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Thursday's 2023 Cheltenham Festival tips: Best bets for the ITV races

The bookies took another kicking on Wednesday, and the Planet Sport tipsters are back with an even bigger pair of boots for the five ITV races on offer on day three of the Festival.

Another three Grade 1 races are dished up by the ITV cameras on Thursday, March 16 including the showpiece Stayers Hurdle at 1530.

First up we'll give you a quick list of the horses we believe have the best chances for the main five races that are being shown on ITV.

Then for those of you that like a bigger price we have a handful of juicy each-way selections to get the mouth watering.

If you want some more detail on why our tipsters have selected these horses we'll thrash out a little bit more info further down the page.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware tips might be updated if a horse becomes a non-runner)

Hot tips for day three of the Cheltenham Festival

13:30 Turners' Novices' Chase - Mighty Potter

14:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle - Salvador Ziggy

14:50 Ryanair Chase - Shishkin

15:30 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - Teahupoo

16:10 The Magners Plate - So Scottish

Strong each-way selections for day three of Cheltenham

13:30 Turners' Novices' Chase - Balco Coastal

14:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle - Salvador Ziggy

14:50 Ryanair Chase - Envoi Allen

15:30 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - Gold Tweet

16:10 The Magners Plate - Midnight River

13:30 Turners' Novices' Chase - Mighty Potter

Arguably Gordon Elliott's strongest Cheltenham Festival chance is with Mighty Potter, who is unbeaten in three starts in his first season over fences.

A convincing winner of the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, the six-year-old then stepped up a furlong for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival and came home eight and a half lengths ahead.
The six-year-old could become a big player at the Festival in the future, although he did fluff his lines in last year's Supreme here.

Mighty Potter's odds are likely to be very stingy, so you might want to look for value elsewhere and Balco Coastal, who finished runner-up berth in the Scilly Isles, and Stage Star, who impressed on his handicap debut on Trials Day, could be worth an each-way punt..

Appreciate It and Banbridge shouldn't be ignored either.

14:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle - Salvador Ziggy (e/w)

Elliott enjoyed great success between 2018 and 2020 and has several options to regain his crown, with the best of those being Salvador Ziggy.

The seven-year-old is four from five since joining Elliott's yard last May, his one defeat when finishing fourth at Cheltenham in October.
It's certainly worth cashing in on a big price before the off.

Other each-way claims go to Maxxum, who was impressive at the Leopardstown qualifier for this race and he could bounce back to that form here.

The Bosses Oscar, Thanksforthehelp and Captain Morgs shouldn't be ruled out either.

14:50 Ryanair Chase - Shishkin

This could be the triumphant Cheltenham return of Shishkin, once the darling of the Nicky Henderson yard, before a certain Constitution Hill loomed into view.
The nine-year-old, a former Supreme and Arkle winner, rocked up to Cheltenham in 2022 with the world at his hooves. He was odds-on favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but the soft ground and driving rain saw him pulled up and he was subsequently diagnosed with a rare bone condition.
The nine-year-old's comeback run in the Tingle Creek saw him beaten 15 lengths by Edwardstone and prompted a step up in trip, a move that looked inspired when when he ran away with the Grade One Ascot Chase in a 16-length rout of the opposition.
That win made the Ryanair Chase the clear choice for his Cheltenham return, and after Henderson's emotional win with the magnificent Constitution Hill on day one, we wouldn't bet against more tears of joy from the 72-year-old trainer.

Dual Festival winner Envoi Allen, under Rachael Blackmore provides good each-way value as long as he isn't having one of his off days. Last year's Arkle third-place Blue Lord should not be discounted either.

15:30 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - Teahupoo

There's a lot to consider in this race with several horses providing bold claims.

Flooring Porter has won this race at the last two Cheltenhams, but hasn't won a race since, has been struggling with injury and was only 50-50 for the Festival at the start of the year. So might be best avoided.

Charles Byrnes' Blazing Khal is aiming to make it three from three on trips to Cheltenham, but also looks vunerable after an injury and minor setbacks have delayed his return.

After a 428-day break, he did win the Boyne Hurdle in mid-February by three lengths and might be able to pull something out the bag again.

So the vote goes to Teahupoo who won the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse in December and was hugely impressive when stepped up to an extended 3m in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in late January.

The six-year-old will also enjoy the ground conditions too.

Nobody is really talking about Home By The Lee, who comfortably won the Lismullen Hurdle and the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, so each-way money should go there if his odds don't drastically shorten.

Don't rule out Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet to nab a place either.

16:10 The Magners Plate - So Scottish

So Scottish can give trainer Emmet Mullins his second win in this contest in three years.

The six-year-old arrives following a career-best performance in a valuable Ascot handicap.

Willie Mullins' Haut En Couleurs looks too good for this race but their are doubts over his jumping.

Others of note include Il Ridoto, Fugitif, Midnight River and Frero Banbou.

Read more: Cheltenham day three tips: Best each-way bets for all seven races

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