Angus McNae's top tips for day three of the Cheltenham Festival
By Angus McNae
Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023
It was good to get three winners in my tipping column at Meydan last week here in the shape of Muntazah, Dream Castle and Cappezano.
Tipping on Thursday requires something of a change of mindset for me this week given that all my selections come at the Cheltenham Festival where the Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race.
Angus McNae
Finished: 1stSP: 3/1
I was very keen on this horse in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and he duly obliged under an excellent ride. Essentially, he needs to be delivered late.
Barry Geraghty got to the front too soon when beaten by Lostintranslation at Cheltenham, but easily turned the form around under a more circumspect ride at Sandown.
He remains with a good deal of potential as a chaser and he should get a good gallop to go at. He handles soft ground and looks to get the perfect set up here providing he doesn’t get to the front too early.
Angus McNae
Finished: 9thSP: 15/2
This Pertemps Final is as competitive as ever and I think this horse can at least make the frame at a decent price.
He is a strong stayer and I was impressed with his two wins here at Cheltenham this season. Since then, he has remained in good form and shaped as if the track at Warwick was too sharp for him last time out.
Anything around about 12-1 is good value for this horse who should give us a decent run for our money at a track that he goes very well at.
Angus McNae
Finished: 8thSP: 7/2
I thought that Footpad looked as if he was just about back to his best when narrowly beaten at Leopardstown last time. He travelled well and jumped well before getting tired after the last.
He is sure to come on for that and providing he settles here over 2m4f he may have too much speed for his rivals here.
Many people will question him going over this trip, but we must remember that he is a Grade One hurdle winner over 19 furlongs, and I am not worried about his stamina.
He just has to settle into a good rhythm here to have a massive chance.
Angus McNae
Finished: 4thSP: 16/1
Eighteen runners in the Stayers’ Hurdle this year and I like this gelding who represents decent each-way value at 16-1.
He has been improving ever since his win in the Grade Two Prix La Barka at Auteuil and I believe we have not yet seen the best of him in top-class staying contests.
He was an excellent third in the Christmas Hurdle to Apple’s Jade where a bad blunder at the last cost him second place.
His second in the Balmoy hurdle last time confirmed that he is in decent form. Paul Townend won this last year on Penhill and can repeat the dose here.
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