Cheltenham Festival Day 3: Results, Highlights, and Key Moments

Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival, often dubbed St. Patrick’s Thursday, delivered a day of thrilling races and surprising results. From impressive victories to notable performances, here’s a recap of the key action from March 12, 2026.

Mares’ Hurdle: Wodhooh Secures Victory

Wodhooh (5-6f) delivered an impressive performance to win the Mares’ Hurdle. Trainer Gordon Elliott expressed his belief that the 2.5-mile distance suited the horse well, stating, “My own feeling is that she probably needs the 2.5 miles.” Source The victory was particularly satisfying for the syndicate owning Wodhooh.

Novices’ Chase: Meetmebythesea Triumphs

Meetmebythesea, trained by Ben Pauling, secured a win in the Novices’ Chase. Source

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: White Noise Causes Upset

A 40-1 shot, White Noise, achieved a stunning victory in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, adding a significant upset to the day’s results. Source

Upcoming Races

The focus now shifts to the Stayers’ Hurdle (scheduled for 15:20 GMT) and the feature race of the day, the Ryanair Chase (16:00 GMT). Source

Other Notable Moments

• A discussion arose regarding false starts during the day’s races, with jockey Charlie Poste emphasizing the need for a solution. Source
• Bob Olinger, a three-time Festival winner, was highlighted as a horse to watch. Source
• JP McManus, owner of Fact To File, suggested the ground conditions were not ideal for his horse in the Ryanair Chase. Source

Race Schedule – Day 3

• 1.20: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (2m1f) Source, Source
• 2.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Chase (2m4½f) Source, Source
• 2.40: Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m5f) Source