Six-day confirmations were made today (Friday) for day three of the Cheltenham Festival, the highlights of which are the £300,000 Grade 1 Ryanair World Hurdle (18 confirmations) and the £313,500 Ryanair Chase (22 confirmations plus one supplementary entry).

Heading the market for the three-mile Ryanair World Hurdle is Thistlecrack (Colin Tizzard), who could not have been impressive this season. After winning a Grade Two contest at Newbury in November, he comfortably made the step up to Grade One level when taking the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot the following month. He was last seen out at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, January 30, when capturing the Grade Two galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle impressively by 12 lengths.

The eight-year-old is set to face some stiff competition including last year's winner Cole Harden (Warren Greatrex) and Alpha Des Obeaux (Mouse Morris IRE), who was very impressive when defeating At Fisher's Cross (Rebecca Curtis) by 11 lengths at Gowran Park on January 11.

At Fisher's Cross is a previous Grade One winner at The Festival, having taken the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in 2013. He was third to More Of That in the 2014 Ryanair World Hurdle and came fourth in last year's race behind Cole Harden. After finishing runner-up on his seasonal debut behind Alpha Des Obeaux, he was last seen out when fourth in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock Park on February 20.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis, who is based in Pembrokeshire, Wales, said today: "At Fisher's Cross will run in the Ryanair World Hurdle.

"He should appreciate the better ground. His last two runs have been on not just soft ground but really heavy, testing ground which doesn't seem to suit him anymore.

"He is always seems to come to life at Cheltenham and all his best runs have come there, so hopefully he will run another good race on Thursday."

Ireland's champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins has left in both Nichols Canyon, who is also still engaged in Tuesday's Stan James Champion Hurdle and Vroum Vroum Mag, who has alternative engagements in the Ryanair Chase and OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls famously saddled Big Buck's, owned by the Stewart Family, to win a record four renewals of the Ryanair World Hurdle and the same owner/trainer combination are set to be represented this year by Saphir Du Rheu, runner-up to Cole Harden 12 months ago. Britain's champion Jump trainer could also be represented by Aux Ptits Soins, successful in the 2015 Coral Cup at the Festival.

Another trainer doubly-represented is Nicky Henderson, who has left in 2013 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth and Whisper, who landed the Coral Cup in 2014 before finishing fifth in last year's World Hurdle.

TAQUIN SUPPLEMENTED

The other Grade 1 highlight on St Patrick's Thursday is the Ryanair Chase, staged over two miles and five furlongs.

The one supplementary entry at a cost of £15,000 is Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O'Neill) who landed the Grade One JLT Novices' Chase at The Festival back in 2014 and returned to winning ways with a cosy victory under top-weight in a handicap chase at Warwick on February 13.

Favourite in the ante-post market for the Ryanair Chase is Vautour (Willie Mullins), successful in the 2015 JLT Novices' Chase and last seen out when going down by a head in to Cue Card in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. The seven-year-old is also still engaged in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Mullins has also left in Felix Yonger, Valseur Lido and Vroum Mag.

Second favourite for the Ryanair Chase is Road To Riches (Noel Meade), who was third in last season's Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is one of two entries, along with Valseur Lido, going forward for sponsor Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud. Another leading Irish-trained contender is Smashing (Henry de Bromhead), an eye-catching Grade Two winner last time out. There has yet to be an Irish-trained winner of the Ryanair Chase.

Leading British-trained hopes in the Ryanair Chase include Al Ferof (Dan Skelton), winner of the 2011 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and third last time out in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. Village Vic (Philip Hobbs) has twice been successful in Grade Three handicap company over the course and distance this season, while last year's Racing Post Trophy Arkle Chase third Josses Hill (Nicky Henderson) was an impressive winner last month at Kempton Park.

1.30pm £130,000 JLT Novices' Chase ((Grade 1), 2m 3f 198y

Current Racing Post Arkle Chase favourite Douvan (Willie Mullins) and No More Heroes (Gordon Elliott), who is a leading contender for the RSA Chase, both remain engaged in the £130,000 Grade One JLT Novices' Chase.

A total of 18 confirmations for the two and a half-mile chase also includes Garde La Victoire (Philip Hobbs), who is unbeaten in three chase starts including a Grade Two success at The Open in November, plus Grade One winners Outlander (Willie Mullins) and Bristol De Mai (Nigel Twiston-Davies).

2.10pm £90,000 Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed Race), 2m 7f 213y

Leave At Dawn (10st 9lb, Charles Byrnes) features among 39 horses still engaged in the £90,000 Listed Pertemps Network Final. The six-year-old scored in a handicap hurdle at The Open and was subsequently fifth in a Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown in December.

Qualifier winners Missed Approach (11st 1lb, Warren Greatrex), Cup Final (10st 11lb, Nicky Henderson), Unowhatimeanharry (11st 10lb, Harry Fry) and If In Doubt (11st 4lb, Philip Hobbs) also go forward.

4.10pm £100,000 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3), 2m 4f 166y

Darna (10st 13lb, Kim Bailey), successful in 2015, could bid to become the third horse to gain two victories in the £100,000 Grade Three Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate, which has 57 acceptors.

John's Spirit (11st, Jonjo O'Neill) also boasts a fine record at Cheltenham, with three wins at the course including victory in the 2013 BetVictor Gold Cup. Recent Newbury Grade Three handicap chase scorer Sametegal (10st 12lb, Paul Nicholls) and current top-weight Village Vic (11st 12lb, Philip Hobbs) are also among the latest confirmations.

4.50pm £75,000 Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m 179y

The inaugural £75,000 Grade Two Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle has 25 acceptors headed by Limini (Willie Mullins), who easily captured a Grade Three contest on her latest start.

Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, who own Trull House Stud, have three contenders in the Nicky Henderson-trained pair of Robins Reef and Chocca Wocca plus Dusky Legend, from the stable of Alan King. Doncaster Grade Two winner Smart Talk (Brian Ellison) and exciting French import Bloody Mary (Nicky Henderson) have also been left in.

5.30pm £65,000 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders), 3m 2f

Last year's National Hunt Chase winner Cause Of Causes (11st 9lb, Gordon Elliott) features in 68 confirmations for the closing race on St Patrick's Thursday, the £65,000 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.

Other leading contenders for amateur riders' contest include Doctor Harper (11st 8lb, David Pipe), Upswing (11st 6lb, Jonjo O'Neill) and The Giant Bolster (11st 6lb, David Bridgwater), who was runner-up in the 2012 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup and will be running at the Festival for the seventh time.

The going at Cheltenham remains soft. The outlook is for dry conditions with temperatures becoming milder.

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