Cheltenham Festival: Don’t miss Bryan Cooper’s latest column as he gives him tips for Day Three
Cooper gives his views and tips for the third day of action at the Cheltenham Festival where he fancies Bacardys to win the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.
IT has been a cracking Festival so far but no doubt today’s Sun Bets Stayers Hurdle (3.30) will be a real highlight.
There is no superstar horse in the race. Down the years we have loved watching the likes of Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s win time after time but we have a real open contest here.
Hopefully we’ll be sipping the BACARDYS after Willie Mullins has done the business.
He was a really good novice last year but just didn’t get into his groove jumping fences.
As a hurdler he won Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Punchestown so that’s solid form.
Given his issues as a chaser, it was a smart of Willie to bring him back to the smaller obstacles. I rate his chances of hitting the frame at the very least.
Sam Spinner deserves his place at the top of the betting after winning the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. But you can’t rule out the classy Yanworth either.
He hasn’t matched his hurdling form over fences but if he runs like he did when taking the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree last year he will be the one to beat.
I am going for a hat-trick in the Brown Advisory Plate (4.10) and I might pull it off on WILLIE BOY.
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Trainer Venetia Williams has a cracking record in the race and I was impressed by Willie Boy’s win in a competitive handicap chase at Newbury after a long break. He’s fresh again today. Don’t worry about his sixth last time — he broke a blood vessel. He has a nice weight of 10st 9lb today and we have a solid each-way chance.
There’s a fair Irish challenge with Tully East mapped out for this. Last Goodbye is another to consider.
This year’s Ryanair Chase (2.50) looks weaker than 12 months ago so there’s no looking past UN DE SCEAUX. Cue Card has been a great horse but it’s asking a lot for a 12-year-old to win a Ryanair and the others look short of this level.
I give BENATAR a good chance of upsetting Invitation Only in the opening JLT Novices’ Chase (1.30).
Despite the huge field in the Pertemps Final, I like the chances of SORT IT OUT. His first run back over hurdles was eyecatching in third — and he has a handy weight of 10st 12lb.
Bryan Cooper's Cheltenham tips
1.30 Cheltenham - Benatar
2.10 Cheltenham - Sort It Out
2.50 Cheltenham - Un De Sceaux
3.30 Cheltenham - Bacardys
4.10 Cheltenham - Willie Boy
4.50 Cheltenham - Laurina
5.30 Cheltenham - Mall Dini
There will be a lot of long faces if LAURINA gets beat in the Mares’ Hurdle at 4.50. She should get the job done but Nicky Henderson’s Countister is an each-way chance.
In the Kim Muir (5.30) I see why MALL DINI has been popular with the punters. He has been mapped out for a big day and this could be it. He loves the ground, stays well and a mark of 143 looks a gift.