Diarmuid Nolan's Daily Double From Day 3 Of The Cheltenham Festival
Day 2 is now also behind us, and what a spectacle this Festival has been. The racing has been absolutely breathtaking and Day 3 looks like it could top the lot. Buckle up!
As always, this article will focus on my daily double, with some additional notes on the rest of the card below.
Thursday's double lands at 31/1 on horse racing betting sites, and again I would recommend an each-way approach, although at these odds a straight win bet is entirely understandable.
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Leg One: Meetmebythesea 14:00 Cheltenham (Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase)
This is a horse I have been very sweet on for some time, and I genuinely think today will be his day.
Meetmebythesea has been relentlessly progressive so far in his career, winning five of his six career starts.
Since making the switch to fences he has looked a completely natural jumper and in a 17-fence slog around Cheltenham's New Course, that matters enormously. I would ignore his last effort as he needed that run to qualify for this contest.
The handicap mark is where it gets really interesting. He runs off 139, which many feel significantly underestimates his ability. I feel he is a 150-rated horse in disguise. He is receiving weight from his rivals and is potentially very well treated indeed.
That is the classic Festival handicap profile, and it is exactly the type of horse that wins these races.
There is also a very strong sense that this has been the plan all season.
Horses campaigned specifically for Festival handicaps tend to arrive fresh, primed and well protected in the market, and Meetmebythesea ticks every one of those boxes.
At 11/2, I am very happy to be on board.
Diarmuid Nolan's Daily Double: Cheltenham Day 3 (Thursday)
- 14:00 Cheltenham - Meetmebythesea - 11/2 With Bet365
- 17:20 Cheltenham - Waterford Whispers - 4/1 With Bet365
(Odds correct at time of publishing 4.30pm 11/03/26)
Leg Two: Waterford Whispers 17:20 Cheltenham (Kim Muir Challenge Cup)
The Kim Muir is one of the most demanding races of the entire Festival, but, like the Ultima, JP McManus holds the key to this and I think Waterford Whispers will see it home.
His last run at Leopardstown was textbook Festival handicap preparation. He finished third in a 23-runner cavalry charge, beaten just over a length, staying on strongly late having been held up and travelling beautifully through the race.
He did not win, which means the handicapper left him alone, but he arrives here looking very well treated as a result.
The trip is another massive positive. This is significantly further than many of these have proven over, and Waterford Whispers has been crying out for extreme distances all his career.
His strong finishing style, his ability to keep galloping when others are crying enough means it is all tailor-made for that relentless climb to the Cheltenham finish line.
Alan O'Sullivan's 3lb claim is also a serious asset. In amateur races the rider can make or break a horse's chance, and in a 3m2f stamina test, carrying 3lb less could easily be the difference between winning and finishing a gallant fifth.
It is an advantage not to be underestimated and Alan is a superb pilot.
As for the favourite Jeriko Du Reponet, yes, he is the class horse on paper, but he carries a big weight here, the maximum weight in the race, in what is an extreme stamina test. I think he might find at least one too good and I am not convinced by his jumping.
Waterford Whispers at 4/1 looks a fantastic bet to me.
Other Horses To Watch On Thursday
The rest of the card is brutally competitive, as you would expect at this stage of the Festival.
I am a big fan of C'est Different in the Pertemps. He looks well treated and I think he can go very close.
I also fancy Jade de Grugy to get the better of Wodhooh, and I will be backing the great Bob Olinger to roll back the clock once more at his beloved Cheltenham. Some horses just turn up here and find another gear entirely and he is one of them.
Best of luck to you all for Day 3. It is going to be a brilliant one!
Will you be backing Diarmuid's double? Do you have one of your own? Tell us about it in the comment box below!
