Cheltenham Day Three Odds

It's Day 3 at Cheltenham

The Irish challenge for the World Hurdle is led by Lieutenant Colonel and he appears to have every chance of landing the Grade 1 race.

The six-year-old goes into the showpiece race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival following two consecutive wins on home soil.

Lieutenant Colonel's last win came at Leopardstown in December, when he held off Jetson by three-quarters of a length. The second also takes his place in the field on Thursday, along with Monksland and At Fisher's Cross - who finished third and fourth respectively in that Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle.

That win came off the back of a four-length success over Jetson again, in another Grade 1 race - the Hatton's Grace Hurdle - at Fairyhouse in November.

Sandra Hughes is certainly in upbeat mood going into the World Hurdle and feels her charge is "probably head of the team" as far as the seven-strong Irish contingent is concerned.

The trainer stated: "He's going there with a chance in a very open year. He's won his two Grade Ones so he certainly deserves to take his chance and I'm not worrying about him travelling.

"A lot of people said when he won the Hatton's Grace it might have been a soft Grade One, but when he came out and won at Christmas he proved he's a Grade One horse."

Lieutenant Colonel certainly looks to have the edge over Jessica Harrington's Jetson on recent performances, but the 10-year-old has eye-catching displays under his belt.

The bay gelding claimed the notable scalp of Quevega at Punchestown last May, in a race that also featured At Fisher's Cross and Glens Melody - who won the Mares' Hurdle on day one of this year's Festival.

Jetson's trainer concedes he is not a very big horses, but feels her charge will "run his heart out" and due to "form being up and down in England", the race could be wide open.

Mrs Harrington added: "He (Jetson) sort of suddenly decided he's a Grade One horse at the age of nine, which is very unusual.

"In the Hatton's Grace he definitely needed the run and Davy Russell felt going to the last he was going to win. At Christmas I think he was a bit unlucky and I think he was fairly intimidated.

"He hasn't had a race since Christmas as there was nothing for him to run in."

Meanwhile, Monksland may have had his issues recently, but his connections feel the better ground at Prestbury Park will suit him.

The eight-year-old, who will be the mount of Paul Carberry on Thursday, had a two year spell on the sidelines and only made his return in December.

Trainer Noel Meade is hopeful that the surface at Cheltenham could be the making of a horse that has been placed in all of his nine races.

Meade said: "It's been a struggle all year. If you could train him the way you'd want to train him I'm sure he'd be a hell of a horse.

"On better ground I'm sure he'll be a better horse. He has a chance."

Where the ground may aid Monksland's chances, it may work against fellow Irish raider Dedigout - who won the Boyne Hurdle last month.

Trainer Tony Martin is hoping for a bit of cut in the ground and says he is hopeful that his charge will "give a good account of himself".