Cheltenham Tips - who to back on day three of the Cheltenham Festival including unbeaten 'banker'

Thursday, March 18

Four short-priced favourites have so far come a cropper at this year's Cheltenham Festival but it would be one of the biggest surprises of the lot should Envoi Allen not make it 5-4 to the punters in the Thursday opener.

Thereafter, day three of the Festival looks easily the hardest so far from a betting perspective with Paisley Park possibly the other good thing on the card.

Thursday's fare begins with the Marsh Novices' Chase (1.20pm) and Envoi Allen's form figures of a long string of 1s tell you all you need to know.

Henry de Bromhead's unbeaten gelding stands out with a rating of 164 and should be the fifth short-priced favourite to go in at this year's Festival at around the 1-2 mark.

For those looking for a double, Paisley Park appeals as the other stand-out bet on the card in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.05pm) and 2-1 could end up looking like a very fair price.

Paisley Park won the race back in 2019 and has looked back in decent shape of late. Furthermore, this does not look a vintage field.

At around 12-1, Flooring Porter could warrant a saver given that the horse is on a roll and will likely be hard to catch if setting out to make all.

But every other race on day three looks fiercely competitive and one winner in any of the other contests would likely leave you in profit.

Twenty three runners will go to post for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (1.55pm) in which the David Pipe-trained Brinkley makes appeal at 16-1 on the back of winning his last two.

Given the addition of blinkers, the Phillips-Hobbs trained Everglow could also be a live outsider at around 33s.

Allaho is then the pick for Willie Mullins in the Ryanair Chase (2.30pm) at around 4-1 as a horse whose confidence should be high after victory at Thurles.

After the Stayers' Hurdle, The Shunter then looks a worthy favourite in the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (3.40pm) at around 3-1 as he seeks a £100,000 bonus following his victory in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (4.15pm) then looks very hard to call but Roseys Hollow has the form in the book to warrant interest at around 6-1.

The day then finishes with the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (4.50pm) and good luck if you are trying to get out on this contest which features 23 runners and a 11-2 'favourite' in Mount Ida.

But the lightly raced Mount Ida's chance is there for all to see and the Denise Foster-trained mare could also improve for the step up in trip so looks the one to be with.

CHELTENHAM TIPS DAY THREE: 1.20 Envoi Allen (double), 1.55 Brinkley, 2.30 Allaho, 3.05 Paisley Park (nap), 3.40pm The Shunter, 4.15 Roseys Hollow, 4.50 Mount Ida.

Long shot: Everglow (1.55pm).

Lucky 31: Envoi Allen, Allaho, The Shunter, Paisley Park, Roseys Hollow.

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