St Patrick’s day tips for the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham

Mar 11, 2026 - 18:00

We have passed the halfway point of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and the day three card is another superb one.

There is the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle to solve, plus a host of other fascinating races.

Our expert, Clive Gildon, has a trio of selections on the card, including two Grade 1 picks and a dark horse in the novice handicap chase.

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Cheltenham Festival day three picks

14:00 Cheltenham – The Bluesman @ 11/1
15:20 Cheltenham – Kabral Du Mathan @ 4/1
16:00 Cheltenham – Impaire Et Passe @ 7/1

14:00 Cheltenham – The Bluesman @ 11/1

The Bluesman has taken off since joining Olly Murphy and can continue his progression with another victory in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase.

This horse always seems to be well backed in his races and he’s taken a big step forward with every start over fences.

His latest victory at Haydock was easy on the eye and he may be the type who only just does enough in his races.

That makes it tough for the handicapper to get a handle on him and it is an inevitability that Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen’s bizarre lack of success at the Festival will end before long as they are one of the most feared combinations in the country elsewhere.

15:20 Cheltenham – Kabral Du Mathan @ 4/1

The Bluesman’s owners can enjoy a stellar day at the meeting through their Kabral Du Mathan in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Teahupoo and Bob Olinger, who were first and second in the previous running, are nine and 11 now, and there is room for a new star to come to the fore.

Step forward Kabral Du Mathan, who has looked brilliant since joining Dan Skelton. He hacked up in a Haydock handicap hurdle before taking a rise in class in his stride with another convincing display in the Relkeel.

That performance proved he could act around Cheltenham and there is no reason why he won’t stay another half-mile.

We have seen plenty of top-class stayers through the years begin their careers over shorter trips, and this is the six-year-old’s time to shine.

16:00 Cheltenham – Impaire Et Passe @ 7/1

The brilliant Fact To File will be banker material for many punters in the Ryanair Chase, but there is reason to go against him.

He gets beaten at short prices more than he ought to and his stablemate Impaire Et Passe isn’t far off him in terms of raw talent.

Fact To File had a hard race last time at the Dublin Racing Festival on testing ground, whereas Impaire Et Passe, who has the winning habit, arrives here fresh for the time of year after reappearing later than the most in the Red Mills Chase last month.

That was a snug success and a career best and this second-season chaser is sitting on an even bigger effort over fences.

We mustn’t forget he’s already a Cheltenham Festival winner, his sole run here resulting in a thumping of Gaelic Warrior in the 2023 Ballymore.

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