classy, she’ll take all the beating here.
Steve Ryder - Party Central
With my original selection Night And Day balloted out of the race, I do feel that Party Central is the solid option. The Gordon Elliott trained mare is unbeaten since she has been fitted with a tongue tie and comes here following an impressive win at the Dublin Racing Festival.
