Cheltenham tips: Magical Melon can finally taste glory on day three

IF punters thought they had it easy on the opening two days of Cheltenham, then they’re in for a severe shock after looking at today’s seven-race card.

Thursday is traditionally the toughest day and, on a new course, today’s offering is as trappy a day’s racing as there’s been at this meeting in many years.

Both feature contests, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase, are very deep affairs, while events like the Pertemps and Paddy Power Plate are difficult handicaps to assess.

The unbeaten Envoi Allen should get odds on punters off to a flier in the opener but it’s likely to be a steep hill to climb following that.

Here is our expert, Brian Flanagan, with his best Cheltenham tips for day three.

1.20 Marsh Novices Chase

This looks a relative formality for ENVOI ALLEN, who arrives here unbeaten and attempting a hat-trick of Festival wins having won the bumper and Ballymore last year.He’s not spectacular but gets the job done and provided his late switch to Henry De Bromhead hasn’t worried him too much, he should win with the minimum of fuss.None of the Irish contingent look like living with him and perhaps his biggest rivals are the English duo of Shan Blue and Chantry House.Shan Blue is a brilliant jumper and is likely to lead while the JP McManus-owned Chantry House was third in the Supreme last year and has been in and out over fences since.Chatham Street Lad is an interesting runner for Mick Winters. He won a big handicap here before Christmas in a canter and although since beaten at Fairyhouse, he’s been trained very much with this race in mind.

SELECTION: ENVOI ALLEN

Danger: Shan Blue

1.55 Pertemps H’cap Hdle

A race that has produced some high-class winners in recent times like Presenting Percy, Delta Work and Sir Du Berlais but this year’s renewal does look a little more ordinary.

With that in mind, KANSAS CITY CHIEF is put forward as an each way play in a race where several bookmakers are paying out on the first six.

He ran a mighty race from the front in this 12 months ago, finishing sixth, and gets in here off 5lbs lower and has the excellent Minnie Wonnacott taking off another 5lbs.

He’s a 12-year-old now but ran a nice race after a 90-day absence at Wincanton and looks very well-handicapped for what he’s achieved having been formally trained in Ireland by Mary Louise Hallahan.

He’s a wild shot in the dark and more fancied contenders include the JP McManus-owned Champagne Platinum and veteran Unowhatimeanharry, back in handicap company having won a Grade 1 here in the past.

Irish-trained horses with chances include top weight The Bosses Oscar and the Paul Nolan-trained Mrs Milner.

SELECTION: KANSAS CITY CHIEF  (e/w)

Danger: Champagne Platinum

2.30 Ryanair Chase

ONE of the races of the week with three Willie Mullins-trained stars taking each other on in a race overflowing with quality.

Last year’s winner Min is the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend but he ran a shocker at the Dublin Racing Festival when jumping erratically and will need a huge improvement here.

MELON has finished runner-up four times at the Festival but just like Vintage Clouds on Tuesday, he can make it fifth time lucky this afternoon in what’s a brilliant spare ride for Bryan Cooper.

He’s a brilliant jumper and expect Cooper to fire him off in front on ground which should really suit the nine-year-old. He came agonisingly close in last year’s Marsh Chase but no horse deserves a Festival win more.

Allaho is a quality animal and holds an obvious chance for Rachael Blackmore while the best of the home team could be Saint Calvados, who was runner-up here 12 months ago.

Imperial Aura and Samcro are another two former Festival winners also in the mix in a race that’s very deep.

SELECTION: Melon

Danger: Allaho

3.05 PP Stayers’ Hurdle

The day’s feature and a devilishly difficult race to solve for punters on what’s traditionally the toughest day to back winners at Cheltenham.

Paisley Park was good here two years ago when blitzing clear in the closing furlong but was disappointing in defending his crown 12 months ago.

He bounced back from another defeat to beat Thyme Hill in an epic tussle at Ascot before Christmas but he’s a short price here again and there might be merit in taking him on here.

Finding an alternative is not easy but BEACON EDGE might be worth an each-way play at a big price for Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan — successful here on Tuesday with an 80/1 shot.

He’s lightly raced but looks a real progressive horse and saw off the highly-rated Fury Road at Navan in the Boyne Hurdle — a remarkable win considering he was a sick horse at Christmas with a bout of colic.

He also has good form behind Honeysuckle when third in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace and looks overpriced here as he should stay and is an improving horse.

There are several others with chances. Flooring Porter got the run of the race at Christmas but is another on the upgrade while Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller fought out the Pertemps last year and should be there or thereabouts too.

SELECTION: BEACON EDGE (e/w)

Danger: The Storyteller

3.40 Paddy Power Plate

FARCLAS won a Triumph Hurdle here in 2018 and although he’s never going to reach those heights over fences, he has posted some very solid efforts in handicap chases.The Gigginstown-owned gelding was third in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas and followed that up with a respectable effort again in the Leopardstown Chase and a 3lbs rise seems fair enough from the English assessor.He should enjoy the nicer ground and his jockey Jack Kennedy is riding very well.Emmet Mullins is chasing a €100,000 bonus with recent Kelso hurdles winner The Shunter — Mullins booking crack claimer Jordan Gainford for his versatile eight-year-old — while Fils D’oudairies and A Wave Of The Sea are two Joseph O’Brien inmates with chances.

SELECTION: FARCLAS

Danger: The Shunter

4.15 Mare’ Novices Hdl

A race named after Dawn Run and dominated by Willie Mullins since its inception with the Carlow handler winning all five renewals.

That trend might be in trouble as Cork-based trainer Jonathan Sweeney looks to have a seriously talented mare in the JP McManus-owned ROSEYS HOLLOW.

She’s clearly on the improve and produced a very taking performance to win the Grade 3 Solerina at Fairyhouse last month, beating several of today’s rivals with the minimum of fuss.

She jumped better as the race progressed, travelled like a good horse and there was no fluke in the way she saw off two good mares that had won their last six races between them.

There still could be plenty of improvement in her and she has the gears to come down in trip and is getting better all the time.

Mullins runs four with another McManus runner Glens Of Antrim potentially the most interesting while Pat Fahy’s Royal Kahala and Shark Hanlon’s Skyace will have plenty of supporters.

SELECTION: ROSEYS HOLLOW

Danger: Glens Of Antrim

4.50 Kim Muir H’cap Cs

PLAN OF ATTACK is put forward as a selection for the Champion Hurdle-winning pair of Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

He’s 3lbs lower here than when fourth in this 12 months ago and ran a satisfactory race in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas, with the suspicion a return here has been his long-term plan.

He’s young and has the potential to improve and nice ground won’t do him any harm.

Hold The Note has been well tipped up in the previews for Mick Channon while another Irish-trained horse that might go well is Young Dev, who famously won when Hugh Morgan lost his irons at Navan last month.

SELECTION: PLAN OF ATTACK

Danger: Young Dev

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