Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Results, tips and updates as Caldwell Potter wins for Sir Alex Ferguson on ay 3
Cheltenham Festival LIVE!
It's day three of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with Rachael Blackmore and Air of Entitlement winning the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead in a thrilling opening race. It's been a hugely dramatic start to the week at the world's most prestigious jump meet, where snow fell on Wednesday morning, with Constitution Hill and Jonbon among the odds-on favourites to have been upset so far in the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase respectively in tough scenes for Nicky Henderson.
St Patrick's Thursday promises to be a thrilling spectacle with defending champion Teahupoo aiming to win the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham for the second year in succession. Fact to File is fancied to first claim glory in the Ryanair Chase with two standout races sharing the limelight, though Sixandahalf was beaten by a late surge in the curtain-raiser.
The Jack Richards' Novices' Limited Handicap Chase was won by Caldwell Potter for part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson, before attention shifts to the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle and the pair of feature contests. Follow the Cheltenham Festival live below!
Caldwell Potter delivers for part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson
Rachael Blackmore winner in Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Today's race card in full
How to watch
Day 3 betting tips
Stayers' Hurdle preview
14:26 , Matt Verri
Some very, very happy faces when Caldwell Potter cleared the last!
Reminder that the syndicate, including Sir Alex Ferguson, bought him for £630,000 last year.
Look at what it means to Paul Nicholls and Sir Alex Ferguson 🙏🥹 pic.twitter.com/HbIHaaF1dO
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2025
14:20 , Matt Verri
Some incredibly sad news from the race.
Springwell Bay was a faller and it's been confirmed that he sustained a fatal injury.
14:15 , Matt Verri
"I think the jumping won it. What can I say? Great horse, it was a bonus,' he tells BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
"Winning with her last year was fantastic and doing it again this year is fantastic. Thank you very much."
14:10 , Matt Verri
A 50th Cheltenham winner for Paul Nicholls!
1 Caldwell Potter 7/1
2 Anyway 125/1
3 O'Moore Park 66/1
WHAT A PERFORMANCECaldwell Potter led from start to finish to win the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase 🏆#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @CobdenHarry | @PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/RgsSjzMkDm
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2025
14:08 , Matt Verri
Absolutely bolts up!
Expensive purchase... worth every penny it would appear.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be a very happy man.
14:06 , Matt Verri
Es Perfecto has moved up to second, but it's still Caldwell Potter in front as they take the third-last. What's Up Darling goes down.
Caldwell Potter kicks off the turn and the lead is stretching up to three lengths approaching the last...
14:04 , Matt Verri
Caldwell Potter has led from the off, setting the early pace.
Firefox and Springwell Bay among those travelling well in the middle of the pack.
14:02 , Matt Verri
Away in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at the second time of asking!
13:52
The second race of the afternoon is the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, which is new to the Cheltenham Festival this year.
Our tipster Johnny Ward fancies Terence O'Brien's Answer To Kayf as an each-way play here.
Gordon Elliott's Firefox enters as favourite ahead of Springwell Bay and Caldwell Potter, the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at auction who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson.
13:38
That was some late surge and stamina from Air of Entitlement - who started the day at 18-1 and went off at 16s - and a wonderful ride from Rachael Blackmore.
It looked to all and sundry as if favourite Sixandahalf had done more than enough to win that after a fine effort from Diva Luna, who wound up third.
Karoline Banbou in fourth.
13:26 , George Flood
RACHAEL BLACKMORE AND AIR OF ENTITLEMENT STORM THROUGH TO BEAT FAVOURITE SIXANDAHALF!
Wow, absolutely amazing stuff that. What a finish!
A fine start for the Irish on St Patrick's Thursday.
A seventh Cheltenham winner for Blackmore.
Henry de Bromhead will be absolutely delighted with that.
13:25 , George Flood
Diva Luna with the lead heading to the last...
13:24
Maughreen is carrying on here but lost a huge amount of ground.
Brendas Asking is ahead with three hurdles to go, but it's very close at the moment...
13:23 , George Flood
Another messy start to a race this week!
Maughreen spins out at the start and is going the wrong way...
13:19 , George Flood
Galileo Dame, Aurora Vega, Jubilee Alpha and Karoline Banbou are sitting behind 9-4 favorite Sixandahalf in the betting just minutes before the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle gets underway.
Then it's Maughreen at 9-1.
13:11 , George Flood
Rachael Blackmore is aboard Air Of Entitlement in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
The first of three rides on a busy afternoon for Blackmore, who is also racing Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase later and Bob Olinger in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle.
There are 24 runners in total on a busy opening race of the day, seven of which are for Willie Mullins.
12:59 , George Flood
In terms of today's other non-runners, Ryan's Rocket is out of the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Monmiral has also been withdrawn from the Stayers' Hurdle along with Langer Dan, while Lord of Thunder is no longer running in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
Where It All Began is also out of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
12:56
We have four non-runners declared for today's televised races at Cheltenham.
That number includes Langer Dan, the back-to-back Coral Cup winner who was due to compete in the Stayers' Hurdle later on but trainer Dan Skelton was unhappy with the results of his tracheal wash this morning and pulled him from the race.
He hopes Langer Dan will be able to compete at the Aintree Hurdle next month instead.
Langer Dan non runner this afternoon @CheltenhamRaces Here is an update from Dan this morning. pic.twitter.com/8hsLkdS4rh
— Dan Skelton Racing (@DSkeltonRacing) March 13, 2025
12:47
There's a St Patrick's Day theme at Prestbury Park this afternoon and a huge contest between Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gavin Cromwell seems fitting first up.
