Cheltenham Festival tips day three: Frodon to edge Ryanair thriller?

Preview and odds for St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day comes early this week with day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

We’ve had two cracking days of racing, so there’s no reason to expect anything but another belter, right?

Will Defi Du Seuil come good in the JLT? Can Footpad prevail in the Ryanair? And will Paisley Park delight backers by taking the Stayers’ Hurdle? We’ll find out soon enough …

1:30 JLT Novices’ Chase – Defi du Seuil

We start with part three of the fascinating duel between Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation.

The latter won part one at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, only for JP McManus’ raider to turn the tables at Sandown last month.

Who wins this time? There won’t be much in it but we’re siding with Defi Du Seuil.

Lostintranslation will be reunited with Robbie Power, and certainly seems suited around Cheltenham, but the expectant rain might swing things. Defi Du Seuil was excellent on tricky ground at Exeter in November, and such conditions would suit.

2.50 Ryanair Chase – Frodon                                       

What a line up we have for the Ryanair. Footpad versus Monalee versus Road to Respect versus Un De Sceaux versus Frodon. Each of the five have strong claims to land the 2m 4f slog.

Of the bunch, it’s Frodon we like the look of. Paul Nicholls’ charger has been excellent this season, with three wins and a second under the guidance of Bryony Frost.