Russell’s Return Justified With Two Festival Winners?
Cheltenham day three is a punters minefield. Three ultra-competitive 24-runner handicap races pepper a card that also features the Stayers’ Hurdle, a 21-runner Mares Novices’ Hurdle, and the Grade-1 Ryanair Chase. The Turners Novices’ Chase starts proceedings at 1.30 pm, and if a market principle does prevail in any race today, this is the most likely contest to produce a winning favorite.
Mighty Potter (right) is unbeaten in three starts over fences. He most recently landed a Grade-1 at Leopardstown. ©GettyImages
Davy Russell – who made one of the quickest returns from retirement in history at the start of the year – will partner the ‘jolly’, Mighty Potter. Chasing a five-timer this Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old has 10 pounds in hand of his rivals in this two-mile-four-furlong contest, and he is already a Grade-1 winning chaser.
Shopping around the the UK’s leading betting sites for the best price for any selection is always prudent. With horse racing betting sites offering enhanced odds and money-back specials (amongst other Cheltenham promotions), there could be real value in backing this imposing young chaser as a win selection.
Will It Pay to Lay Shishkin?
Shishkin is scheduled to go off at a shorter price – a shade of odds-on – in the 2.50 pm, the Ryanair Chase. Twelve times a winner from 15 races under rules, with a mark of 174, Nicky Henderson’s 2021 Arkle winner is the highest-rated chaser in the British Isles.
However, who can forget his dismal effort in last season’s Champion Chase when never traveling and pulled up at odds of 5/6? And a second crushing defeat at cramped odds followed in December’s Tingle Creek Chase.
Admittedly – after undergoing wind surgery – Shishkin got his career back on track with a wide-margin victory in the Ascot Chase a month ago. But does that success make him a horse to be backed with confidence? Not in a race where several rivals have shown glimpses of brilliance.
He’s back!
Shishkin wins the Betfair @Ascot Chase in some style…pic.twitter.com/fSm93rbh7e
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) February 18, 2023
Blue Lord was an impressive Grade-1 winner at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival. Janadil won the Grade-2 Red Mills Chase on his latest start. Fury Road was placed in the last four Grade-1s he contested. Envoi Allen is a former Festival winner that began his season with success in Down Royal’s Ladbrokes Champion Chase.
Given the strength and depth of the field and last season’s Festival disappointments, the recommendation is to lay Shishkin on the betting exchanges at the predicted even money.
Teahupoo Can Blaze a Trail for Russell
The Stayers Hurdle, due off at 3.30 pm, has attracted 11 runners including two-time winner Flooring Porter and 2019 winner Paisley Park. But younger contenders, Blazing Khail and Teahupoo head the betting, and they bring the best recent form to the party.
It is difficult to separate the Irish-trained duo on their recent achievements. But, as Blazing Khail has reportedly had a few issues since landing Navan’s Boyne Hurdle, Teahupoo is fancied to give Davy Russell a second winner on the day.
This Gordon Elliott-trained horse is generally priced at 4/1. But trawling through the best Cheltenham betting sites should identify helpful price boosts and additional place-paying positions for each-way punters.
