Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day Three Tips – Sixandahalf can give punters a winning start on St Patrick’s Thursday

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Rizz managed to land a winner on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, with his sole selection Stumptown winning the Cross Country Chase.

Stumptown has progressed massively this term and was priced up as big as 66/1 a while ago for this year's Grand National. His roll of victories has seen his price shorten to 12/1 at the time of writing, but the 12s could prove valuable for a horse who looks as if he could run for days upon end.

Jonbon was my sole selection yesterday, and I, like many, fell victim to another one of Henderson's bankers failing us on the big stage. Bet365 has super-boosted both Constitution Hill and Jonbon this week, and when I see a super boost, I immediately assume my bet is beat. I think to this point, the bookies are rubbing their hands given the amount of bankers failing punters, but we still have two more days to find some more winners, and fingers crossed we can land another on Day 3.

Cairnzy's Tips

Il Est Francais 3/1 – Cheltenham 3.20

This year's Ryanair looks a cracker on paper, and after analysing the field, I finally opted for the French raider Il Est Francais. I'm hoping my selection can upset the apple cart and turnover Fact To File, who looks like the Day 3 banker alongside Teahupoo in the Stayers. As most already know by now, these so-called bankers are beatable, and I think by this stage you are better off taking them on, as backing them these last two days has really not worked out.

The form of Il Est Francais has been typically up and down with form figures of 15-1P2, but in my opinion, he has run his best races on British soil, which includes an 11L thumping to his rivals in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day 2023 and an unlucky second in the most recent King George which saw him run out of puff in the final furlong to lose by just over 1L to Banbridge. A second-place finish to Banbridge looks one of the best pieces of form on offer, with that one heading to this year's Gold Cup in an attempt to turn over the almighty Galopin Des Champs and is marked up as second favourite for that contest at 9/2 at the time of writing.

My selection was stretched last time out in the King George, but a drop to 2m4f looks like the right move. Il Est Francais can be a quirky sort, which I guess in hindsight is a risky move, but If he shows up on song I do believe he will give you a real run for your money. My selection should go from the front under jockey James Reveley, and the plan is to try to run this field into submission from the front.

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Rizzel's Tips

Sixandahalf 11/4 – Cheltenham 1.20

Willie Mullins used to farm this race when it first came into the Cheltenham Festival programme, winning the first five renewals, but has not had a winner since 2020. The British trainers have had the last three winners of the Mares' Novice race, so it gives hope to those who are fans of Paul Nicholls' pair, of which I think the second string is the interesting runner.

Favourites don't have an excellent record in this race and haven't had a winner since 2018, so you might say that a favourite is due to win this race. I'm not backing Sixandahalf based on the law of averages and the fact that we're due one, but I think she has a superb chance in a race that doesn't look the strongest.

Gavin Cromwell's horse lacks experience over hurdles, as she has only been seen once over the obstacles, but she did win on that sole appearance, and she won in taking fashion. Her jumping looked solid for a very inexperienced horse, and her best jump was arguably at the last when Keith Donoghue booted her into it, so that bodes well for a race of this nature, which will likely be run at a decent gallop.

Even though she lacks experience over hurdles, she definitely does not lack experience as a racehorse. She is a very useful horse on the flat and is currently rated 94 on the level. I think the fact that she has raced a few times on the flat, and noticeably in the Irish Cesarewitch, where she finished 3rd/30 will be key if she was to go on and win today.

She has experienced the hustle and bustle of a big field flat race, so this big field event should not come as a shock to the system. Not only does that race read as good form on the flat, but it shows that she is a very strong stayer, which is not a bad thing to have in your armoury for today's race. To add to this, she was a decent bumper horse, winning a Punchestown bumper last season, so it shows she also has the gears if things get messy.

Walking On Air 10/3 – Cheltenham 5.20

It's a real shame that I missed the boat on Walking On Air as his price has collapsed in the last 24 hours, and I can totally understand why. I saw this horse run 47 days ago in a big pot handicap at Doncaster that I had a selection in and this horse should have won and won well, but he fell at the last when the race was definitely his to win.

This horse has always had plenty of ability, but he hasn't always managed to show it when it matters. He was very well fancied for the Pertemps Final in 2023 and ran a good race in defeat by finishing fifth. He has since gone over fences and has moved from Nicky Henderson's yard to Gary Brown who has managed to find the key to his based on his final start at Doncaster. He has gone up 4lbs for that recent fall, but if that hasn't affected his confidence, I think he is the one to beat in this race over a couple of furlongs further.

I have no doubts about the extra yardage as he didn't get a clear run in the Pertemps a couple of years ago and was staying on nicely up the hill over 3m, so the extra two furlongs he faces is not going to be an issue for him.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 betting guides

• Cheltenham 2025: Which trainers and jockeys to back
• Cheltenham 2025: Expert tips and trends to follow
• Cheltenham 2025: A beginner's guide
• Cheltenham 2025: Race-by-race schedule
• Racing form cards explained
• Top horse racing betting tips for beginners
• Horse racing 101: The best betting guide for beginners
• Betting odds explained

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