Cheltenham Festival: Day Three 2023

Last year, Festival Wednesday belonged to the mudlarks. This year, it was much the same. Jetting out on the cross-country, Delta Work powered clear of Galvin and Franco De Port, after Snow Leopardess set the pace early on, hopping over each obstacle schooling-style, removing them as items on a personal playground. Langer Dan gave his (we presume not namesake) trainer Dan Skelton a win in the Coral Cup (and another British tally on the Prestbury Cup scoreboard), but Sir Gerhard didn't manage to stick his neck out in the Brown Advisory, and Edwardstone lost the Queen Mother to now two-time Champion Chase winning Energumene. Yesterday's emotion, indeed, came at the end of the day, as we were packing up and filing out. A Dream To Share gave 18-year-old John Gleeson his first ride at the Festival... and, you guessed it, his first win.

In we go to Day Three and, if you've been with us since Tuesday, you might be starting to feel a little worse for wear? Shishkin should perk you up again though, as he cruises home in the Ryanair at 2:50pm this afternoon. His opposition may be tough (this year's Irish Gold Cup third, Fury Road, will be fighting a private battle), but the old boy showed his worth in the Ascot Chase last month, much to the delight of a adorably jubilant Nicky Henderson. Last year's Ryanair hero, Allaho, misses out in 2023, but his second (Willie Mullins' Janadil) could throw a spanner in the works.