A day for the raiders from across the Irish Sea, St Patrick's Thursday is a celebration of all things green and gold.
Their Festival dominance in recent times has only given the Irish even more reason to celebrate their country's virtues.
The Cheltenham Festival's third day is highlighted by two feature races: The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.
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Thursday's racecard
All times GMT. Timings are subject to change.
1.20 p.m. The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m abt 1f
Winner: White Noise 40/1 (J: Tom Bellamy, T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls, O: J Perriss)
2 p.m. The Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4 1/2f
Winner: Meetmebythesea 9/1 (J: Ben Jones, T: JP McManus, O: Ben Pauling)
2.40 p.m. The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 4 1/2 f
Winner: Wodhooh 5/6F (J: Jack Kennedy, T: Gordon Elliott, O: The Sundowners Partnership)
3.20 p.m. The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m
Winner: Home By The Lee 33/1 (J: JJ Slevin, T: Joseph O'Brien, O: Sean O'Driscoll)
4.p.m. The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4 1/2f
Winner: Heart Wood 9/2 (J: Darragh O'Keeffe, T: Henry De Bromhead, O: Robcour)
4.40 p.m. The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) Abt 3m
Winner: Supremely West 10/3F (J: Harry Skelton, T: Dan Skelton, O: J Fyffe)
5.20 p.m. The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) 2m abt 4 1/2f
Winner: Ask Brewster 22/1 (J: Mr S Cotter, T: Mrs C Williams, O: Midlands Quintet)
Going and weather at Cheltenham on Thursday
The ground is rated as Good, Good to Soft in places after most of the rain that was forecast earlier on Cheltenham failed to materialise.
The third day of the Festival is, though, set to be a showery one with a very slim chance of a totally dry afternoon.
There are expected to be a high of 14°C with temperatures dropping right down to 3°C overnight.
Rain is set to continue to fall overnight ahead of Gold Cup Day which should further soften the ground ahead of the festival's highlight.
Feature races info
3.20 p.m. Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
A fixture of the Cheltenham Festival since 1972, the Stayers' Hurdle -- which has had several difference sponsors over the years -- has burnished the legends of the likes of four-time winning horse Big Buck's and five-time winning jockey Ruby Walsh.
The race is run over three miles and includes 12 hurdles. Horses must be aged fours years or older.
It is the leading long-distance hurdle race on the National Hunt calendar.
4 p.m. Ryanair Chase
As if one feature race wasn't enough, the Stayers' Hurdle is immediately followed by the Ryanair Chase.
A Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase, the race is run by horses aged five years and above and rated above 130. They must jump 17 fences before passing the finisher's post.
The 2-mile 4½ -furlong race is often a perfect fit for horses that find the 2-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase too short and the 3-mile 2½-furlong Gold Cup too long.
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle odds
Note: Odds are courtesy of Bet365 and are correct as of Thursday March 12. They are subject to change.
Teahupoo (7/2)
Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Kabral Du Mathan (4/1)
Jockey: Harry Skelton, Owner: Neil Smith & Alfie Smith, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Ma Shantou (11/2)
Jockey: Harry Cobden, Owner: Mighty Acorn Stables, Trainer: Emma Lavelle
Ballyburn (6/1)
Jockey: Paul Townend, Owner: RA Bartlett & David Manasseh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Bob Olinger (13/2)
Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Honesty Policy (13/2)
Jockey: Mark Walsh, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Impose Toi (8/1)
Jockey: Nico de Boinville, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Doddiethegreat (28/1)
Jockey: James Bowen, Owner: Kenneth Alexander, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Home By The Lee (33/1)
Jockey: J J Slevin, Owner: Sean O'Driscoll, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Hewick (40/1)
Jockey: Paddy Hanlon, Owner: TJ McDonald, Trainer: John Hanlon
Who are the Stayers' Hurdle favourites?
Teahupoo, trained by Gordon Elliott, is looking to regain his title and is well-backed to do so. He was in scintillating form at Leopardstown in December, winning the Christmas Hurdle and beating the horse that beat him in last year's Stayers' Hurdle, Bob Olinger.
Elsewhere, Honesty Policy has been held back this season and could be rested and ready to prove his class. Kabral Du Mathan's connections will need the ground to stay relatively dry to roll the dice on his involvement in a race that will test his staying ability, but if the weather holds then expect him to be in with a shout.
Ryanair Chase odds
Note: Odds are courtesy of Bet365 and are correct as of Tuesday March 10. They are subject to change.
Jonbon (15/8)
Jockey: Nico de Boinville, Owner: JP McManus, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Impaire Et Passe (5/2)
Jockey: Paul Townend, Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Banbridge (11/4)
Jockey: Sean Bowen, Owner: JP R A Bartlett, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Heart Wood (11/2)
Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe, Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
JPR One (25/1)
Jockey: Brendan Powell, Owner: JP Romans, Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Matata (28/1)
Jockey: J J Slevin, Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Master Chewy (66/1)
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Owner: Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Who are the Ryanair Chase favourites?
With Willie Mullins' star Fact To File withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase, it is Jonbon and Impaire Et Passe who top the market.
Impaire Et Passe is the higher-rated of the two but his form has been underwhelming.
The 10-year-old Jonbon is a horse of high class but he is generally considered more of a two-miler.
Outside of those two, Banbridge has come in significantly after Fact To File's withdrawal.
Gold Cup Day awaits
After three days of drama-filled action, Friday brings the Cheltenham Festival's blue riband event: the Gold Cup.
The iconic race provides an opportunity for those looking to write their names into the annals of racing history.
In what looks set to be an open race, Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie and Harry Redknapp's The Jukebox Man are among the favourites, with Inothewayurthinkin looking to go back-to-back.
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