Cheltenham N.H. festival: day three

the third day of Cheltenham´s big meeting features four really difficult handicaps with 20+ runners each and two Grade One races, the Ryan Air Chase over the intermediate distance of 2 miles 5 furlings at 15.40 CET and the World Hurdle over 3 miles at 16.20, both wth clear favourites Voy por Ustedes and Kasbah Bliss respectively. The former is due to be partnered by Robert Thornton, who had a nasty fall yesterday. Should he be not fit, Tony McCoy will ride. The ground is still officially good to soft, but very little if any -rain is now expected and it will probably dry out further. Therefore punters should be wary of relying on the form of the past few weeks, when the going was heavy at almost all British and Irish meetings. The Irish, regardless of the going, have dominated the meeting so far with 8 wins from the 13 races so far run, although they played no role in yesterday´s big race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, won easily by odds-on favourite Master Minded with ex- German Well Chief in second, an excellent performance after 2 years off the track. Incidentally, the Queen herself is expected to show up tomorrow to see her chaser Barber Shop run in the Gold Cup.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Northern Alliance - Chapoturgeon - Tranquil Sea
2. Race: Don`T Push It - P`Tit Fute - Buena Vista
3. Race: Voy Por Ustedes - Imperial Commander - Our Vic
4. Race: Kasbah Bliss - Punchestowns - Big Buck`S
5. Race: Clarified - Perce Rock - Three Mirrors
6. Race: Poker De Sivola - Shouldhavehadthat - Aggie`S Lad