Racing experts have shared their predictions for the third day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, known as St Patrick's Thursday, featuring key Grade 1 races including the Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase. Selections vary across sources, with horses like Teahupoo and Wodhooh highlighted as strong contenders. The card includes seven races starting at 1:20pm, drawing attention to Irish-trained runners amid historical dominance.
The Cheltenham Festival reaches its midpoint on March 12, 2026, with Day 3 presenting a packed schedule of seven races at Prestbury Park. This day, traditionally called St Patrick’s Thursday, often sees a strong showing from Irish trainers, as noted in multiple previews. Willie Mullins holds a notable record, with five Ryanair Chase wins between 2016 and 2020, while Gordon Elliott has succeeded in the Stayers’ Hurdle with runners like Sire Du Berlais in 2023 and Teahupoo in 2024.
In the 1:20pm Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, Sporting News selects Bambino Fever, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, at 11/10 odds, praising its progressive profile. The 2:00pm Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase sees Horse & Hound's Carl Evans tipping The Bluesman, with trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Sean Bowen, describing it as "a handsome chap" with an appealing each-way chance.
The 2:40pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle draws consensus on Wodhooh, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy. Kim Bailey calls her "tough, consistent and a winning machine," while Sporting News notes her unexposed potential and recent improvements at Leopardstown and Ascot.
For the 3:20pm Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, predictions differ: Sporting News NAPs Teahupoo at 3/1 with Jack Kennedy, highlighting its Grade 1 class and stamina suited to the Cheltenham hill; Horse & Hound favors Ma Shantou (Emma Lavelle, Harry Cobden) for its younger legs and Cleeve Hurdle win, and Kabral Du Mathan (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton) for impressive recent form; Sky Sports picks Impose Toi (Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville) at 10/1, forgiving its last defeat due to pace issues.
The 4:00pm Ryanair Chase features Fact To File as Sporting News' 3/4 favorite with Mark Walsh, fresh off an Irish Gold Cup win, while Horse & Hound tips Banbridge (Joseph O’Brien, Sean Bowen), noting its recent Kempton form. Later races include the 4:40pm Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, with Sky Sports selecting Lavida Adiva at 20/1+ (Ruth Jefferson) as a hold-up performer, and Sporting News backing Ace of Spades (Dan Skelton, Kielan Woods) at 12/1 for value. The 5:20pm Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase sees Jeriko Du Reponet (Nicky Henderson, Derek O’Connor) at 7/2 from Sporting News, and Waterford Whispers (Henry de Bromhead, Alan O’Sullivan) at 4/1 from Sky Sports.
Trends indicate Irish horses dominate, especially in Grade 1 events, with most Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners aged five or six, and Ryanair Chase victors typically seven to nine years old. Betting markets show favorites succeeding in championship races but less reliably in handicaps.
