Cheltenham Festival 2024 LIVE: Day 3 latest including results, updates and reports as trainer Willie Mullins eyes more glory as yesterday he became the first trainer to reach 100 wins

In further disappointing news, top contender for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Dysart Enos has been scratched after pulling up lame, with trainer Fergal O’Brien calling her non-participation ‘a huge loss’.

It’s not serious, it’s just terrible timing. If it had happened earlier we might have been able to do something about it, but that’s where we are now.

We’ll get her in order before we make plans.

With less than two hours to go before we leave Cheltenham, here’s a look at what we can look forward to.

1:30 p.m – Turner’s Beginner’s Pursuit

2:10 p.m – Pertemps handicap obstacle

3:30 PM – Paddy Power Stayers obstacle

4:10 p.m – Festival plate Handicap

4:50 p.m – Mares’ beginner’s obstacle

5:30 PM – Kim Muir Handicap Chase

It doesn’t come without caveats, with some questioning the horse’s terrible run to this year’s race.

Luke Harvey explains about ITV Racing below.

It was a day of glittering Irish success as Willie Mullins claimed his 100th Cheltenham winner, but examination of Britain’s collapse in recent years feels more urgent than ever.

Mail Sport columnist Ed Chamberlin discusses another difficult day on home soil below.

After opting not to field Sonigino in yesterday’s Coral Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson has arrived at Cheltenham for his first day of racing, with four hot prospects in today’s action.

The standout is Ryanair Chase contender Protektorat – tipped by Matt Chapman in our Paddy Power Cheat Sheet – but the legendary Manchester United manager also has three horses with Paul Nicholls: Monmiral in the Handicap Hurdle, Hitman also in the Ryanair Chase and Il Ridoto on the TrustATrader board.

Definitely worth something for all Red Devils fans.

After turning on the afterburners to take the Champion Chase in a stylish field, Captain Guinness had time to pose for a photo after his race was completed.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has had an impressive Festival so far and Envoi Allen could provide the icing on the cake this afternoon.

Paddy power has rounded up a host of top tipsters to guide you through Day Three’s action, including whether Facile Vega will perform well in the Turners Novices’ Chase, and whether you can bet against last year’s third-placed Teahupoo in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

Last year’s Ryanair Chase winner Envoi Allen returns to the festival, with Rachael Blackmore back in the saddle.

The former Gold Cup winner has had an exciting Cheltenham so far, claiming the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to open the week on day one, and yesterday’s Champion Chase aboard Captain Guinness. Can she make it a hat-trick for the first class in three days?

That’s right: rain clouds on the horizon, in line with the soggy week the festival has endured.

We may see an update of the day by mid-afternoon.

In case you missed it… It may not have happened the way the Irish trainer envisioned it after hot favorite El Fabiolo stuttered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but day two ended with Willie Mullins’ dazzling performance.

The horse was Jasmin De Vaux, jockey Mullins’ son Patrick – and Dominic King has the full account of an emotional day below.

Race director Jon Pullin assures that it was (finally) dry last night and that yesterday’s Soft, Heavy has been updated to Soft in some places.

We are also back to our regular programming after losing the Cross-Country Chase yesterday.

The trainer has endured a terrible festival so far, and there are no signs of a revival, with the yard declaring further non-runners.

After ruling out Shishkin from tomorrow’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Jonbon from yesterday’s Champion Chase, today’s victims are Triumph Hurdle favorite Sir Gino and Shanagh Bob, who was due to contest the Albert Bartlett.

First up is today’s version of Cheltenham Breakfast, a round-up of Wednesday’s action on and off the pitch, brought to you by Mail Sport’s Dominic King.

You can watch today’s episode of the daily bulletin below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of day three of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, dedicated to St Patrick’s Day this Sunday.

But while every day this week may be marked as a tribute to the Emerald Isle, the green-washed Irish trainers have gone out and completely outclassed their British rivals.

Thursday will be an all-timer, with not one but two main races this afternoon: the Ryanair Chase at 2.50pm and shortly afterwards the Stayers’ Hurdle at 3.30pm.

So strap in and enjoy as we bring you all the news, build-up and more ahead of each race from our 1.30pm kick-off.