CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 3 - 2026
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No joy yesterday unfortunately and the starter played havoc. It was a frustrating watch but what can you do…..
We go again today with free tips in two more races.
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Stayers Hurdle – 3:20 Cheltenham
BOB OLINGER 10/1 generally – 0.75 POINTS E/W (3 places, 1/4 odds) (sent out on Friday 9th January) NOW 13/2
TEAHUPOO 4/1 generally – 1.5 POINTS WIN
We have two selections in this race. We sent out Bob Olinger back in January but I now want to add Teahupoo because the 3/1 price is crazy, in my opinion.
BOB OLINGER is absolutely huge given he won this race last year, defeating the 2024 winner Teahupoo. He didn’t just beat him either, he travelled all over him and won as he liked. Now Teahupoo turned that form around over the Christmas period by winning at Leopardstown. We must remember, however, that Teahupoo had already had one run this season and was entitled to be the fitter horse, while BOB OLINGER was having his first start of the season and was entitled to improve for the run. Henry De Bromhead is priming him for one day only: the race in March, exactly as he did last year.
Furthermore, you all know what I think about Cheltenham form, it is everything. Horses keep turning up each and every year because they come alive at Cheltenham.
BOB OLINGER remains UNBEATEN at Cheltenham in 4 visits to the course. He has won at 3 Cheltenham Festivals and just absolutely loves the place. If you want a course specialist, BOB OLINGER is your horse.
Last year they ran him in December and he went straight to the festival and I think they will do the same again this year. They will look after him and his legs at the age of 11. He might be 11 years old, but he has been well looked after with only 20 career runs. Judging from his run over the Christmas period, he still has all the ability in the world.
On paper this does not look like the strongest race in the world and I can’t see anything outside the first 3 in the market winning it. Teahupoo, Honest Policy and BOB OLINGER are those 3 horses (since writing this Kabral Du Mathan is now running in the race). I am not sure what has happened to Impose Toi as he has not been entered for the race according to Racing Post, so that suggests a setback.
Then you have Ballyburn, who will be dangerous if the real Ballyburn turns up, but he looked out of love for the game over the Christmas period. After that it is hard to suggest any other chances if I am being honest.
This looks a poor race apart from those already mentioned and surely the bet of the race and value of the race, has to be BOB OLINGER. E/W.
Since sending the write-up on 9th January, Dan Skelton was planning to skip Cheltenham with Kabral Du Mathan, believing it was a year too early. I respect Kabral Du Mathan and was in two minds about adding him alongside Bob Olinger but the drift on TEAHUPOO who is out to 3/1, is far too big to ignore.
TEAHUPOO has run in the Stayers Hurdle 3 times. With one win, a 2nd and a 3rd in the race. He is also a Cheltenham specialist and last time out at Leopardstown, he looked better than ever. Before that he beat Ballyburn over a trip too short and I am sure Jack Kennedy is going to make it more of a test this year.
I guess the drift is due to the ground drying out but rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow and if it softens, it will be a huge plus.
Although I mentioned the ground, he did win on good ground over the Christmas period.
I simply can’t leave him out at his current price, as he was only 13/8 last week and the 4/1 is just too big. WIN.
With both Bob Olinger and Tehupoo running for you at odds of 10/1 and 4/1 and considering they finished 2nd and 3rd last season, I am happy enough going into race.
Pertemps Hurdle – 4:40 Cheltenham
STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT 16/1 generally – 0.5 POINTS E/W (4 places, 1/4 odds) sent out on 4th March Now 18/1
ACE OF SPADES 12/1 generally – 0.5 POINTS E/W (5 places, 1/5 odds)
We have 2 selections in this race, one of which was sent out on the 4th March but I want to add another.
They are racing on fresh ground tomorrow and the weather has been dry today. Rain is expected tomorrow, but it won’t be significant enough to make the ground heavy..
With that in mind I want to add ACE OF SPADES who will appreciate this better ground. His stablemate is still being backed significantly, but 7/2 for a race like this with no form whatsoever this season, is very short.
Below is what we sent out on Staffordshire Knot…..
There is some gamble going on Supremely West for the Dan Skelton team but 7/2 in a huge field handicap, for a horse who has not won since 2024? No thank you. Maybe he will win, maybe they have tricked the handicapper again but he won’t be carrying my money at that price, it is ludicrous.
What it does is open the market up and we have some big priced horses in this race whose chances are much better than their odds suggest. I will probably add another closer to race day, but I want to see what the ground does next week. We know it will be dry this week but next week looks uncertain.
I am happy to add STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT who has had a fine season winning 3 of his 5 races along with a 2nd to Home By The Lee in a Grade 2 Hurdle.
He was entered in the Stayers Hurdle as well as this race but Gordon Elliott confirmed he will run in this race.
I like it when Gordon Elliott is happy to enter a horse in this race carrying top weight or second top weight, depending on what Impose Toi does. He won the race twice with Sire Du Berlais when doing so and those carrying weight have done very well in this race in the past. Currently if Impose Toi runs he carries 11st 7lb but if he is withdrawn, he carries 11st 12lb. I still think he is capable because he is a graded horse running in a handicap. Although all his form has been on heavy ground, his breeding suggests he won’t mind it drying out a bit either.
I just think this season he has really come into his own and is a very tough horse—exactly the sort of horse you need for a race like this.
Let’s not forget this horse switched hands for £510k on Gordon Elliott’s advice after the Caldwell dispersal. He finished second to Brightdaysahead at Aintree in a Grade 1 race. Although he never really took to fences afterwards, he has been a different horse this season.
I really think 16/1 is an insult, given he won a Grade 2 hurdle last time out.
This is a proper staying horse and when others have had enough, STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT will keep on going and for me, offers great value.
Kielan Woods will ride ACE OF SPADES, which is clearly a booking by Noel Fehily as you wouldn’t normally see Kielan Woods riding for Dan Skelton. Harry is on Supremely West so Noel Fehily has taken his own route to snap up Kielan. I like the booking a lot as I think Kielan Woods is an underrated jockey—a very strong jockey who if close enough, will get any horse up the hill, better than most.
Although rated 139, and with Staffordshire Knot and Gowel Road in the field, he carries just 11st 1lb.
He won well last time out at Huntingdon when the ground was against him and although he is up the handicap 5lb for that win, he is certainly capable. On his penultimate start he finished 2nd to Ma Shantou, not beaten far and that horse went on to win the Cleeve Hurdle and is quietly fancied for the Stayers Hurdle. It will be interesting to see how the Ma Shantou runs in the 3:20. If he wins (which I doubt), it will only cause Ace of Spades to be backed.
The ground is also key to him and good to soft ground is absolutely perfect and his form around Cheltenham is also strong.
I can see him running a huge race and the price offers excellent value.