Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Day 3 tips and latest odds as Rachael Blackmore hunts glory in Ryanair Chase
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival has thrilled so far and St Patrick's Thursday is set to deliver more drama as the UK's biggest week of racing continues.
Marine Nationale claimed a surprise victory in yesterday's headline race, the Champion Chase, after favourite Jonbon hit a fence on the way round and could only recover to finish second. Earlier the highly rated Ballyburn was stunningly beaten in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase as Lecky Watson triumphed in the all-Irish renewal.
Today's highlights include the Ryanair Chase (3.20pm), where Fact To File and Il Est Francais drop back in trip for what seems certain to be a fascinating battle with the evergreen Protektorat, who attempts to defend his crown. And Gordon Elliott's Teahupoo is in good shape ahead of his defence of the Stayers' Hurdle (4pm), up against stablemate The Wallpark and Nicky Henderson 's Lucky Place as well as Home By The Lee, trained by Joseph O'Brien.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips: Experts' best bets and 14 horses to watch on day three
The Cheltenham Festival is back and the 2025 edition has reached the halfway stage. A barnstorming opening day saw Golden Ace as a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle after Constitution Hill and State Man both fell.
Day two was a more emotional affair as victories for Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty provided a fitting farewell to jockey Michael O'Sullivan who passed away in February.
Day three promises more thrills with the Stayers' Hurdle and Ryanair Chase the big races highlighting a packed schedule. Chasing a first win of the festival, Rachael Blackmore will hope Envoi Allen rolls back the years to challenge hot favourite Fact To File in the Ryanair while Harry and Dan Skelton will hope Protektorat can back up his victory from last year.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips, best bets and horses to watch on day three
Fact To File looks set to win the Ryanair Chase while Teahupoo is the favourite for the Stayers' Hurdle
Luke Baker13 March 2025 08:31
The emotional 40 minutes that gave Michael O'Sullivan a fitting Cheltenham farewell
Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty won back-to-back races on a day of surprises in an emotional tribute to jockey Michael O'Sullivan.
O'Sullivan, a 24-year-old jockey who passed away last month after a fall at Thurles racecourse, only won twice at the Cheltenham Festival with both victories coming on day one of the 2023 edition.
His horses that day were Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty who both triumphed inside 40 minutes on Style Wednesday providing the perfect farewell to their previous rider.
The emotional 40 minutes that gave Michael O'Sullivan a fitting Cheltenham farewell
O'Sullivan's two previous winners at Cheltenham, Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, won in consecutive races on a poignant day
Luke Baker13 March 2025 08:31
Cheltenham Festival 2025
Follow all the latest updates from day three at Cheltenham Festival here with The Independent's live coverage.
Lawrence Ostlere13 March 2025 08:24
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