Cheltenham 2026 Day 3 - All of our Tips and Research!

Cheltenham Day 3, race 1 - READ and SELECT Angle carefully

Course - Cheltenham 1:20

Race - Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Horse name - Bambino Fever advising ‘straight win’

Odds - 11/10 (2.10)

Advising stake 2 points (2%)

Reasoning

Bambino Fever has been ultra impressive in her career so far, winning 5 races from 6 starts under rules. This mare began her career by winning easily by 5 lengths at Punchestown on 31 December 2025. The 2nd has since won from that race. She then progressed to go onto win by 7 1/2 lengths in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown over 2 miles on 2nd February 2025, staying on strongly at the finish to win very comfortably. The form of that race has been franked as the 2nd (Switch From Diesel) has gone on to win 3 times since, most notably, a Class 1 listed race. Also, the 3rd (Carrigmoornaspruce) has since won a Grade 3 at Punchestown by 4 lengths and has since won again by 5 1/2 lengths easily at Listowel and is now rated 132. Further, the 4th (Amen Kate) has won twice since, most recently winning a Class 1 race at Thurles. Lastly, the 5th (Future Prospect) has recently won at Naas by 9 1/2 lengths.

Bambino Fever then went on to win the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival on 12th March 2025, beating several progressive horses which have gone on to win since and the frank form really well. The 2nd (Heads Up) which was 1 1/2 lengths behind Bambino Fever went on to win next time out by 2 lengths and has most recently gone on to win again in a Class 1 listed race at Punchestown and is now rated 133. Also, the 3rd (Shuttle Diplomacy) has recently won at Naas by 4 1/4 lengths. The 4th (Caballero Cliff) has recently franked the form by going on to win by 6 1/2 lengths at Wincanton. The 5th (El Cairos) has since won at Thurles by 3 lengths. The 6th (Idaho Sun) which was 6 1/2 lengths behind Bambino Fever has since won his next 3 starts by 3 1/2 lengths, 11 lengths and 3 1/4 lengths and is now rated 135. The 7th (Sortudo) went on to win by 12 lengths next time out and backed that performance up by winning again by 8 1/2 lengths over hurdles and looks a top prospect. Further, the 9th (No Drama This End) has since won two Grade 2’s and one Grade 1 and is now rated 144.

Bambino Fever has since gone on to win again at Punchestown on 30th April 2025 comfortably by 2 1/4 lengths on yielding ground. The form of that race has received a boost as the 2nd (Switch From Diesel) went on to win next time out at the Curragh. Also, the 5th (Sunny South West) has gone on to win twice since by 8 1/2 lengths and by 5 1/2 lengths and the 6th (Kalypso’chance) has since won at Navan in a Grade 3.

Bambino Fever then progressed from running in NH flat races to making his debut over hurdles and placed a solid 2nd at Naas on 15th December 2025, only beaten by 1/2 length over 2m on Soft to Heavy. The Winner (Oldschool Outlaw) has franked the form by going on to win a Grade 3 since at Fairyhouse by 9 lengths. Also, the 3rd (Radiator Springs) which was 11 lengths behind Bambino Fever has since won next time out at Clonmel.

However, Bambino Fever returned to winning ways by going on to win easily next time out by 12 lengths on Yielding over 2m 2f at Fairyhouse. Bambino Fever lines up here today and has already won at Cheltenham last year over this distance of 2m and has 3 wins from 3 runs in Class 1 events so far in his career. The ground looks to be described as Good-Good to Soft in places here at Cheltenham but hopefully this should suit Bambino Fever really well as she can already won 3 times on similar ground to this.

Paul Townend rides here and is currently boasting a terrific 87.5% strike rate over hurdles within the last 14 days which must be noted. In addition, trainer Willie Mullins is firing at a 28.13% strike rate with his runners over hurdles within the last 14 days.

In terms of the trends, all 10 previous winners of this race were aged either 5 or 6. 6 of the last 10 winners were in the top 3 in the market. Bambino Fever is the market leader. 7 of the last 10 winners were trained in Ireland. Bambino Fever is trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland. Distance form is important here as 7 of the last 10 winners recorded at least 2 runs at Cheltenham. Further, 9 of the last 10 winners recorded two previous runs over hurdles and 9 of the last 12 winners recorded one win at Cheltenham over 15-17f. Bambino Fever is 1 win from 1 run at Cheltenham racecourse and is 1/1 over this distance of 2 miles 179yds.

