Thursday marks Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival and there are another seven competitive races to look forward to. As always, there’s plenty of value on offer and loads of opportunities to have an each-way play. We’ve selected three outsiders at massive prices that are capable of outrunning their odds. Check out our free tips page to get a tip for every race of the Cheltenham Festival.
Anna Bunina (40/1, William Hill) was an eye-catching fourth in a qualifier for this race at Musselburgh last time out. She needed to finish fourth in order to qualify and kept on very well to narrowly achieve her goal. John McConnell’s eight-year-old races off the same mark here and significant improvement is expected. This mare finished second in a Grade 1 at Punchestown in April and a repeat of that effort would give her every chance, as will the drying ground.
Straw Fan Jack (50/1, bet365) has got some fair form in graded races over fences and looks fairly unexposed in handicaps over the larger obstacles. Sheila Lewis’ gelding beat the Galway Plate winner in a novice chase here back in 2022 and was from disgraced behind Pic D’Orhy in a Grade 2 at Ascot in November. He’ll need to take big step forward from his below-par effort here last time but he’s been dropped 4lb and has the ability to outrun these substantial odds.
Fakir D’alene (28/1, William Hill) finished a fairly close fourth in this race back in 2022 off a mark of 144 and will try again off a 1lb lower mark here. It was a good run when third in the Troytown at Navan in November and he was unlucky at Leopardstown over Christmas. He’s better than he showed at Gowran last time and a big run is expected.
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