Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day 3: St. Patrick's Thursday Action Unfolds
The excitement at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival continues to build as Day 3, known as St. Patrick's Thursday, kicks off with a lineup of highly anticipated races and top contenders. Following a thrilling Day 2, where Willie Mullins secured another feature race victory with Il Etait Temps in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the focus now shifts to today's seven-race card, packed with defending champions and rising stars.
Key Races and Contenders to Watch
One of the highlights of the day is the Ryanair Chase, where Fact To File, owned by JP McManus, aims to defend his title after a dominant win last year. Initially considered for the Gold Cup, this horse now presents a strong chance for trainer Willie Mullins to achieve a hat-trick of feature race wins, following successes with Lossiemouth and Il Etait Temps earlier in the week.
In the Stayers' Hurdle, Bob Olinger returns to defend his crown with jockey Rachael Blackmore, but faces intense competition from rivals such as Kabral Du Mathan, Teahupoo, and Ballyburn. The day opens with The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, featuring Bambino Fever, who won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 2025 and is back for more glory at the Festival.
Full Race Schedule and Betting Insights
Here is the complete race list for Cheltenham Day 3:
- 1.20 – The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
- 2.00 – The Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
- 2.40 – The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
- 3.20 – The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
- 4.00 – The Ryanair Chase
- 4.40 – The Pertemps Network Final
- 5.20 – The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase
Sky Bet ambassadors Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin have shared their top betting tips for the day. In the Stayers' Hurdle, Chamberlin favors Kabral Du Mathan at 7/2, citing its potential as the best horse in the Skelton yard. Bell, on the other hand, picks Ma Shantou at 4/1, praising its progressive staying power and heart.
For the Pertemps Network Final, Bell highlights Supremely West at 3/1 as a standout choice, while Chamberlin recommends Kim Roque at 15/2 in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup as his bet of the day.
TV Coverage and Additional Information
Live coverage of today's races begins at 12:45pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with Racing TV broadcasting the final two events. Odds are provided by Sky Bet and are correct at the time of writing, offering punters valuable insights for their wagers.
As the Cheltenham Festival progresses, stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the biggest names in horse racing, ensuring you don't miss a moment of the action on St. Patrick's Thursday.
