Memorable moments from St Patrick's Thursday

St Patricks Thursday at Cheltenham. The Irish vs The Brits. A rivalry that goes back decades. Here, the bragging rights are priceless. Featuring the Ryanair Chase and Paddy Power Stayer’s Hurdle where endurance and stamina reign. The drama, thrill and breath-taking racing mixed with Irish wisdom, charm and comradery make this the world’s greatest racing amphitheatre. Welcome to day three at The Cheltenham Festival.

STAGE STAR TAKES CENTRE STAGE

The opening race went to the Brits with Stage Star who made all for a three and quarter length success in the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase. It never looked in doubt for Stage Star and Harry Cobden who were in charge from the off, leading from the front throughout. A first Festival win for trainer Paul Nicholls since 2020 makes this victory even sweeter. And Nicholls believes it’s only up from here. He had this to say about Stage Star: “He can only get better.” Perhaps there’s a new star on the rise.

ENVOI ALLEN RACES TO RYANAIR VICTORY

Big players rise to the big occasions. Enter: Envoi Allen. Now with three Festival Grade One wins; he is triumphant in every sense of the word. Rachael Blackmore rode to a huge success in the Ryanair Chase. Blackmore's 14th Festival win saw her beat pre-race favourite Shishkin who stumbled in the final few hurdles and was unable to live up to the early billing. For owner Cheveley Park Stud, it was a third consecutive win the Ryanair Chase following Allaho in 2021 and 2022. Blackmore said: “He’s an incredible horse, he really is. He’s got phenomenal engine and I was always hoping he could do something like that in this company someday – he was electric.” 

UNCATCHABLE SIRE DU BERLAIS

Incredible moments are produced at jump racings most extraordinary festival. The feature race on day three at Cheltenham delivered just that. The 33-1 chance Sire Du Berlais took the Stayers’ Hurdle in a slow-motion finish for Gordon Elliott to take it to 37 festival wins.

THERE’S NO STOPPING HER

16-1 chance You Wear It Well put in a spectacular performance to land The Jack De Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle. The 6-4 favourite Luccia proved no match for her as Gavin Sheehan and You Wear It Well powered away. The win is just the seventh career race for the six year old mare. And what a way to do it. This is why we love Cheltenham. The unexpected, the fairy tale, the priceless moments. All is possible at jump racings most extraordinary festival.

And so here we are. One day left of The Cheltenaham Festival 2023. But not just any day, the day – it’s Gold Cup Day. The most iconic trophy in horse racing. For many, it’s a lifetime obsession, the one they all long to win, the day where dreams come true. The cup that has ruled the highest echelons of jump racing since 1924. This is where winners go down in racing history. The Boodles Gold Cup, winner takes it all in the grand finale of The Cheltenham Festival.