Cheltenham Festival Day Three Preview – Horse Racing Betting March 16

Can Top Notch prove a cut above?

Horse Racing Betting

Douvan’s eclipse in yesterday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase was an indication that punters should be treading carefully around Willie Mullins’ fancied runners at the Cheltenham Festival. Should we, therefore, oppose Yorkhill in the JLT Novices’ Chase – the first race on day three?

Yorkhill is unbeaten over fences – but so was Douvan! Only a best 6/4 with Stan James to win this Grade 1 prize, there are ground for thinking that those odds offer little in the way of value considering the stable’s current tribulations. The seven-year-old did win over hurdles at The Festival last year but he’s been novicey over fences so far and this is not a race in which many prisoners are likely to be taken. Disko and Politilogue are both confirmed front-runners and bold jumpers. They will test Yorkhill’s mettle and TOP NOTCH might be there to pick up the pieces.

JLT Novices’ Chase Current Best Odds

Yorkhil (6/4), Top Notch (4/1), Disko (5/1), Politilogue (6/1), Flying Angel and Kilcrea Vale (20/1), Balko Des Floes (40/1), Baily Cloud (100/1)

I must admit I didn’t think Nicky Henderson’s charge would prove top class over fences after he was beaten at Uttoxeter on his debut.  But the winner that day was Charbel, who would have given Altior plenty to think about in the Arkle on Tuesday had he not fallen at the second last. Top Notch has since won three on the bounce, including a Grade 1 at Sandown last month. He was fifth in last year’s Champion Hurdle and second in the Triumph Hurdle the year before that so there is no doubting his class and he’s a tempting 4/1, also with Stan James.

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Just head to Stan James and fill out the registration form, which is quick and easy to accomplish. Then, when you are all signed up, you make you first bet on your new account with the bookie, and they will match the value of that stake, up to the maximum value of £20. Terms and conditions apply, please see full detail directly at Stan James.

I reckon UNOWHATIMEANHARRY should be odds-on in the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle, such as been his dominance in the staying ranks this season. So if you want to back Harry Fry’s nine-year-old I’d advise taking the 11/8 currently on offer with BetVictor – jockey Noel Fehily has won the championship races on the first two days of The Festival and is in the mood for a hat-trick (he currently doesn’t have a ride in the Gold Cup on Friday).

ANOTHER HERO could go close for Jonjo O’Neill Junior in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup which ends the card. He is good value for his 5lb claim and his mount has run very well in possibly tougher handicaps at Ascot and Doncaster this season – he’s overpriced at a general 16/1. ROCKLANDER also looks a solid each-way bet in the Pertemps Final at bet365‘s 25/1. The latter will be paying out on the first five places in this contest.