The highlights of Day Three will be the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers' Hurdle but all seven races are not to be missed.
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington picks out his three best bets of the day...
3.20pm The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m
Emma Lavelle’s highly-progressive MA SHANTOU has to be the bet here.
Last season’s Albert Bartlett seventh has developed into a top-rated stayer this term, showing plenty of determination in the finish when beating Impose Toi in the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day.
Likened to her previous Stayer’s champion Paisley Park, Lavelle believes Ma Shantou can take her to the same heights.
4.40pm The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 3m
Cast your mind back to Carlisle on December 14th and Tony Mullins’ LETOS qualified for this Pertemps Final, courtesy of finishing 3¼ lengths second to Nab Wood.
The six-year-old then went on to finish last of 10 in the Grade 1 Ballymore Hurdle at Naas which you could say was a bit of a smokescreen.
Letos looks sure to make into decent handicapper, and he’s already experienced a victory at Listed handicap level. He makes plenty of appeal at 20/1.
5.20pm The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ H’cp Chase 3m 2f
WATERFORD WHISPERS is a major contender in JP McManus’ green and gold colours for this amateur’s chase.
Second in the Martin Pipe in 2024, he ran his best races over fences when third in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase last time. Henry De Bromhead has only given him one entry this week which could well be a tip in itself.
If the eight-year-old can handle the step up in trip, then JP could be toasting yet another Festival winner, and at a fairly decent starting price too.
*Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*
