We combine the three most backed horses of Cheltenham Festival to make a massive 33/1 accumulator.
Cheltenham Day 3 Accumulator Tips
- Bambino Fever - Mares Novices' Hurdle
- Slade Steel - Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
- Fact To File - Ryanair Chase
Best price 33/1 with 888Sport at the time of publishing.
Mares Novices' Hurdle
Bambino Fever
42% of bets in the Mares Novices' Hurdle
Bambino Fever looks primed to secure a second victory at the Festival after already proving she thrives on this stage. The Willie Mullins-trained mare won the Champion Bumper here 12 months ago and arrives with an impressive record of six wins from seven career starts, highlighting her consistency and class.
Her only defeat this season came on her hurdles debut at Naas when she was narrowly beaten half a length by Oldschool Outlaw on heavy ground. That run can be upgraded slightly as she was not entirely fluent over her hurdles and was making her first start of the campaign. She quickly put that behind her next time at Fairyhouse, where she made all and powered clear to win a maiden hurdle by 12 lengths, suggesting she had taken a significant step forward.
Oldschool Outlaw has since boosted the form by landing a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and is an obvious danger again, but Bambino Fever’s strong travelling style and proven turn of foot – developed during an unbeaten bumper campaign – could prove decisive, especially on quicker ground that should suit her much better.
With race fitness, course form at the Festival, and further improvement likely over hurdles, Bambino Fever sets a high standard. If she reproduces the level she showed at Fairyhouse, she has every chance of reversing the Naas form and landing another Cheltenham success.
Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
Slade Steel
15% of bets in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
Slade Steel could be well treated returning to the scene of his biggest success and looks capable of finally getting off the mark over fences.
Henry de Bromhead’s runner has already proven he handles the unique demands of Cheltenham, having captured the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival. That victory came during a strong novice hurdle campaign in which he won four of his seven starts and finished placed in the other three, highlighting his consistency at a high level.
While his chasing career is still waiting for a first win, the raw form of his efforts suggests he has been knocking firmly on the door. He has finished runner-up in four of his completed starts over fences and was again narrowly denied at Navan last time when second over three miles. That longer trip likely stretched his stamina, so this shorter distance should play much more to his strengths.
Conditions also look more suitable now. Slade Steel has often been competing on soft ground or over extended trips this winter, whereas a return to Cheltenham on better ground should allow his pace and jumping to be more effective.
Given his proven Festival form, strong underlying chase performances, and what appears to be a workable handicap mark, Slade Steel has the profile of a horse ready to convert those near misses into a deserved victory.
Ryanair Chase
Fact To File
51% of bets in the Ryanair Chase
Fact To File looks the one they all have to beat as he bids to successfully defend his crown after returning to top form in emphatic style.
Last year’s winner produced a dominant display to land this race by nine lengths and has an outstanding record at Cheltenham, winning twice from three starts and finishing runner-up in the other. That proven Festival form is a major asset in a race where course experience often proves decisive.
His latest outing suggested he is back at the peak of his powers. After a below-par run at Kempton on Boxing Day, he bounced back with a commanding five-length victory in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, beating high-class rivals including Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs. That performance confirmed he remains one of the leading staying chasers around.
Connections have opted to bypass the Gold Cup and return here to defend his title, a decision that makes plenty of sense given how well the race suits him. Conditions should again play to his strengths, with similar ground to last year expected and a trip that allows him to use his stamina and cruising speed effectively.
With strong course form, proven Grade 1 ability and momentum restored after his Leopardstown success, Fact To File sets a very high standard and looks well placed to repeat last year’s triumph.
