Cheltenham Day 3 Tips - Thursday's Tips for the 2025 Festival
Check out our expert tips for day three of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
Craig Jones
Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, also known as 'St Patrick's Thursday,' promises top-class racing, and we've got you covered with our expert Cheltenham Day 3 tips.
The card features two thrilling Grade 1 contests - the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers' Hurdle.
Looking for expert betting insights? Check out our free Cheltenham Day 3 tips and the best Cheltenham betting offers available ahead of the Festival.
| Race | Tip |
| Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Tips | Paddy Brennan - Jubilee Alpha (Each-Way) |
| Jack Richards Novices’ Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Pic Rock (Each-Way) Charlie McCann - Pic Rock (Each-Way) & Springwell Bay (Each-Way) Paddy Brennan - Springwell Bay (Each-Way) |
| Pertemps Network Final Tips | Alan Kelly - Guard The Moon (Each-Way) & Catch Him Derry (Each-Way) Charlie McCann - Zain Nights (Each-Way) Paddy Brennan - Jeriko Du Reponet & One Big Bang (Each-Way) |
| Ryanair Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Il Est Francais (Nap) Charlie McCann - Jungle Boogie (Each-Way) Paddy Brennan - Fact To File |
| Stayers’ Hurdle Tips | Alan Kelly - Teahupoo Charlie McCann - Teahupoo Paddy Brennan - The Wallpark (Each-Way) |
| Festival Plate Tips | Alan Kelly - Jagwar & Thecompanysergeant (Each-Way) Charlie McCann - Jagwar & Masaccio Paddy Brennan - Masaccio (Each-Way) |
| Kim Muir Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Git Maker (Each-Way) Charlie McCann - Walking On Air & Git Maker Paddy Brennan - Johnnywho (Nap) & Manothepeople (Each-Way) |
Cheltenham Day 3 Betting Tips
The third day of the Cheltenham Festival is known as St Patrick's Thursday, and it's a day that has two races co-headlining the action, with the Stayers Hurdle and Ryanair Chase together.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Tips
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Jubilee Alpha (Each-Way)
Paddy Brennan - Jubilee Alpha (Each-Way)
I was surprised that Patrick Mullins rides Maughreen.
I thought she was best of Willies, but obviously, Paul Townsend doesn't believe so - he rides Aurora Vega.
At a much higher price, the horse I like in this is JUBILEE ALPHA (Each Way) for Paul Nicholls.
I've been with her all year, and the race will be run to suit - she's got a big change.
Check out our Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Betting Odds.
Jack Richards Novices’ Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Pic Roc (Each-Way)
- Charlie McCann's Tips - Pic Roc (Each-Way) & Springwell Bay (Each-Way)
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Springwell Bay (Each-Way)
Alan Kelly - Pic Roc (Each-Way)
A wide open novices’ limited handicap chase in which 12 of the 20 runners are trained in Ireland. Firefox, Nurburgring and Moon D’Orange are all respected contenders from across the Irish Sea, but the each-way vote goes to PIC ROC (Each-Way), one of two runners for the Ben Pauling stable.
Ben Jones’ mount showed consistent form in novice hurdles last season, including runner-up spots in hugely competitive handicaps at Sandown in the spring. A faller on his debut over fences at Carlisle in November, the seven-year-old ran with credit in finishing a close second on his other two outings over the bigger obstacles and can prove competitive off a mark of 137.
Check out our Jack Richards Novices’ Chase Betting Odds.
Pertemps Network Final Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tips - Guard The Moon (Each-Way) & Catch Him Derry (Each-Way)
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Zain Nights (Each-Way)
- Paddy Brennan's Tips - Jeriko Du Reponet & One Big Bang (Each-Way)
Charlie McCann - Zain Nights (Each-Way)
ZAIN NIGHTS (Each-Way) came alive at this time of the year last season, and he ran a good race on ground softer than ideal at Huntingdon last time in a qualifier for the race and the ground appears to be coming right for Lucy Wadham’s six-year-old. He is only 2lbs higher than when winning the valuable 3m handicap hurdle on Swinton Day at Haydock last spring.
Good ground is the key to Lucy Wadham’s gelding who will be partnered by Charlie Deutsch for the first time with his regular partner Tom Cannon retained by Alan King. A useful stayer on the flat for Roger Charlton – rated 89 – and the 33/1 available at the time of writing - Tuesday afternoon – looks fair.
I wrote this preview ahead of the snow and sleet which hit the track on Wednesday morning. I appreciate we will be racing on the New course on Thursday, but I will be monitoring the times on the second day to see if conditions have slowed appreciably.
The Pertemps trip is just shy of three miles and that, and the forecast decent ground, will suit Doddiethegreat who has been raised 5lbs since finishing second at Haydock last time in first time cheekpieces. That looks a shade harsh but without the rise Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old would not have got a run and Brian Hughes, who rode the horse last time, keeps the ride.
That Haydock run was the first time the horse had raced over 3m, and he will not be the strongest stayer in the field, but he travelled very well last time, and he still has time to fulfil the promise he showed as a novice. He is considered the chief threat.
Stablemate Jeriko Du Reponet heads the market after his eye-catching third at Exeter last time but in a desperately difficult looking handicap I have thrown a few quid on a couple of the outsiders.
Check out our Pertemps Network Final Betting Odds.