Looks like a number of fans are getting into the spirit of the occasion too, four days before the actual St Patrick's Day on March 17...
12:38
Under an hour to go now until the first race of the afternoon on day three at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle is the curtain-raiser in a new look for the Thursday schedule and is one of four handicap races on the bill.
We could be in for a great battle between the Gavin Cromwell favourite Sixandahalf and Willie Mullins' Maughreen.
Our tipster Johnny Ward calls Sixandahalf the 'lock of the day' after a great run of form that includes a fearsome 12-length victory on debut at Fairyhouse last month.
But this race has been known to throw up its fair share of surprises in the past...
12:12
The stars are out for day three at the Cheltenham Festival!
Zara and Mike Tindall, Sir Alex Ferguson, Danny Dyer and Peter Crouch are just some of the famous faces spotted at Prestbury Park so far today...
12:01
Yesterday was a hugely emotional day at Cheltenham as Marine Nationale stormed to victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Jazzy Matty later won the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
Both horses were memorably winners at the 2023 Festival while being ridden by the late Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically died last month aged just 24 as the result of injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles in January.
'This place has a habit of writing the most unbelievable stories. It's a bit like Honeysuckle (winning the Mares' Hurdle) after Jack de Bromhead died,' said trainer Barry Connell after Marine Nationale's stunning success.
"I'm stunned and it probably won't be until later that it sinks in. I've been fortunate to come here and ride a couple of winners here at the November meeting and I've owned winners here before, but training winners is on another level altogether.
"Charlotte [Giles] was helping to tack him up and we got her in the photograph. I've spent a good bit of time with her in the last couple of weeks, and the family as well, and any little thing we can do to help everybody involved we will do.
"It's been a heart-wrenching time for everybody. I'm sure he would be proud."
11:44 , George Flood
And here's our racing expert Malik Ouzia on the best of the rest of today's action away from the Stayers' Hurdle, including a potentially feisty Ryanair Chase...
The Ryanair Chase shares headline billing and with Galopin Des Champs scaring a number of potential rivals away from the Gold Cup, this looks a decent renewal.
Fact To File, having been beaten twice by the reigning Gold Cup winner, steps back in trip and heads the betting, with Skelton and Protektorat heading the British challenge after winning this race last year.
There is an intriguing third nation involved here, with Il Est Francais crossing the Channel after so nearly blowing the King George field away at Kempton at Christmas.
Elsewhere, long-time favourite Maughreen must prove as good as the hype having won only one modest race over hurdles if she is to prove the outstanding novice mare.
11:28 , George Flood
Standard Sport's racing expert Malik Ouzia sets the scene for what should be a thrilling Stayers' Hurdle later on as defending champion and favourite Teahupoo faces a potential stern battle to defend his crown...
Teahupoo was an authoritative winner of this race 12 months ago and returns as favourite to defend his title, but with plenty willing to take him on.
The eight-year-old has had the same light campaign as last season, but this time around was beaten on his sole start when finishing second to Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse in December.
That race came over a trip too short but with Gordon Elliott's runner not seen since, there are questions over whether he will replicate last year's showing.
In Teahupoo's absence, Home By The Lee has been the standout Irish horse in the division this season, with Joseph O'Brien's charge unbeaten in two starts and now seeking to win this race at the fourth time of asking.
Beyond the 10-year-old, the ranks have been refreshed with if not new stars then at least new blood.
Lucky Place and The Wallpark are young improvers on either side of the Irish Sea, while Mystical Power tries three miles for the first time as a left-field option sent in by Willie Mullins.
Then there is the curious case of two-time Festival winner Langer Dan, whose pre-Cheltenham form has been non-existent, but whose trainer, Dan Skelton, insists he always comes right in the spring.
11:17 , George Flood
Here are the betting selections for day three of the Cheltenham Festival from tipster Johnny Ward.
1:20 Sixandahalf (nap)
2:00 Answer To Kayf
2:40 Karl Des Tourelles
3:20 Fact To File
4:00 Mystical Power
4:40 Thecompanysergeant
5:20 Walking On Air11:10 , George Flood
Last week's lovely sunny weather has turned decidedly cold this week, with snow even falling at Prestbury Park yesterday morning.
We're set for another chilly and cloudy day on Thursday, with a highest temperature of only around eight degrees Celsius and a low of zero after we briefly got into the minus numbers overnight.
There might be some drizzly rain around in the afternoon and a gentle breeze throughout the day.
In terms of the going, clerk of the course Jon Pullin reported this morning that it's good to soft.
Cheltenham Festival - St Patrick's Thursday ☘️Going update from Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course pic.twitter.com/3exjbsf7VM
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 13, 2025
11:01 , George Flood
TV channel: Today's Cheltenham Festival action will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage lasting from 12:45pm GMT until 5pm.
Racing TV also has full live coverage for subscribers.
Live stream: You can also follow proceedings live online via ITVX, which is free with a registration.
Racing TV subscribers can also watch the races online via their website and app.
10:57
Here's today's Cheltenham Festival race card and schedule in full...
13.20: Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
14.00: Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
14.40: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
15.20: Ryanair Chase
16.00: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
16.40: TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase
17.20: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
10:48 , George Flood
It's all set to be a bumper St Patrick's Thursday at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
There are another six races to enjoy at Prestbury Park this afternoon, including two sharing the headline billing as the Ryanair Chase is followed by the Stayers' Hurdle.
We've already seen plenty of shocks this week with the likes of Constitution Hill and Jonbon among the big favourites to fall short, can Teahupoo and Fact to File buck the trend?
Stay tuned for all the latest results, updates and betting tips for day three at Cheltenham.
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