After a great start to Cheltenham Festival 2009, with an opening day we’ll never forget on Tuesday, including more double figure winners than one day should normally have, and a Nap winner, we followed up with what we described as “the bet of Festival 2009″ when Master Minded won the Queen Mother Chase (not that it wasn’t expected!).

Thursday is all about 2 horses in 2009: Voy Per Ustedes and Kasbah Bliss – we expect those two to have mixed fortunes – see our Cheltenham Festival Thursday 2009 Tips below for full details.

Lets see if we can continue Systemlays’ success on Thursday, which sees the following Cheltenham Festival 2009 events – just click the event to jump straight to our ratings and tips for the race in question.

• 1.30 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f
• 2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m
• 2.40 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f
• 3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3m
• 4.00 Festival Plate Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f
• 4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1 1/2f

1.30 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f

A novices handicap chase is just the sort of race we can get right on a regular basis – largely due to the margins between the class horses and the also rans in these events often being wider. This is perhaps the best novice chase event of the year, so its full of class. That said, we can hopefully narrow your options with our accurate ratings.

Novices Handicap Chase Runners, Form & Ratings

Novices Handicap Chase Tips & Ratings Review

As the bookies odds will tell you, this is a very open race (as one might expect from a handicap!), however, we have our top horse AU COURANT quite well in front. At 25-1 with Paddy Power (Wed evening) we suggest this as a solid each-way bet, which you should snap up early to take that price – everything we’re tipping is moving inwards price-wise this week, especially since the two bets of the day (this isn’t Thursday’s, mind you) romped home on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Be sure to consider other well-priced horses which we put at the head of this field, including Auroras Encore, Kia Kaha and Quws Law as solid chances to make up the first four home – for that is what most bookmakers will pay out on.

Never overlook the opportunity for a Tote Exacta or Trifecta either, and a Placepot or Jackpot can be fun for pocket change too.

2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m

Another handicap, this Pertemps Final over 3 miles sees us mark the card thus:

Pertemps Final Runners, Form & Ratings

Pertemps Final Tips & Ratings Review

The top three horses in this race, according to how we rate their recent best performances, are the following three, in this order: The Very Man, Heathcliff and Middleton Dene – all of these three represent very good each-way bets, and should also be considered for combination Tote Exacta or Tote Trifecta bets for small stakes.

2.40 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f

A high-class level-weights chase over the testing Cheltenham 2m5f is next up.

Ryanair Chase Runners, Form & Ratings

Ryanair Chase Tips and Ratings Review

Despite many voices singing the praises of Voy Per Ustedes, one horse here stands out at level weights, based on his excellent win at Leopardstown back in January, SCHINDLERS HUNT looks to be the one they’ve all got to beat here. We think the two that will give this horse the most to do will be Monet’s Garden and Imperial Commander.

The margin we give Schindlers Hunt is impressive, though, so this must be considered worthy of a solid each-way bet: we tip it to make the frame.

The fortune of the favourite look less certain – we’ve not seen Voy Per Ustedes produce quite as much on the clock as several of these. If these horses run true to form, we’d expect Voy Per Ustedes to find one or two too good: we’re laying this favourite on Betfair.

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3m

This year’s world hurdle has seen much buzz about the likely favourite Kasbah Bliss, who has been the talk of the town since narrowly falling one short last year. Lets see where Systemlays ratings put this year’s field:

Ladbrokes World Hurdle Runners & Ratings

World Hurdle Tips & Ratings Review

As far as we can tell, this looks to be another victory for the Doumain team, as KASBAH BLISS has all the hallmarks of the winner of Thursday’s World Hurdle. He was narrowly beaten by Inglis Drever in this last year – none of 2009′s opponents are at that level according to our ratings – and Kasbah Bliss has produced a lot on the flat since then.

This horses return to hurdles at Haydock saw him produce a staggering time, which none of tomorrow’s field have ever matched. Any repeat of that performance sees Kasbah Bliss win the World Hurdle, as simple as that. We’re tipping this as a solid win bet.

4.00 Festival Plate Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f

Another 2m5f chase, this time its a 20+ runner handicap which wil see some horses return at excellent prices, providing, of course, we can find them beforehand.

Festival Plate Runners, Ratings & Form

Festival Plate Tips & Ratings Review

The top two according to our ratings – Le Burf and Something Wells – look well treated by the handicapper, and can look to capitalise on that – we also like Perce Rock who, while carrying a little more weight, has put down performances which suggest he’s also good enough to win this event given a clear path and solid jumping performance. We suggest an each-way dutch on the three and perhaps a small forecast or tricast if you like that sort of thing.

4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1 1/2f

Another handicap chase completes the third day of Cheltenham Festival 2009, this one is slightly the tough side of half a mile further too, though, as always, Systemlays will try to beat the handicapper in this event.

Challenge Cup Runners, Ratings & Form

Challenge Cup Tips & Ratings Review

Those of you prepared to wait until the end of this third day for our bet of the day may well be rewarded. Due to the margin of difference we put between DOUBLE DIZZY and the remainder of this Challenge Cup field, we suggest an each-way bet on Double Dizzy to be our bet of the day.

Double Dizzy is currently available at a best-priced 22-1 from Paddy Power – click here to check with Paddy Power the current price, and bet now.

This rating does take into account the claims taken off due to the riders, though we’re always cautious in amateur events, hence the stress on the each-way nature of any bets you might have here.

Of the rest of the field, expect good runs from Ice Tea and Brooklyn Breeze.

Here’s to a great penultimate day whatever you decide to back or lay at Cheltenham Festival Thursday 2009!