St Patrick’s Day coincides with one of the most important racing dates on the National Hunt calendar as both the Ryanair’s Chase (Festival Trophy) and the Stayer’s Hurdle are held back-to-back.

Known simply as St Patrick’s Thursday, it’s always the 3^rd day at the Cheltenham Festival. The Day 3 race card consists of four Grade 1, one Grade 2, and two Grade 3 races. In 2022, the action will begin at 1:30 pm (GMT), on March 17^th.

Preview of the St Patrick’s Thursday (17^th March) Race Card

The Cheltenham Festival starts on March 15^th with Champions Day, and the grand equine celebration in Cheltenham will continue until March 18^th, aka Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. It’s not a coincidence that the Cheltenham Festival Day 3 is on Thursday, March 17^th because that’s how it is always arranged in conformation to tradition. As for the schedule in 2022, check out the full preview below:

• Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (3,976-metre) starts at 1:30 pm (Grade 1 steeplechase)
• Pertemps Final (4,785-metre) starts at 2:10pm (Grade 3 handicap hurdle race)
• Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy (4,139-metre) starts at 2:50 pm (Grade 1 steeplechase and the main event)
• Stayer’s Hurdle (4,785-metre) starts at 3:30 pm (Grade 1 hurdle race)
• Stable Plate (4,139-metre) starts at 4:10 pm (Grade 3 handicap steeplechase)
• Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (3,382-metres) starts at 4:50 pm (Grade 2 hurdle race)
• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (5,240-metre) starts at 5:30 pm (Ungraded handicap steeplechase)

Preview of the Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 3 Prize Pools

St Patrick’s Day will see seven races contesting for a refilled, total prize purse of nearly £1.2 million. All seven of Day 3’s prize pools are individually listed next to provide you with a preview of how big the Cheltenham Festival 2022 is going to be.

1. Golden Miller Novices’ Chase: Total pool – £150,000, winner’s share – £84,405
2. Pertemps Final: Total pool – £100,000, winner’s share – £56,270
3. Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy: £350,000, winner’s share – £196,945
4. Stayers Hurdle: Total pool – £325,000, winner’s share – £182,878
5. Stable Plate: Total pool – £110,000, winner’s share – £61,897
6. Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: £90,000, winner’s share – £50,643
7. Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup: £70,000, winner’s share – £41,510

Preview of St Patrick’s Day Betting Odds

While the updated previews we have for you next should provide a decent idea about the betting odds on this year’s favourites, it is highly recommended that you check out these Cheltenham Festival Day 3 tips and offers if you are serious about betting on St Patrick’s Day.

Race 1: Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (£150,000)

1. Bob Olinger: 4/5 (Bet365), 1/1 (Betfred), 4/5 (William Hill)
2. Galopin Des Champs: 6/4 (Bet365), 4/1 (Betfred), 6/4 (William Hill)
3. L’Homme Presse: 6/1 (Bet365), 7/1 (Betfred) 5/1 (William Hill)
4. Haut En Couleurs: 8/1 (Bet365), 14/1 (Betfred), 10/1 (William Hill)
5. Jungle Boogie: 10/1 (Bet365), 12/1 (Betfred), 10/1 (William Hill)

Race 2: Pertemps Final (£100,000)

1. Dunboyne: 8/1 (Bet365), 10/1 (Betfred), 8/1 (William Hill)
2. Sporting John: 6/1 (Bet365), 10/1 (Betfred), 8/1 (William Hill)
3. Alaphilippe: 10/1 (Bet365), 10/1 (Betfred) 7/1 (William Hill)
4. Ardhill: N/A (Bet365), 10/1 (Betfred), 8/1 (William Hill)
5. Sire Du Berlais: 12/1 (Bet365), 16/1 (Betfred), 14/1 (William Hill)

Race 3: Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy (£350,000)

1. Allaho: 11/8 (Bet365), 11/10 (Betfred), 4/5 (William Hill)
2. Energumene: 9/2 (Bet365), 7/1 (Betfred), 9/4 (William Hill)
3. Saint Calvados: 10/1 (Bet365), 8/1 (Betfred) 8/1 (William Hill)
4. Shan Blue: 12/1 (Bet365), 12/1 (Betfred), 8/1 (William Hill)
5. Asterion Forlonge: 10/1 (Bet365), 12/1 (Betfred), 10/1 (William Hill)

Race 4: Stayers Hurdle: (£325,000)

1. Champ: 5/2 (Bet365), 5/2 (Betfred), 2/1 (William Hill)
2. Flooring Porter: 9/2 (Bet365), 4/1 (Betfred), 7/2 (William Hill)
3. Thyme Hill: 11/2 (Bet365), 5/1 (Betfred) 9/2 (William Hill)
4. Klassical Dream: 6/1 (Bet365), 6/1 (Betfred), 4/1 (William Hill)
5. Royal Kahala: 10/1 (Bet365), 7/1 (Betfred), 7/1 (William Hill)

Race 5: Stable Plate (£110,000)

1. Noble Yeats: 10/1 (Bet365), 12/1 (Betfred), 9/1 (William Hill)
2. Imperial Alcazar: 16/1 (Bet365), N/A (Betfred), 14/1 (William Hill)
3. Thedevilscoachman: 16/1 (Bet365), N/A (Betfred), N/A (William Hill)
4. Ciel De Neige: 10/1 (Bet365), N/A (Betfred), N/A (William Hill)
5. Fusil Raffles: 12/1 (Bet365), 14/1 (Betfred), 10/1 (William Hill)

Race 6: Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (£90,000)

1. Allegorie de Vassy: 11/4 (Bet365), 9/2 (Betfred), 11/4 (William Hill)
2. Dinoblue: 6/1 (Bet365), 7/1 (Betfred), 6/1 (William Hill)
3. Brandy Love: 5/1 (Bet365), 6/1 (Betfred), 5/1 (William Hill)
4. Statuaire: 7/1 (Bet365), 8/1 (Betfred), 7/1 (William Hill)
5. Elle Est Belle: 7/1 (Bet365), 8/1 (Betfred), 13/2 (William Hill)

Race 7: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (£70,000)

1. Longhouse Poet: 8/1 (Bet365), N/A (Betfred), N/A (William Hill)
2. Phoenix Way: N/A (Bet365), N/A (Betfred), 14/1 (William Hill)
3. Ain’t That A Shame: 14/1 (Bet365), 14/1 (Betfred), 10/1 (William Hill)
4. Frontal Assault: 14/1 (Bet365), 16/1 (Betfred), 14/1 (William Hill)
5. Torygraph: 14/1 (Bet365), 16/1 (Betfred), 16/1 (William Hill)

2021 was not a particularly good year for the Cheltenham Festival overall. Several races, (including the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself) had to shrink their prize pools down because of the lockdown restrictions. That’s all history though because the Cheltenham Festival is coming back to its full glory this year.