Ryanair Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Il Est Francais (Nap)
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Jungle Boogie (Each-Way)
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Fact To File
Alan Kelly - Il Est Francais (Nap)
Having backed the Venetia Williams-trained Djelo (each-way) at prices ranging from 33/1 to 14/1, I will be hoping for a big run from Charlie Deutsch’s mount, who has looked a much improved performer either side of a below-par run behind Protektorat at Windsor in January, a course which didn’t seem to suit the Montmartre gelding.
However, I think Djelo, along with the other seven contenders for this extended 2m 4f championship contest, may struggle to lay a glove on French challenger IL EST FRANCAIS (Nap), the mount of James Reveley. The seven-year-old looked like winning Kempton’s King George on Boxing Day until collared close home by Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge.
While Prestbury Park is something of an unknown for the French runner, I actually think the course will suit him better than Kempton, where his rider was never able to give his mount a breather. If the race goes as I expect, we could see something quite spectacular from the Gallic front-runner, provided he does not break a blood vessel, as was the case at Auteuil in November.
Check out our Ryanair Chase Betting Odds.
Stayers’ Hurdle Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Teahupoo
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Teahupoo (Nap)
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - The Wallpark (Each-Way)
Charlie McCann - Teahupoo (Nap)
There is no guaranteed pace in the Stayers’ Hurdle and that is a negative for The Wallpark who was purchased by JP McManus after landing a Pertemps qualifier here back in the autumn, but the ground looks sure to suit as a sound surface is imperative to his chance.
Home By The Lea was readily brushed aside by TEAHUPOO (Nap) in this race last year and at Punchestown later in the spring and I am surprised to see him drift out in the betting. He was well beaten by Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse in the Hatton’s Grace on his reappearance at the beginning of December, but that was over 2m4f, and that form does not look too shabby on the back of her facile win in the Mares’ Hurdle here on Tuesday.
The eight-year-old has an excellent record fresh and has been kept back for today by Gordon Elliot. He goes in all ground although he would have appreciated the snow/sleet that hit the track on Wednesday morning. There are many who believe he should be coming here on a hat-trick having finished third in the race two years ago beaten less than a length and he has drifted to a backable price.
Check out our Stayers’ Hurdle Betting Odds.
Festival Plate Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tips - Jagwar & Thecompanysergeant (Each-Way)
- Charlie McCann's Tips - Jagwar & Masaccio
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Masaccio (Each-Way)
Paddy Brennan - Masaccio (Each-Way)
Jagwar has a great chance, but the horse I like in this is MASACCIO (Each-Way) for Alan King and Tom Cannon.
He's got form on the track behind Jagwar on Trials Day, and I think on slightly better ground in a fast run race he looks overpriced,
This has been a plan for a while, and he's got a hell of an engine, and I think it really suits him when he has a break between his races.
He'll be fresh and well and has a big chance.
Check out our Festival Plate Betting Odds.
Kim Muir Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Git Maker (Each-Way)
- Charlie McCann's Tips - Walking On Air & Git Maker
- Paddy Brennan's Tips - Johnnywho (Nap) & Manothepeople (Each-Way)
Alan Kelly - Git Maker (Each-Way)
Runner-up in this race 12 months ago behind Friday’s Gold Cup third favourite Inothewayurthinkin, with the third horse some 18 lengths away, the Jamie Snowden-trained GIT MAKER (Each-Way) went on to finish third in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on his final start of the season.
Off a mark only 1lb higher than last year, and with top amateur William Biddick back in the saddle, the nine-year-old is fancied to run well again and makes plenty of appeal (each-way) at odds of around 14/1. This looks to have been Git Maker’s target for some time and with the stable in excellent form, the selection is expected to improve for his run in Haydock’s Grand National Trial last month.
Check out our Kim Muir Chase Betting Odds.
Cheltenham Day 3 Schedule
Check out the full schedule for the third day of the 2025 Festival.
| Time | Cheltenham Day 3 Races |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Mares Novices' Hurdle |
| 2:00pm | Jack Richards Novices’ Chase |
| 2:40pm | Pertemps Network Final |
| 3:20pm | Ryanair Chase |
| 4:00pm | Stayers’ Hurdle |
| 4:40pm | Festival Plate |
| 5:20pm | Kim Muir Chase |
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Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Overview
With the addition of the Ryanair Chase to day three of the Cheltenham Festival, we have two races that share the title of being the feature race on the card.
The Ryanair Chase is a fantastic race and has seen improved quality year after year, and this year's Ryanair could be one of the highlights of the entire Festival.
The second feature is the Stayers' Hurdle, the race which has headlined this day for many years and is an integral part of the Festival.
Remember, check out all the latest Cheltenham free bets to enjoy on Day 3 of the Festival.
What Happened Last Year?
Relive all the excitement and drama of Day 3 at the 2024 Festival.
Cheltenham Day 3 FAQs
When is Cheltenham Day 3?
The third day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival is known as ‘St. Patrick’s Day Thursday’ and takes places on Thursday, March 13th, 2025.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase?
The Turners Novices’ Chase was first established in 2011, as a new race at the Festival. Perhaps two of the most memorable winners in recent years were Vautour in 2015, and Samcro in 2020.
What is the Turners Novices’ Chase?
The Turner Novices’ Chase opens proceedings on Day 3 of the Festival at 1:30pm. This is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase for novice horses aged five years or older and is run on Cheltenham’s New Course over a distance of two miles and four furlongs with 17 fences jumped.
What is the Stayers' Hurdle?
The Stayers' Hurdle is one of two feature races on day three of the Festival, a stamina test over three miles for hurdlers.
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