The Festival™ supporting WellChild
Day Three At Cheltenham Festival
THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2021
Huge numbers of Irish racegoers make the annual pilgrimage over to Cheltenham every March and while things are different this year, Day Three of The Festival™ is still affectionately known as ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’.
With three Grade One contests to savour the racing continues to take centre stage, with the main event the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle - the Championship race for a division which couldn’t be competitive right now. The 2019 winner Paisley Park will be looking to avenge his defeat to 50-1 winner Lisnagar Oscar last year, while each of Thyme Hill, Sire Du Berlais, McFabulous, Benie Des Dieux and Roksana will have their sights on the prize too.
Day Three is unique in the fact that it features two Championship races, with the Ryanair Chase on the same afternoon. Who can forget Bryony Frost and Frodon raising the roof to claim victory in 2019 and this year’s race looks set to be just as thrilling. This year the Willie Mullins-trained Min will be bidding for a double after breaking his Festival duck at the fourth attempt last year. Potential opponents include Saint Calvados, Imperial Aura and Allaho, while the hugely exciting Envoi Allen could bid for a third straight Festival success in the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Next fixture: The Festival™ Supporting wellchild 2021
The next meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse will be the highlight of the Jump Racing season: the four days of The Festival™ supporting Wellchild from Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th March 2021.
Based on current Government restrictions, professional sport is able to continue under stringent health and safety protocols, without spectators present. In horseracing’s case this is vital to support the livelihoods of the many thousands of people who rely on the industry and for the welfare of the thousands of Thoroughbred racehorses who live and train in Britain.
This means that under current restrictions, The Festival™ supporting WellChild will take place as a televised event, but sadly without spectators at the course. We continue to monitor Government guidance and should this change in advance of The Festival™ supporting Wellchild we will act accordingly.
