Robbie Power’s Day 3 Cheltenham Festival Tips

Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Robbie Power has spoken to BoyleSports this morning directly from Cheltenham to preview the third day of Cheltenham Festival action.

1.20 Marsh Novices’ Chase
“I can’t see past Envoi Allen here. He has been absolutely flawless in what he has done this season. He has won twice already in Cheltenham so the track is not going to be a problem and I think he will win.

I don’t think there are any dangers to Envoi Allen, but a place opportunity could be Fusil Raffles as an each-way bet on the drying conditions.

With the ground drying out rapidly, we could have good ground on Thursday, and I think Fusil Raffles as an alternative to Envoi Allen could be a good bet as he wants the drying conditions.”

2.30 Ryanair Chase
“I think Min is the proven horse in the race and he has proper Grade One form. He is the one they all have to beat. He was a good winner of this race last year and a gutsy winner too. There is an interesting pace angle to this race with Allaho, Min, Melon, who will all have to be ridden prominently here. It’s going to be a very strongly run race.

Which of them can keep going the longest I’m not so sure? I think Imperial Aura has to have a decent chance for Kim Bailey, but I like my ride Chris’s Dream as an each-way bet. He is going to be ridden a bit differently, we are going to take our time on him. He travelled very strongly down the hill in the Gold Cup last year and didn’t quite get home.

I think a strong gallop over this trip he has an each-way chance at a big price and to win the race I’m going to go with last year’s winner Min at the choice of Paul Townend.”

3.05 Stayers’ Hurdle
“This is a very competitive Stayers’ Hurdle with Paisley Park the short priced favourite in the race but I’m going to take him on. He flopped in this race last year and there was no real apparent reason why he did that. I don’t think the drying conditions are going to suit him. He looked beaten at Ascot the last day off the home turn and then his stamina kicked into play. This race is going to be strongly run. Flooring Porter, will he get a soft lead like he did at Leopardstown? I don’t think he will in this race.

Two horses for me here are Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller.

Sire Du Berlais is twice a course and distance winner on this track, the new track, which is a big plus for him. Stamina is to his forte and the drying ground will be a big plus to him too.

The Storyteller is a model of consistency this season. Winner of the big Grade One Champion Chase at Down Royal where he beat Chris’s Dream and a very good second to Kemboy in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on ground that was probably a bit slow for him. He picked up prize money everywhere he goes and he has a big each-way chance here.”

4.15 Mares Novices’ Hurdle
“I think this a very competitive race and I’d be amazed if there is not an Irish winner here.

The Irish mares novices are heads and shoulders above the English counterparts.

Roseys Hollow is open to improvement and I was very impressed when she won her maiden at Fairyhouse and then back again at Fairyhouse when she won a very competitive Grade Three Mares Novice Hurdle for trainer Jonathan Sweeney.

If Willie Mullins trained this mare then she would be a short priced favourite. I think she is hard to oppose.

I ride Magic Daze for Henry de Bromhead who was a very good winner of a maiden hurdle at Clonmel, and before that finished a very good third behind Gaillard Du Mesnil at Leopardstown at Christmas. She has some decent form and has an each-way chance but the winner of the race I think Roseys Hollow looks the most likely.

Her form is rock solid and as I said, if she was trained by someone more famous or more popular that Jonathan Sweeney who is a very good trainer then she would be an awful lot shorter in the market.”

Bet on Day 3 here.