sport news CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL TIPS - DAY THREE: Flooring Porter bids for a hat-trick in ... trends now

The Stayers' Hurdle is the feature race of day three at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Flooring Porter faces 10 rivals in his bid to win the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for the third year in a row. 

Gavin Cromwell’s stable star has had a challenging build up and his principal rivals appear to be Home By The Lee, Blazing Khal and Teahupoo. 

Paisley Park, Gold Tweet and Klassical Dream also pose a threat. 

Sportsmail brings you our racing experts' tips ahead of day three of Cheltenham Festival with selections from Britain's No 1 tipster Sam Turner, National Hunt legend Peter Scudamore and former Grade One winning jockeys Lizzie Kelly and Mick Fitzgerald.

1.30 TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE

Long-term ante-post favourite MIGHTY POTTER did little to dispel the theory this event is tailor-made for him courtesy of a smooth Dublin Racing Festival win last time.

At no point did the son of Martaline look likely to forfeit his unbeaten record over fences. Instead he extended it with panache to three by hammering the Mullins battalion eight lengths-plus.

Time comparisons with the tactically ridden Gentleman De Mee in the Dublin Chase are a little fruitless given the stop-start pace, but Mighty Potter was only seven or eight lengths slower over the final circuit despite running further and recording a much quicker time pro rata.

Banbridge fans must pray the rain misses Cheltenham but that seems very unlikely so APPRECIATE IT, third to El Fabiolo at the Dublin Racing Festival, may provide the stiffest opposition. tactically ridden Gentleman De Mee in the Dublin Chase are a little fruitless given the stop-start pace, but Mighty Potter was only seven or eight lengths slower over the final circuit despite running further and recording a much quicker time pro rata.

Banbridge fans must pray the rain misses Cheltenham but that seems very unlikely so APPRECIATE IT, third to El Fabiolo at the Dublin Racing Festival, may provide the stiffest opposition.

SELECTION: MIGHTY POTTER.................5-6

MAIN DANGER: APPRECIATE IT............. 10-3

LIVE OUTSIDER: BALCO COASTAL.........10-1

TIPSTERS 

2.10 PERTEMPS NETWORK HURDLE FINAL 

Maxxum failed to fire at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he had already qualified for this race courtesy of a 16- length romp at Leopardstown over Christmas and could easily bounce back with Davy Russell on board.

The selection found trouble in running last month under his inexperienced rider and returned after the race with a bad graze to his right-hind leg. He has progressed markedly this term and it is too early to write him off given he hails from a top team.

Green book’s campaign is mirroring last year, when he was well beaten at Haydock after an impressive Sandown handicap victory and bounced back to finish fifth in this event. He looks a frame contender once more today. 

Mill green is another refugee from the 2022 race and, although older than most rivals, he often runs well at big odds in this type of event.

SELECTION: MAXXUM............................ 6-1

MAIN DANGER: GREEN BOOK.................25-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: MILL GREEN.................25-1

TIPSTERS

2.50 RYANAIR CHASE

Shishkin silenced the doubters at Ascot last month when a wind operation, tongue tie and step up in trip were all catalysts for a display more in keeping with his c.v.

If he returns in the same form, the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and 2021 Arkle Chase winner is the clear standout, and it is difficult to envisage defeat.

Fury road may be the one to chase home Shishkin or land a second Grade One if Nicky Henderson’s star chaser flops for the second straight Festival. The data suggest the son of Stowaway is as good as ever and his fine effort in the Irish Gold Cup when trying to keep tabs on Galopin Des Champs is further evidence he is a talented runner.

If there is to be a shock, French Dynamite might be the one to blow the roof off as he hasn’t finished improving and ran well here in a warm

SELECTION: SHISHKIN.............................4-5

MAIN DANGER: FURY ROAD.....................10-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: FRENCH DYNAMITE......20-1

TIPSTERS

3.30 STAYERS' HURDLE

HOME BY THE LEE appears to have matured mentally as well as physically in the last 12 months and that shift in psyche was evident at Leopardstown over Christmas, when the selection won with a degree of authority. 

He used to be harder work than the EastEnders Omnibus, but travelled on the bridle longer for JJ Slevin that day and can improve on his gallant sixth place in this event last year.

The decision to supplement gold tweet could be a shrewd one as the French raider was a smooth winner of the Cleeve Hurdle on his first attempt at three miles. Overnight rain in Cheltenham will surely play to his strengths given the way he finished off that race.

Ashdale Bob has a profile which often sees him involved at the business end of this type of race and it would be no shock to see him placed once more.

SELECTION: HOME BY THE LEE................6-1

MAIN DANGER: GOOD TWEET.................11-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: ASHDALE BOB..............16-1

TIPSTERS 

4.10 MAGNERS PLATE HANDICAP CHASE 

This looks like one of the trickiest betting events of the week, with So Scottish among the gambles of the Festival, but backers should not let Fugitif evade their calculations given his profile.

Trainer Richard Hobson handles a select team at his Gloucestershire stables, but he struck with a 12-1 winner at Taunton on Monday (Fanzio) and his representative here looks to hold outstanding each-way claims judged on a fine run behind Il Ridoto over course and distance on Trial’s Day.

Travelling well and jumping precisely are crucial attributes in races of this nature and the two old adversaries should be on the scene again.

Midnight River is another to boast some quality track form and his yard are extremely adept at targeting this level of handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.

SELECTION: FUGITIF................................12-1

MAIN DANGER: IL RIDOTO.........................8-1

LIVE OUTSIDER: MIDNIGHT RIVER..........9-1

TIPSTERS

4.50 JACK DE BROMHEAD MARES' HURDLE 

Many feel Luccia would not have looked out of place in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday, so she ought to go very close to winning this.

Her hurdle successes at Newbury and Exeter either side of Christmas were achieved in facile fashion and, although this race represents a marked step up in class and competitiveness, she certainly appears to have the quality to cope with a stiffer assignment.

Halka Du Tabert acquitted herself well in a warm Fairyhouse Grade Three in January, when the classy Ashroe Diamond was just too good for her in the closing stages. She may be better than the bare form of that race as she was forced to cut out her own running.

Foxy Girl hurdles very precisely and has bolted up at Limerick, so she could be another to consider at double figure odds.

SELECTION: LUCCIA................................6-4

MAIN DANGER: HALKA DU

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