Cheltenham Festival 2017 as it happened: Betting tips, odds, action and results from Day Three

Re-live day three of the festival

unowhatimeanharry is the favourite for the Stayer's Hurdle at 3.30pm (Getty)

Day three of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle at 3.30pm on the traditional St Patrick’s Day – the day before the Gold Cup day.

Thursday’s racecard:

1.30 - JLT Novices’ Chase - Odds: 1-1 Yorkhill, 4-1 Top Notch, 9-2 Disko, 6-1 Politologue, 16-1 Flying Angel, 20-1 Kilcrea Vale.

2.10 - Pertemps Final (H’cap Hdle) - Odds: 13-2 Tobefair, 7-1 Presenting Percy, 8-1 Jury Duty, 10-1 El Bandit & For Good Measure & Impulksive Star, 12-1 Others.

2.50 - Ryanair Chase - Odds: 2-1 Un De Sceaux, 3-1 Empire Of Dirt, 7-2 Uxizandre, 7-1 Josses Hill & Sub Lieutenant, 20-1 Alary.

3.30 - Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle - Odds: 5-4 Unowhatimeanharry, 13-2 Jezki, 8-1 Cole Harden, 8-1 Shaneshill, 10-1 Others.

4.10 - Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Handicap Chase - Odds: 9-2 Diamond King, 13-2 Starchitect, 10-1 Bouvreuil & Sizing Codelco, 12-1 Baron Alco & Thomas Crapper, 14-1 Others.

4.50 - Trull House Mares Nov Hdle - 11-8 Let's Dance, 3-1 Airlie Beach, 7-1 Forge Meadow, 8-1 La Bague Au Roi, 12-1 Asthuria & Barra, 25-1 Others.

5.30 - Kim Muir H’cap Chase - Odds: 6-1 Squouateur, 13-2 Mall Dini, 7-1 Southfield Royale, 10-1 Doctor Harper, 12-1 Another Hero & Premier Bond, 16-1 Others.

Follow the live action below…

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Tips:

1.30: Top Notch

2.10: El Bandit (e/w)

2.50: Un De Sceaux

3.30: Unowhatimeanharry

4.10: Diamond King

4.50: Let’s Dance

5.30: What’s Happening (e/w)

Where can I watch it?

The Cheltenham Festival will be shown live on ITV from 13:00. You can also follow the action with The Independent’s live blog here.

[16 March 2017 12:34 · Jack Austin]

Afternoon all, and welcome to Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival. More great racing drama to coming your way, so stay tuned to the live blog updates!

After 2 difficult days for both punters and the misfiring Willie Mullins camp, Day 3 is a real opportunity to get back on track and find some winning form.

Mullins and Walsh come into the third day with an unprecedented zero winners, but will surely break the duck today with heavyweights Yorkhill, Un De Sceaux and Let's Dance all warm orders in the betting.

[16 March 2017 12:42 · Jack Austin]

In the race to be Top Trainer here this week, Gordon Elliot has raced into the lead with 5 winners so far, with Nicky Henderson back in second with 3 to his name. Could Top Notch close the gap in the 1.30?

[16 March 2017 12:47 · Jack Austin]

All eyes will be on how Yorkhill gets on in the opener, which could set the tone for a Mullins/Walsh resurgence. Plenty of punters happy to keep the faith.

[16 March 2017 12:48 · Jack Austin]

[16 March 2017 12:48 · Jack Austin]

[16 March 2017 12:54 · Jack Austin]

The going today is good, good to soft in places.

[16 March 2017 13:06 · Jack Austin]

So half an hour until the opener, let's have a look out how the JLT Novices Chase shapes up:

Favourite Yorkhill will be a warm order and a welcome winner for Mullins and Walsh yet to get off the mark (who would've guessed we'd be saying that on day 3?). He won last year's Neptune Hurdle, and has developed into a smart chaser having won 2/2 over larger obstacles.

Nicky Henderson's Top Notch provides tough opposition, he's a classy Grade 1 chase winner and the yard are in form.

Of the others Disko won a strong Grade 1 at Leopardstown so warrants respect, and Flying Angel is of each way interest.

[16 March 2017 13:13 · Jack Austin]

Yorkhill winning the Neptune last year. Head in front today?

[16 March 2017 13:16 · Jack Austin]

JLT NOVICES CHASE LATEST ODDS:

6/4 Yorkhill, 7/2 Top Notch, 9-2 Disko, 8-1 Politologue, 10-1 Flying Angel, 20-1 Kilcrea Vale, 25/1 BAR

[16 March 2017 13:23 · Jack Austin]

Top Notch looking very well, if a little small, in the parade ring.