Cheltenham Festival 2016: Who to back on day three in the Ryanair Chase, World Hurdle and Novices Chase

Three bets for day three of National Hunt racing’s finest festival

Day three of the Cheltenham Festival is St Patrick’s Day, with the Ryanair World Hurdle as its feature.

The race is another that pits the best of the British against the Irish, this time with staying hurdlers Thistlecrack and Alpha Des Obeaux.

Elsewhere on the card, the JLT Novices’ Chase is very competitive, with some runners trying their hand at two and a half miles for the first time, others having already proven themselves as middle distance specialists.

Thistlecrack in action

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The Ryanair Chase looks to have a similar shape to it, ideal for those without the stamina for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup but still not quite fast enough to keep up with a Champion Chase field.

The Handicaps look as puzzling as ever too, with the Pertemps Network Final, the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup boasting impressive fields.

Completing the card is a new addition to the festival roster, the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. As with the majority of the novice contests, Willie Mullins trains the short priced favourite, in this case it's Limini.

Watch the video above for three tips ahead of Thursday's action.

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