Sir Alex Ferguson Set to Turn Cheltenham into a Sea of Red with Stunning 89-1 Double on Day Three!

To take a step back, we need to go 25 years to the remarkable moment when Nicky Henderson clinched the Stayers’ Hurdle title.

This victory was secured when Mick Fitz urged Bacchanal to triumph over Limestone Lad by a narrow margin of a length.

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A considerable time has elapsed under the Seven Barrows bridge since that memorable day, but today may prove to be a fortunate one for Hendo.

In terms of ratings, the top contenders for the Grade 1 three-mile event are quite evenly matched.

Gordon Elliott’s defending champion, Teahupoo, leads the pack with a rating of 164, but wagering on him at the rather unexciting odds of 6-4 is far from thrilling.

Notably, he has limited experience over this distance, much like Henderson’s promising horse, LUCKY PLACE (4.00), ridden by Nico De Boinville.

With just eight races under his belt, Lucky Place has raced at Cheltenham three times, with a noteworthy fourth-place finish in last year’s competitive Coral Cup.

This season, he has triumphed at Ascot and Cheltenham, and while he has yet to race this distance, if he adapts well, he has substantial potential for improvement, presenting an enticing bet at roughly 6-1.

The upcoming Ryanair Chase is expected to be an exhilarating race.

Fact to File has been dropped in distance, as has King George runner-up Il Est Francais, and the defending champion will be a formidable opponent.

This champion is PROTEKTORAT (3.20), who previously did this column a great service last year.

Previously placing in a Gold Cup, Protektorat demonstrated remarkable jumping ability during his last win at Windsor and is just 4lb shy of his highest rating to date.

Last year, he was outstanding, and while he may prefer softer ground, he performed well on good to soft conditions during his Gold Cup run.

SIXANDAHALF (1.20) is expected to be a strong contender in the opening mares novice hurdle.

A dependable performer on the Flat, she has showcased her abilities by finishing third in the Irish Ces and has remained unbeaten over hurdles after a solid performance at Fairyhouse. My expectations for her are high.

CALDWELL POTTER (2.00) could bring some joy to Paul Nicholls in the novice handicap chase.

Co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, this horse has faced scrutiny this season after being purchased for £740,000 and experiencing defeats at both Cheltenham and Windsor.

Despite this, he holds a respectable handicap mark of 146 for a Grade 1-winning hurdler and showed promise during his bumper days with Gordon Elliott on yielding ground.

ONE BIG BANG (2.40) stands a solid chance in the Pertemps Final, even with a 7lb increase following his victory at Haydock.

He remains strong and will excel running at a fast tempo.

With an each-way opportunity for emerging star James Owen and jockey Jamie Brace, who adds a useful 5lb claim, he looks promising.

I’m counting on JAGWAR (4.40) to deliver a strong performance in the Plate, a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase.

Although he is moving up in the weights, he has solid prospects as an improving horse with Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. This distance suits him perfectly, and he finished strongly at this track last time.

Though he is 7lb heavier now, he appears to be an excellent jumper and possesses the experience needed to excel under pressure.

In the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, MIDNIGHT OUR FRED (5.20) is anticipated to shine.

At the age of eight, he is reaching his peak, yet I believe he still has room for improvement, having previously secured a respectable runner-up position here in April.

A rating of 132 presents a challenge, but he has promising each-way potential. Best of luck… and Yeeehaaa!

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