HOME BY THE LEE can win the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on the third day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Joseph O'Brien's eight-year-old can continue his rise up the staying ranks with victory in the Grade One feature on day three at Prestbury Park.
Home By The Lee finished sixth in last year's Stayers' Hurdle last year as fellow Irish raider – the Gavin Cromwell-trained Flooring Porter – landed back-to-back victories in fine style. That was his first run at Grade One level over hurdles following some promising efforts after connections decided to drop back to the smaller obstacles after a chasing career didn't pan out as hoped.
Home By The Lee has gone from strength to strength this season and he took the Grade Two Lismussen Hurdle at Navan on his seasonal return in November. He was even better stepped back up to Grade One company when winning the Grade One Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle by three lengths from Ashdale Bob – with Flooring Porter well beaten back in fourth. The latter will no doubt be better returning to Cheltenham, where he has shone over the past two seasons, but Home By The Lee looks on the up and can deny a hat-trick of victories.
Cheltenham would welcome Emma Lavelle's now veteran Paisley Park rolling back the years and landing another Stayers' Hurdle crown. And the now 11-year-old – who was third last year – has shown he's no back number this season, winning the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. But he may play a minor role again as Home By The Lee looks to hold a big chance of victory.
READ MORE: Full 73 current entries for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree
Gordon Elliott's MIGHTY POTTER can make it five wins from five starts in the Grade One Turners Novices' Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
The six-year-old won a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival on his final start over the smaller obstacles and has three straight successes since his switch to fences. A win at Down Royal in a beginners chase on his debut in November has been followed by back-to-back Grade One victories at Fairyhouse and at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown at the start of last month. Despite one slight error it was a dominant performance and he looks sure to follow up at Prestbury Park.
Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero, Willie Mullins' Appreciate It, rates the chief danger but Mighty Potter can hold him off.
SHISKIN may prove too good in the Grade One Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (GBB Race) (2.50pm).
Nicky Henderson's star looked peerless in 10 straight successes over hurdles and fences before he was disappointingly pulled up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last year's Festival. A solid return when third over the minimum distance in the Tingle Creek at Sandown was followed by a superb back-to-form success when up in trip to 2m5f for the first time in the rearranged Grade One Clarence House Chase over course and distance at the end of January. He sets the standard and with such a dominant effort last time, he deserves to be a warm favourite for another success at Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott's DUNBOYNE can give his trainer a third win in eight years in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Sponsored By JRL Group) (GBB) (5.30pm).
The eight-year-old is entered in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 15 but currently at 57th on the list of entries is not guaranteed a run. But he certainly looks a horse with scope for that type of contest in future and he can prove that with victory in a race that was won by subsequent Aintree hero Ballabriggs in 2010. Dunboyne was only beaten a short-head by Carefully Selected in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January and he can one better in the Kim Muir and follow in the hoofprints of Elliott's Cause Of Causes (2016) and Milan Native (2020) with victory.
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
WAKOOL can cause a bit of a shock in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.10pm). Nick Alexander's seven-year-old stayed on strongly to win the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock Park last month. He remains open to more improvement and may be able to come out on top of the typically-competitive Pertemps Final with Elliott-trained duo Maxxum and The Bosses Oscar and Henderson's Walking On Air others to consider.
Dan Skelton's MIDNIGHT RIVER won over course and distance on New Year's Day in soft conditions and he may be able to score again in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4.10pm). While Henderson's LUCCIA – unbeaten in four career starts, most recently an impressive Listed success at Exeter – can win the Grade Two Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle (The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle) (GBB) (4.50pm).
Wright Ones
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY THREE
1.30pm Mighty Potter
2.10pm Wakool (NAP)
2.50pm Shishkin
3.30pm Home By The Lee
4.10pm Midnight River
4.50pm Luccia
5.30pm Dunboyne