Of the rest of the runners here, there are 21 other opponents and it does look a fiercely looking field but hopefully Bambino Fever’s class can shine through. Please gamble responsibly if you’re having a bet.

Cheltenham Day 3, race 2 - READ and SELECT Angle carefully

Course - Cheltenham 2:00

Race - Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

Horse name - Regent’s Stroll advising ‘each way 6 places’ on Sky Bet

Odds - 5/1 (6.00)

Advising stake ‘0.5 each way 6 places’ on Sky Bet

Reasoning

The Jack Richards Handicap Chase has ended up being one of the best looking races of the week with how competitive it is and how many classy horses we have in the field and you can make a case for many of them. However, Regents Stroll has been very similarly campaigned to Caldwell Potter who won the race last year for the yard which means he must be of interest off his current mark of 145. On chase debut he was too free and did a lot of early work and it cost him in the latter stages beaten by Wendigo and subsequent G2 winner No Questions Asked.

He won at Wincanton in a match race with Jeriko Du Reponet which was basically a freebie as we know Jeriko is being well plotted. He brings a very similar profile as Caldwell Potter cause he was a v classy hurdler, he was 2nd in a G1 behind Honesty Policy and we know he’d have no issues with the ground being 2nd in a G1 on good ground and a bumper winner on good ground. It’s hard to look at trends for the race given the race changed to a handicap last year.

However, novice handicaps usually you’d want to focus towards the top end of the market. Worth looking at how the ground has been and the nature of the races have been run throughout the weak. We’ve seen a lot of bias towards the front ranked runners this week which can bode well for Regents Stroll. Cobden is a master over fences from the front end, we saw it yesterday with Kitzbuhel and he did it last year in the same race with Caldwell Potter.

He won’t be guaranteed to get the run of the race this year but if he’s bang up with the pace you’d hope for a good run. Nicholls has always held him in high regard and he could be a possible graded horse in a handicap and if going close here a possible tilt at Aintree to end his season. Hopefully, Regents Stroll can go well here. Please gamble responsibly if you’re having a bet.

Cheltenham Day 3, Race 3 🐴 - READ & SELECT Angle carefully.
Course - Cheltenham 2:40 🕰️ - priced 2nd in the market.
Race - Mares’ Hurdle
Horse name - Jade De Grugy advising ‘Money back 2 places’ on Bet365, which means to Win, but if it finishes 2nd it’s full stake back. Also known as ‘insurance 2 places’ on Sky bet.
Odds - 6/5 (2.20)
Advising stake 1 point (1%)
Reasoning 📝

The Mares Hurdle this year was blown wide open when Lossiemouth went to the Champion Hurdle and they’ve reverted Jade De Grugy back to hurdles in the hope she’s good enough to win the race in what looks a weaker renewal this year bar the fav Woodoh.

Jade De Grugy was progressive over hurdles, she finished 4th in the mares novice 4 lengths behind Golden Ace and 2 lengths behind Brighterdaysahead before going on to win the mares novice hurdle at Fairyhouse to end her novice campaign.

In 2025 she picked up a G3, a 2nd place effort behind the brilliant Lossiemouth in this race last year and then bolted up in the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown by 6 lengths with Brighterdaysahead 6 lengths back in 3rd!

10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 5 and 7.

5 of the last 12 winners were favourites and 10/12 being top 3 in the betting.
So, it’s a race you want to focus on more of the top end of the market.
10/12 have previously won a graded race, so we are focusing on the top 3 really in this race.

Gordon Elliot’s form this cheltenham has raised a few eyebrows and has become a concern for many, a lot of his horses tend to want some softer ground and we’ve seen a few dissapointing efforts from his string this week just not taking well to the quicker ground. So if you’d want to take on the rapidly progressing Woodoh then think this’ll be the perfect opportunity.

Jade De Grugy is proven on a quicker surface and she was rapidly progressive over hurdles before they went chasing this season. The fact they come back over hurdles with her shows they think she’s good enough to win this for a yard who are pretty dominant in this race with 4 winners in the last 10 and that’s not including when Quevega farmed the race from 2009 to 2014!

Willie and Paul as ever are the combo to be fearful of at every festival and Jade De Grugy has a great chance of putting it up to the odds on fav.

Best of luck with this race and please gamble responsibly if you’re having a bet.

