Lydia Hislop's Thursday Cheltenham tips: Honesty looks the best Policy
By Lydia Hislop
Last Updated: Wed 11 Mar 2026
Lydia Hislop previews the third day of action at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and shares her selections. Watch EVERY race live on Racing TV!
New day, new course – quite literally. The New Course is a more galloping, testing affair than its sister track, the Old Course, that was utilised over the first two days of the Festival and rode unexpectedly fast – on the good side of good-to-soft, drying all the time.
This track begins its stint on good-to-soft officially. Rain forecast due shortly after racing starts on Thursday, continuing into the evening. With an extremely wet winter leaving the sub-soil residually well-moisturised, combined with selective watering of 3-5mm carried out on Monday, there is the potential for the ground to soften more markedly than this volume of rain might usually deliver.
At the time of writing, its timing suggests this would impact Friday’s racing to the greatest extent, once the ground has been opened up on Thursday.
1.20 - Ryanair Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
The market has long expected Bambino Fever to reverse the form of her opening hurdles encounter with Oldschool Outlaw at Naas, but at the relative prices that seems presumptuous. Yes, there was an element of the winner getting first run, but she’s improved again since in a deeper race whereas last year’s Festival Bumper heroine dotted up at 1/10 in a gimme event. Prove it, I say.
The Irish contingent is also deeper than merely this pair. Likeable Carrigmoorna Spruce, who’ll stay this trip thoroughly, shouldn’t be discounted to seize a place. Henry de Bromhead’s squad of mares should always be considered. Full Of Life beat Carrigmorna Spruce in more of a speed test at Down Royal and the stable’s putative first string Echoing Silence drops back in trip after producing improved form at Punchestown. Both arrive here fresh.
But I’ve revised my stance in this event to side with the British. Progressive LA CONQUIERE ran a stormer against a smart and far more experienced rival when second to Ooh Betty in a Grade Two at Ascot. Returning to a left-handed track will also help this likeable mare, who loves a scrap.
I wouldn’t put you off an each-way saver on KINGSTON QUEEN at bigger prices. Cheekpieces will sharpen up her act as she’s got more ability than channelled to date – and that’s despite winning twice this season. In between, she was beaten by Supreme winner Old Park Star.
BACK NOW: LA CONQUIERE each-way at 18/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and BetVictor
BACK NOW: KINGSTON QUEEN each-way at 25/1 with various firms
Josh Stacey’s Lucky 15 Leg 2, advised 12/02/26 (all NRNB): Bambino Fever at 7/4
Gary O’Brien’s Lucky 15 Leg 3, advised 12/02/26 (all NRNB): Bambino Fever at 7/4
2.00 - Jack Richards Golden Miller Novices’ Handicap Chase
This column has a good ante-post position with MEETMEBYTHESEA, who will benefit from the step up in trip for the first time over fences. A neat jumper, he has amassed his handicap mark over two miles – including an uncompetitive foray into graded company behind Lulamba in the Game Spirit. Soon behind, you couldn’t see him from five out.
Although his progress has been on testing ground this season, last term’s evidence suggests he’s fully effective on good-to-soft ground; anything quicker would be an unknown. He has the potential to blossom as a smart handicapper at the very least next season.
With positively ridden quality rivals like Sixmilebridge and Wingmen among the opposition, there should be a sustained pace on which will help keen-going Regent’s Stroll. Former Supreme winner Slade Steel is a lurker, but I suspect he prefers deep ground.
Ben Solo looks overpriced after unseating when the likeliest winner of a competitive race at Chepstow at Christmas and benefits from the attentions of Brian Hughes. However, I chiefly fear the finishing kick of Jordans Cross if he’s on the premises turning for home.
Advised 26/02/26: Meetmebythesea at 16/1
2.40 - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
Thoroughly likeable Wodhooh made newly crowned Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth pull out all the stops in the Aintree Hurdle last April. Aside from that sole encounter, she has always found a way of winning over hurdles. With that rival cleared from her path, she’s the most talented mare in this line-up – albeit not by as far as the market would have it.
However, Jade De Grugy’s best form has tended to surface at Punchestown – though not having to make her own running, as she did here 12 months ago when setting up the race for Lossiemouth, probably also helped. Plus, she’s been chasing all season, so her hurdling might lack the polish of Wodhooh.
Take No Chances was ridden cold to pick up the pieces when finishing third last year and is an improved model this season. I prefer her over Feet Of A Dancer, a decent fourth in the Pertemps last year but was flattered by her proximity to Wodhooh at Christmas when the latter was short of work following a minor training setback.
If you fancy a social bet, why not Wodhooh to beat Take No Chances?
Straight forecast: Wodhooh to beat Take No Chances
3.20 - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
I’m siding with the new wave, two against the field, in a competitive edition of this race that’s unlikely to be strongly run – at least until two out – with no obvious front-runner in the line-up.
First, the drifting HONESTY POLICY, who shaped so promisingly on his first attempt at open company when third on seasonal debut in the Long Walk in December. You can argue that form has been let down by Impose Toi and Strong Leader in the Cleeve, but they had excuses (ground/trip and track respectively) and Mark Walsh’s mount is progressive.
As a Grade One winner over shorter on good ground as a novice at Aintree, he’s no slugger either. That may well be pivotal if this race pans out as I expect. This is only his second season under Rules, so there’s a risk he might last the grizzled smarts for a race like this if they get racing a long way out; equally, he’s come a long way in a short space of time.
My back-up arrives via the different grounding of progressive form in handicaps. MA SHANTOU then made a smooth transition to graded company over the course and distance in the Cleeve. He’s versatile from a ground perspective and can benefit if Honesty Policy falters even slightly.
