Cheltenham Festival Day Three: race-by-race guide and Tote Placepot

Both new and existing customers can pick up a £1 Placepot bet at tote.co.uk, just by opting-in, with the offer also available on each day of the Festival.

If you’ve not played the Placepot before, you need to pick a horse to place in each of the first six races to win a share of the pool. Pools regularly pay well into the thousands during the Festival with the average Placepot dividend paying £7,376.54 in the last five years, which with Tote+ now in place at tote.co.uk, would be £8,114.19.

It may seem a bit of a waste, but there is little chance that GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (3) and BOB OLINGER (1) - two above average recruits - don’t contest the finish here. However, there is always the chance that one falls, or unseats, so it makes sense to include both in the Placepot and hope for kinder results later on. If they both fail to win, it would certainly help knock a few players out of the Placepot!

SIRE DU BERLAIS (1) brings a touch of class to everyone’s favourite ‘plot race’ and has contributed two of his stable’s three wins from the last four renewals. Not only has Gordon Elliott got it right, but so has the market with only one recent winner returned bigger than 14-1. TULLYBEG (9) will have to step up on his course form in October when last seen but the likely stronger gallop is expected to suit. The cards haven’t fallen for Dunboyne the last twice, but he’d be a threat to all granted better fortune. Alaphilippe caught the eye at Warwick and looks primed to run a big race for local trainer Fergal O’Brien, while Leopardstown runner-up WINTER FOG (14) represents shrewd connections and is open to improvement on his second start for the stable.

ALLAHO (1) blew the field away when winning the 2021 renewal and, barring accidents, should retain his title in style. He rates banker material but, if he were to flop, then it would blow the Placepot wide open and Eldorado Allen is likely to be ridden to pick up the pieces in such an eventuality. Conflated announced himself on the big stage in the Irish Gold Cup; he’s owned by the race sponsor and looks the main threat. Janidil chased home the favourite at Punchestown in December and this son of Indian Daffodil is just starting to bloom as a chaser; he’s a solid place alternative. Melon finished second in four Festivals prior to pulling up in this race last year but he should be ripe after a confidence-boosting success last time out.

Gallons of the black stuff will be downed in the Guinness Village and last year’s winner Flooring Porter could be just as popular in the betting ring, but he has quirks to match his ability, as does Klassical Dream, and their connections will be hoping they calmly handle the preliminaries. Klassical Dream blew out in the Galmoy which was won by Royal Kahala, and she shouldn’t be underestimated for all that bare form isn’t much to write home about. Younger legs have held sway of late with those aged 6 or 7 winning seven of the past eight renewals (the other winner was aged 8) but older horses have hit the frame, so don’t throw Champ and Paisley Park out with the bathwater on that basis (there are other valid reasons for doing so, though). THYME HILL (9) is a reliable sort with the class to play a leading role and he could be hard to keep out of the frame.

SIMPLY THE BETTS (2) is 6lb higher in the weights than when winning this race in 2020 but this will suit better than his latest test and he can get involved. Celebre d’Allen landed a gamble at Warwick but that wasn’t the strongest renewal, and he’s worth taking on given his likely popularity in Placepot perms. The same goes for Imperial Alcazar - even though he easily won over course and distance - as that race rather fell apart. Grand Paradis should fare better now handicapping but preference for a second selection is for the consistent mare THE GLANCING QUEEN (13) who is another who should appreciate the drop in grade here; she could easily have taken in a lesser assignment.

Irish-trained runners have filled 13 of the 18 places since this race was introduced, winning all six renewals, and are 12/15 in the past five renewals. Good luck if you’re with Love Envoi or Nurse Susan, but this isn’t a time to oppose Willie Mullins, despite his blank last year. The ante-post money came for DINOBLUE (11) which is significant given the level of form achieved by Brandy Love who threw her latest race away by jumping out to her left; that won’t be such an inconvenience at this track but her errant ways have to be a concern. Grangee and Party Central may try to creep into the race from off the pace which are tactics that may also be employed by IMPERVIOUS (1) who looked potentially smart prior to her latest defeat.

24 lines (2x3x1x1x2x2)

Leg 1: 1. Bob Olinger. 3. Galopin Des Champs.

Leg 2: 1. Sire Du Berlais. 9. Tullybeg. 14. Winter Fog.

Leg 3: 1. Allaho

Leg 4: 9. Thyme Hill

Leg 5: 2 Simply The Betts. 13. The Glancing Queen

Leg 6: 1. Impervious. 11. Dinoblue