Cheltenham Day 3: Tips for Every Race in the ITV7 Today

We welcome Day 3 of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. I’ll be on hand to try and navigate you through the ITV7 today, where you can win up to £300,000 if you pick seven winners from the selected races. Entries must be made by 13:30 each day ahead of the competition.

Best of luck.

Race 1 - Iroko

Facile Vega could be difficult to beat if he performs to his best over this trip, but preference is for IROKO in the Turners Novices’ Chase (Race 1). His connections wouldn’t be risking him after his injury without good reason, and he was so impressive on his chase debut. He will like the ground; he stays further and won at this meeting last year. He should run a big race.

Race 2 – Farouk D’Alene

FAROUK D’ALENE remains lightly raced for his age, and, with the conditions and the trip to suit, I am confident of a big performance from Gordon Elliott’s participant in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Race 2).

He would have gone close in last year’s Brown Advisory Novices' Chase without falling at the second last fence, and a repeat in this contest would be enough to see him outclass these.

Race 3 – Destiny Is All

Over at Hexham, in the BK Racing Hexham Marathon Handicap Chase (Race 3), I’m banking on DESTINY IS ALL to relish the distance and be the victor.

The 10-year-old is two pounds below his last winning mark and ran well over 3m5f in similar ground when second at Warwick last March. The combination of a drop in grade and a change in headgear could see him come out on top for last year’s winning stable.

Race 4 - Protektorat

This is a cracking renewal of the Ryanair Chase (Race 4). Last year’s winner, Envoi Allen, could be hard to beat, but PROTEKTORAT has run very well in the Gold Cup for the last two years, and this race looks perfect for him at this stage of his career. He has run with credit the last two times behind top-class horses, and his overall record at this course is solid. He’s a massive player.

Race 5 – Asterion Forlonge

I could easily make a case for a handful of runners in the feature race, the Stayers’ Hurdle (Race 5). However, I’ll take a swing at one of my old favourites, ASTERION FORLONGE.

He is a very high-class horse on his day and has run well at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, such as the Turners Novices’ Chase and the Gold Cup. Crambo is the likely winner, but this horse certainly won’t disgrace himself and should be thereabouts.

Race 6 - Inexplicable

INEXPLICABLE is very reliable at this sort of level, so he must be the logical choice in the Win 2,000,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Classified Stakes (Race 6).

He has course and distance-winning form and has form figures over this distance this year that read 312323. He must have a good chance in what is a weak race.

Race 7 – James Du Berlais

The top-weight JAMES DU BERLAIS makes plenty of appeal in the Plate Handicap Chase (Race 7). He has been highly tried at the Cheltenham Festival for the last two years and has been in good form this season by making the frame in two highly competitive handicaps the last two times.

The eight-year-old has an excellent chance under Daryl Jacob.