Cheltenham Festival 2016 results: Latest results and odds as Thistlecrack wins the World Hurdle on St Patrick's Day

Follow all the action from St Patrick's Day Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh on Vautour leaps over the final fence on his way to victory in the Ryanair Chase (PA)

Day three at the Cheltenham Festival could prove to be one to remember for the Irish as St Patrick’s Day could see Willie Mullin’s Vautour triumph in the Ryanair Chase, having been withdrawn from tomorrow’s Gold Cup earlier this week. Follow the latest throughout the day here.

Thursday’s Cheltenham Festival racecard:

13.30: JLT Novices' Chase - 1. Black Hercules (4-1CF) 2. Bristol De Mai (4-1CF) 3. L'Ami Serge (8-1)

14.10: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - 1. Mall Dini (14/1) 2. Arpege D'alene (14/1) 3. If In Doubt (11/1) 4. Taglietelle (14/1)

14.50: Ryanair Chase - 1. Vautour (EvensF) 2. Valseur Lido (11/1) 3. Road To Riches (7/1)

15.30: World Hurdle - 1. Thistlecrack (EvensF) 2. Alpha Des Obeaux (8/1) 3. Bobs Worth (33/1)

16.10: The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Handicap Chase - 1. Empire of Dirt (16-1) 2. Tango De Juilley (33-1) 3. Kings Palace (11-1) 4. Full Shift (7-1)

16.50: Mares Novices’ Hurdle

17.30: Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Click here for latest racecards and odds

Follow the live action below:

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Read more Cheltenham Festival news:
Warrior Balthazar King on his knees again but still returns on a high
Sprinter Sacre makes historic return to Queen Mother Champion Chase
Blaklion roars in RSA Chase to restore trainer’s grin
Thistlecrack can seal stayers’ title with display of World domination

The Cheltenham Festival takes place from 15 to the 18 March, with the Gold Cup held on Friday.

[17 March 2016 10:08 · Jack de Menezes]

Good morning and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of day three at the Cheltenham Festival, with the Ryanair Chase and World Hurdle set to headline a busy St Patrick's Day.

[17 March 2016 13:16 · Jack de Menezes]

Good afternoon! It's the third day of the Cheltenham Festival and it's a special one as it's St Patrick's Day! One that's always a favourite with the crowd - given that around 20,000 make the journey over from the Emerald Isle - Thursday sees the World Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase take centre stage.That means that despite being lined up for tomorrow's Gold Cup, we'll see Vautour in action after he was changed at the last minute to enter the Ryanair Chase, with Rich Ricci's claim that he's "only 90 per cent fit" proving hard to take in given he stands a much better chance of taking the Ryanair Chase.It's the arrival of Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle at 15.30 that has everyone talking though, not least the bookmakers' who make him him 5/4 favourites over the 2m 7f.But we begin with the Novices Chase and it's a wide open affair, with Garde La Victoire, Black Hercules, Bristol De Mai and Outlander all fancied over the 2m 3 f course. The action gets underway in just 15 minutes.

[17 March 2016 13:21 · Jack de Menezes]

A few pre-race thoughts ahead of the Novices' Chase 

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@LanaEve17

Black Hercules and Garde Le Victoire 1/2 would be ideal ????#CheltenhamFestival

1:18 PM - 17 Mar 2016

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Chris Roberts

@solutionmania

Not long now! #CheltenhamFestivalhttps://t.co/MiiIG73fWO

1:17 PM - 17 Mar 2016

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Hatty Barton

@HattyBarton

Day 3 lets go ???????? #CheltenhamFestival

1:18 PM - 17 Mar 2016

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[17 March 2016 13:26 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

So we begin with the Grade 1 Novices' Chase, in which Irish runners have won the last four attempts - including Willie Mullins' Vautour that will feature in the Ryanair Chase later today. Mullins has Black Hercules running at Cheltenham a year after he fell when on course for victory, but just like Annie Power on Tuesday, the chance for redemption could well carry him to victory.

[17 March 2016 13:29 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

The sun is out in Cheltenham, the riders have gone down to post. We're about to get underway on day three...

[17 March 2016 13:31 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

First start is abandoned as they go early...they're off! Drama!

[17 March 2016 13:32 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

The messy starts leads to Zabana dismounting Davy Russell at the start, while Outlander completely misses it!

[17 March 2016 13:33 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

Bristol De Mai is out in front, but not for long as he hits the third third fence hard and falters slightly. Outlander has recovered and is back in the running, with Bristol De Mai back into the lead - albeit with the loose Zabana running ahead of the pack.

[17 March 2016 13:34 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

Black Hercules is now joining Bristol De Mai out in front, with Ruby Walsh just pushing him on at the moment. There's a beautiful jump from Bristol De Mai though and he leaps into the lead by three lengths. Black Hercules moves into third.

[17 March 2016 13:35 · Jack de Menezes]

JLT Novices' Chase

Garde La Victoire and Outlander fall with three to jump!