Teahupoo is fully effective on a sounder surface, as he proved with a right-up-to-snuff success at Leopardstown over Christmas. Jack Kennedy blames himself for defeat by Bob Olinger last year, failing to make it more of a stamina test entering the straight, but he’s short enough to regain his crown in a much deeper race.
However, expect both to be thereabouts as the titleholder was too far back to mount an effective challenge when they met at Leopardstown and his entire season explicitly revolves around the Festival. Kennedy’s tweaks notwithstanding, the race is likely to be run to suit Bob again.
Kabral Du Mathan will need to settle in a race lacking obvious pace and, judging by his truculent pre-parade-ring antics on his last two outings, Ballyburn’s head is no longer in the game.
BACK NOW: HONESTY POLICY at 6/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral
Back on the day: MA SHANTOU at 7/1 or bigger
4.00 - Ryanair Chase Festival Trophy
Having looked set to be a snoozefest rather than the supposed feature of Day Three – an argument it still loses to the Stayers’ Hurdle in my view – three doses of late intrigue have been added to this race. Their presence makes this a much deeper race than last year and yet its imperious winner Fact To File is much shorter. Just saying.
To an extent, that’s understandable given the manner of his victory 12 months ago and his Irish Gold Cup success last time, when taking advantage of Gaelic Warrior at a track his old rival hates (having not settled, too) and the dying of the light of Galopin Des Champs.
To be fair, Fact To File was the winner everywhere at Leopardstown and it was doubtless a performance of quality. The ground probably won’t be quick enough to raise any concerns – the likeliest reason for his poor runs in the King George and over (admittedly) two miles at Punchestown in my book – and Mark Walsh will surely give him another unfettered ride.
However, the shortness of his price makes me look
I don’t fancy Heart Wood – not good enough, even if he is ridden more positively than when second last year. Banbridge hasn’t brought his best to the New Course fences for two years now.
Impaire Et Passe is a late draftee after doing wonders to win last month’s Red Mills Chase on his belated reappearance at Thurles when Paul Townend had him too far off the pace. Mostly kept away from the Festival, he did thump Gaelic Warrior in the 2023 Turners equivalent.
But I prefer Nicky Henderson’s afterthought to that of Willie Mullins in this instance. JONBON must be thriving to have shouldered his way into this race when he looked all set for Aintree just days ago. Critics will point to his Cheltenham aversion but increasingly appears primarily trip related and the Ryanair is a new frontier.
I fancy him to be clear second best, hence the recommendation below. But if little rain has emerged by the off, drying ground will suit him more than Fact To File. I might even throw a little at him in the win-only market. Just in case, like.
BACK NOW: JONBON win only in the ‘Without Fact To File’ market
4.40 - Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
The case for Supremely West was plain to see here in November when, having already qualified for this Final on his seasonal debut in October, Harry Skelton took the traditionally unfavoured inside line and finished fifth behind Kikijo. Since then, two lesser runs with excuses have eked a 3lb drop. Not unreasonably, you’re getting no price for a bounce-back.
Skelton’s accepted explanation to the stewards referred to seeking to settle behind a lead, provided by fourth-placed GOWEL ROAD. A perennial feature at Cheltenham, this horse is grossly overpriced on a line through the favourite and bearing in mind he won the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle only last season. Forget his chase form – he’s not so good in that discipline.
Aided by a talented claiming rider who got to know him even better at Chepstow last time, he can hit the extended places at a rewarding price.
However, my main shout is fellow veteran BOLD ENDEAVOUR, a low-key Festival favourite and finally given a chance by the handicapper. Returned to the care of Nicky Henderson after a brief stint at Laura Morgan’s yard, he shaped well under today’s rider James Bowen when third in a Huntingdon qualifier. He’s 13lb lower than when fourth in this two year as ago and 10lb lower than when fifth in the 2023 Coral Cup.
Irish raider Letos will run will if handling the ground as the lack of accent on stamina over this three-mile trip will suit him ideally.
Back tomorrow with bpg: BOLD ENDEAVOUR at 12/1+ with various firms
Back on the day in the extended place market on the exchanges: Gowel Road
Josh Stacey’s Lucky 15 Leg 3, advised 12/02/26 (all NRNB): Supremely West at 10/1
5.20 - Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
WATERFORD WHISPERS will need to prove his stamina, but he shaped well when returning from a break with a rallying third in a competitive handicap at the DRF last time out. The way he surged forward after landing on the back foot two out caught my eye.
Beaten favourite in the Martin Pipe two seasons ago after tanking through the race, it looks like he’s been laid out for the Festival again. Provided the rain stays away in volume, the ground will help him with the trip and he’ll hold his pitch better than many. Kim Roque is the obvious danger, having been more handily ridden than those who finished in front of him that same race.
As Johnnywho managed to win the Ultima on Tuesday, I hesitate to dismiss Jeriko Du Reponet as I did JP McManus’s other – understatement klaxon – less-than-fluent jumper. Yet despite his second in last year’s Pertemps, sneaking in this race with the maximum permitted mark of 145, the reapplication of cheekpieces and the booking of Derek O’Connor – all undoubted positives – I can’t bring myself to do it. I just can’t.
BACK NOW: WATERFORD WHISPERS at 9/2 with Ladbrokes, William Hill and BetVictor
Josh Stacey’s selection, advised 26/02/26: Kim Roque at 12/1 NRNB
THURSDAY: STATS AND GUIDES
1.20 Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
2.40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
3.20 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.00 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
4.40 Pertemps Network Final (Premier Handicap)
5.20 The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Sponsored by The JRL Group) (Handicap Chase - 0-145)
FORMBOOK - DAY THREE
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