Cheltenham season is upon us, which means nail-biting races, photo finishes and lots more, with day three providing us with yet another fantastic day of racing.

Day three in 2021 once again provided us with some impeccable racing, we saw big wins from The Shunter, Flooring Porter and Mrs Milner last year - no relation to James.

Cheltenham is finally getting back to its old self this year, the fact fans are back is generating such a buzz around the festival, and has proved once again that sport is nothing without the fans after a tainted 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

So – let’s not hold our horses. Here’s everything you need to know about Day Three of Cheltenham Festival 2022.

How to Watch

The races are all being televised, but they are split between two TV Companies. Racing TV (Sky Channel 426) will be showing all of the races at Cheltenham; however, the first five races each day will be on ITV. Coverage starts at 1 pm each day.

The races on ITV will be free to watch, but Sky Racing TV is part of a Sky subscription. It costs £10 on top of your subscription a month.

Date

Day two of the Cheltenham Festival begins on Thursday 17th March 2022, with the first race taking place at 1:30 PM GMT.

13:30 Turners Novices Chase

A smiling Rachael Blackmore after riding Bob Olinger to win The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
  • Distance – 2 miles 4 Furlongs (Grade 1)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 4

We kick off day three with the Turners Novices Chase. A four-horse race.

Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champ are the red-hot favourites for this one, they have both proven to be exceptional runners.

We're going against Bob Olinger here, Galopin Des Champ is an absolute monster. We think he'll take this one.

Winner Prediction - Galopin Des Champ

14:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

  • Distance – 3 Miles (Grade 3)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 26

Race two is the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Winter Fog goes into this as the favourite, he's performed really well on his debut for Emmet Mullins. Alaphilippe and Folcano also high on the shortlist, but we reckon Sire Du Berlais takes this one.

He's won this race twice before and was part of the infamous five winners in a row Thursday. Rob James loves a race at Cheltenham as well.

Winner Prediction - Sire Du Berlais

14:50 Ryanair Chase

Allaho ridden by Rachael Blackmore jumps the last to win the Ryanair Chase
  • Distance – 2 Miles 4 Furlongs (Grade 1)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 9

The third race of the day is a real gooden, the Ryanair Chase.

Reigning Ryanair Chase hero Allaho is a huge favourite for this one, if his performance is anything like that of last year - he should absolutely crush this.

We think this is a one-horse race.

Winner Prediction - Allaho

15:30 Stayers' Hurdle

  • Distance – 3 Miles (Grade 1)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 10

The 15:30 race of day three is the Stayers' Hurdle.

After a remarkable rise in horse racing, last year's 12/1 winner Flooring Porter is the favourite in this race.

Klassical Dream and Thyme Hill will also be up there, but Flooring Porter is different gravy. He's our pick.

Winner Prediction - Flooring Porter

16:10 Plate Handicap Hurdle

General view during the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse
  • Distance – 2 Miles 4 Furlongs (Grade 3)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 22

Race 5 brings us the Plate Handicap Hurdle.

The Glancing Queen (great name) is the favourite for this one. A case can be made for several but Celebre D'Allen had plenty up his sleeve when completing the hat-trick on his first chase start in Britain at Warwick last month - but we aren't going for either of these.

Fancy Foundations is an outside shot at 10/1 and we think this will be one of the shocks of the day.

Winner Prediction - Fancy Foundations

16:50 Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle

  • Distance – 2 Miles 1 Furlong (Grade 2)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 22

Another race with 22 runners, the Dawn Run Novicess' Hurdle is up at 16:50.

Willie Mullins has won five of the last six previous renewals and has a great shot once again with seven horses competing in this race.

Although Dinoblue is a favourite and certainly a threat, we think another one of Mullins' horses, Grangee will emerge victorious.

Winner Prediction - Grangee

16:50 Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Runners and riders jump the third last during the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
  • Distance – 3 Miles 2 Furlongs (Grade 2)
  • Going in – Good to Soft
  • Runners – 25

The final race of day three's events is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

Frontal Assault and School Boy Hours are both the front runners for this race, but we think Ain't That A Shame should be the one that is most feared. So there's our final pick.

Winner Prediction - Ain't That A Shame

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