Cheltenham Day 3, race 5 - READ and SELECT Angle carefully

Course - Cheltenham 4:00

Race - Ryanair Chase

Horse name - Impaire Et Passe advising ‘money back 3 places’ on Bet365, which means to win but if finishes 2nd or 3rd it’s full stake back. Also known as ‘Insurance 3 places’ on Sky bet.

Odds - 6/5 (2.20)

Advising stake 1 point (1%)

Reasoning

Impaire Et Passe has some rock solid form in the book. Impaire Et Passe is 1 win from 1 run over this course and distance at Cheltenham (100% strike rate) and is 3 wins from 4 runs over this distance of 2m 4f which is a real positive here.

Impaire Et Passe has impressively won 5 Grade 1’s so far in his career. Paul Townend rides Impaire Et Passe and has won on this horse 9 times from 10 rides (90% strike rate).

Please gamble responsibly if you’re having a bet.

Cheltenham Day 3, race 6 - READ and SELECT Angle carefully

Course - Cheltenham 4:40

Race - Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

Horse name - Supremely West advising Top 4 finish

Odds - 1/1 (2.00)

Advising stake 1 point (1%)

Reasoning

Supremely West ran his last race for trainer Dr R Newland & J Insole at Warwick on 24th April 2025 in a Class 3 when placing a fair 3rd before switching to the Dan Skelton yard. But firstly, the form of that race looks strong as the 1st (Doyen Quest) has gone on to win twice since by 8 1/2 lengths in a Class 3 and by 10 lengths in a Class 2 and is now rated 144 over fences. Also, the 2nd (Ikarak) has won two Class 3’s since and is now rated 133 and the 4th (Snipe) which was 12 lengths behind Supremely West has further boosted the form by winning twice since.

As well as the stable change, Supremely West also had a wind op prior to going onto placing a solid 3rd of 17 runners at Cheltenham on Good ground on 25th October 2025 in a Class 2 on his first start for Dan and Harry Skelton. The form of that race has been franked well as the winner (Ma Shantou) which was only 5 1/4 lengths in front of Supremely West has since won another Class 2 and most recently has won a Class 1 (Grade 2) at Cheltenham by 7 lengths comfortably and is now rated 154.

In addition, the 2nd (Electric Mason) has gone on to win a Class 1 next time out at Haydock and is now rated 139. Supremely West then raced in two 3 mile hurdle races at Cheltenham and Sandown but didn’t get his way on the Soft ground and was beaten by wide margins. On his latest run, Supremely West ran at Aintree in a Class 2 over a shorter trip of 2m 4f but this trip looked too sharp and Dan Skelton reported on a preview that he’s keen to step him back up in trip here at Cheltenham.

But it is interesting that the form of that race has been franked as the 7th (Rubber Ball) which was 1 length behind Supremely West went on to win two starts later by 5 1/2 lengths in a Class 3 at Newbury. Also, the 5th (Brewin’upastorm) which was only 1 3/4 lengths in front of Supremely West has recently placed a staying on 2nd in a Grade 2 at Fontwell, only beaten by 2 lengths. The ground looks to be described as Good to Soft here at Cheltenham at the time of writing but hopefully this should suit Supremely West as he’s shown he can win on this ground and has already won on soft / heavy going if the rain was too arrive.

In terms of the stats, 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8. Supremely West is aged 8. In terms of the weights, 8 of the last 12 winners carried 11st 4lbs or less. Supremely West carries 10st 4lbs which is a nice light weight. In addition, previous course form is important here as 8 of the last 12 winners ran at least once at Cheltenham. Supremely West has already ran twice at this course leading up to this race.

Moreover, all 12 previous winners of this race recorded 1 previous run over 23-25 furlongs and 9 of the last 12 winners recorded 2 runs over 23-25 furlongs. These stats are a positive for Supremely West as he has ran over this distance 9 times so far in his career. Further, previous hurdle form is vital here as all previous 12 winners of this race recorded at least 6 runs over hurdles and all previous 12 winners recorded at least 1 win over hurdles. Supremely West has ran 15 times over hurdles and has won 3 of those hurdle races.

Lastly, in terms of the ratings, 9 of the last 12 winners were rated between 134 and 146 which supports Supremely West and he is currently rated 135. It must be noted that this looks a very competitive field this year with most that have chances but hopefully Supremely West can go well.

Please gamble responsibly if you’re having a bet.