Today's Cheltenham racecard, tips and preview for day 3 of the Festival live on ITV and Racing TV
We've all got all you need to know about the biggest meeting of the year right here.
Race 1 – 1.30 JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
A small but select contest kicks off proceedings on day three.
This has been the target for hot favourite DEFI DU SEUIL ever since he won at Sandown in the Scilly Isles and he looks every inch the winner of this.
Despite being all at sea on his chasing debut he's since bucked his ideas up considerably, beating RSA winner Topofthegame at Exeter before just losing out to Lostintranslation at this track.
The latter takes him on again here but has work to do now after he reversed the form at Sandown, and he just looks that little bit more progressive.
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Others who need a mention include Voix Du Reve, who looked classy on his first couple of starts over the big sticks and represents the Willie/Ruby combo, and Kildisart, who has strong form at this track.
Vinndication and Real Steel also have chances.
VERDICT – 1. Defi Du Seuil 2. Kildisart 3. Lostintranslation
Race 2 – 2.10 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
This will take some getting and it'll take a true stayer to do the business.
Sire Du Berlais has headed the market for some time now and it's easy to see why, given his eye-catching performance last time out.
JP McManus is no stranger to gambles like this but he's way too short now considering he's never actually won under rules.
Samburu Shujaa is a rapidly improving handicapper but whether he'll have quite enough improvement left off this higher mark remains to be seen.
Abolitionist and Wait For Me could both go well, but this may go to AARON LAD.
He's not been seen since winning over this course and distance in October and could barely have been more impressive that day.
Dr Richard Newland is a master at preparing them for the big one and this lad must have a big shout.
VERDICT – 1. Aaron Lad 2. Samburu Shujaa 3. Wait For Me
Race 3 – 2.50 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
A cracking contest in prospect this year.
Last season's hero Balko Des Flos returns for another crack and there's no doubt he would have a big chance if in the same form.
Denis O'Regan is a great booking and he could go well.
Monalee loves this trip and it was a wise decision to go for this rather than the Gold Cup. If he adopts a prominent position the it'll take a good one to get past him.
Un De Sceaux and Footpad are both opposable, with the former a bit long in the tooth and the latter with a bit to prove.
All roads lead to ROAD TO RESPECT. It's a bit of a surprise not to see him in the Gold Cup, but it looks a bit of a genius decision as he has a favourite's chance in this.
This trip almost certainly suits better and he has the brilliant Sean Flanagan up top.
A short-head second to Bellshill on his most recent start is very strong form and he had excuses when third to Kemboy in the Savills.
Frodon needs respect too, but I've a feeling he'll get found out by a very strong Irish challenge.
VERDICT – 1. Road To Respect 2. Balko Des Flos 3. Monalee
Race 4 – 3.30 Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
This isn't as wide open as the big field would suggest.
It's slightly disappointing to see only four horses rated 160+ and there are plenty that can be discounted.
Faugheen certainly isn't one of them, though, and has strong claims on his brilliant win at the Punchestown Festival last year when he thrashed Penhill.
He's eleven now and whatever he does, it'll be sure to bring the house down – I can't see him winnning though, particularly as he's only completed one start this season when beaten out of sight by Sharjah.
Supasundae is another Irish contender with a decent chance, particularly if they dawdle in the same way they did last year.
Paisley Park is clearly the one to beat as his form stacks up very nicely at this level and he's the top rated in the race.
He's done nothing but improve this season and could have more left in the tank.
The course and distance suits him very well, so the only thing holding me back is that he's been thrashing mid-fifties horses and faces a few classier types here.
One of those he's beaten is TOP NOTCH in the Long Walk, but that was a prep run after a fair time off the track and he ran a very nice race to be third.
He's since proved his well-being with a taking chase win at Kempton, and now back over hurdles he should be primed for a massive effort.
The trip is a slight concern but he's as tough as they come and will find not having to jump fences (he's a small horse) a bit of a relief.
I reckon he'll stay and he has a big chance.
VERDICT – 1. Top Notch 2. Paisley Park 3. Supasundae
Race 5 – 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Janika is a worthy favourite for this after pushing Siruh Du Lac so close over course-and-distance last time out, but it's very hard to win a race like this off top-weight, for all that he has plenty of talent.
That said, he could be classy enough to do it but he's been a bit unlucky to pick up a 6lb rise for finishing second.
The new rating puts him just shy of a Ryanair place and I think that's a mark that's just too high.
Siruh Du Lac keeps improving and is a very tidy jumper, but a 7lb rise for his win last time could find him out too.
Spiritofthegames could have a big run in him and the Skelton boys are confident, but his mark doesn't look especially kind either.
Therefore this could be best left to KALONDRA.
He's produced some fine runs around this track including a tidy defeat of last year's Ultima winner of this mark in December 2017.
He's been lightly raced since and was running a big race here in November before unseating Noel Fehily.
Given a clear round, he is more than talented enough to run a big race here.
Don't discount Kauto Riko and King's Odyssey at big prices.
VERDICT – 1. Kalondra 2. Kauto Riko 3. Siruh Du Lac
Race 6 – 4.50 Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
Epatante has been a solid favourite for this for a while, but it's more on reputation and visual impression than actual strength of form.
Of course she could be anything, but a first-time hood is employed to help her settle as she's had a tendency to race quite keenly in her races.
Given this by far her toughest test to date, she is too short at 15-8.
Posh Trish has been talked up plenty by the Nicholls camp and it's easy to see why given that she's the highest rated in the race and has won her last three impressively.
The team are red hot at the moment and she has obvious claims.
Both Sinoria and Queenofhearts have decent chances, as does Elusive Belle, but this can go to MY SISTER SARAH.
The Mullins/Walsh factor is so important throughout the mares programme and they think they've got a good one here.
It says a lot that Ruby's picked her over six stablemates and if she returns to the form of her first two starts then she can have a big say.
She was only workmanlike in victory last time but has a progressive record and Closutton will have her spot on for this.
If she's anything like their number one hope last year then she's a certainty!
VERDICT – 1. My Sister Sarah 2. Posh Trish 3. Epatante
Race 7 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
This is always a tricky one to work out and jockey bookings speak volumes.
It's no surprise to see Jamie Codd's mount Measureofmydreams at the top of the market as he's simply the best rider in the race.
The horse doesn't have much to shout about in terms of recent form but he's nicely handicapped on his old form and is now trained by a maestro.
However, he's eleven and could be vulnerable to something with younger legs.
Derek O'Connor takes the reins on Any Second Now, and for all that he boasts some strong form, he doesn't win very often.
A mark of 143 does look kind, though, and he will be bang there at the finish if seeing out the trip.
ITS ALL GUESSWORK looks the one to beat.
Barry O'Neill came oh so close to scoring in the National Hunt Chase aboard Discorama and can make amends here with this lightly-raced contender.
He's only had a handful of starts over fences but has been consistent in novice company and would have gone close in the Munster National but for falling late on.
His mark looks fair and he surely has more to come over a long trip.
Connections know what it takes to land a Festival winner and this one can provide them with another.
VERDICT – 1. Its All Guesswork 2. Kilfilum Cross 3. Measureofmydreams
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