Festival Plate Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2023 - DAY 3)
- Written by David Bet
The Festival Plate (formerly Paddy Power Plate) is a Grade 3 chase which is run over two miles five furlongs where the runners have seventeen fences to jump. Coole Cody was a surprising winner of this competitive handicap last year, at odds of 22/1. A race for big priced winners with a 66/1, 50/1 and three 25/1 winners in the last 15 years. Don't miss our Festival Plate race preview with free predictions, tips, betting trends, best odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
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Festival Plate Betting Preview
The Festival Plate is a hugely competitive handicap race at the Cheltenham Festival. It's a Grade 3 National Hunt chase run over two miles and five furlongs, for horses aged five years and upwards. Grade Three status means the top horses are all allowed to enter, which usually gives us a great field for the race.
This year's edition seems sure to be another tightly knit competitive handicap, with many horses arriving looking well handicapped and a maximum field size certain for the excellent prize money on offer.
and now take a closer look at this year's Craft Irish Whiskey Co Festival Plate and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Festival Plate 2023?
SO SCOTTISH is the strong favourite for this year's Festival Plate. The Emmet Mullins' charge has won on his first two starts over fences back in October, and was last seen finishing just behind Boothill in a very competive race at Ascot.
IL RIDOTO is quite prominent in the betting having won nicely on Trials Day. He improved markedly for the application of cheekpieces and more positive tactics when fending off Fugitif at Cheltenham in January.
DATSALRIGHTGINO finished runner-up to Stage Star here on trials day. He has been a bit in and out this season, but his form is some of the strongest among the Novices and a mark of 141 looks pretty appealing.
MIDNIGHT RIVER won a premier handicap over course and distance on New Years Day and has risen 7lb for that victory.
HAUT EN COLEURS has raced at two previous Cheltenham festivals and has never looked like winning at any stage. This season he was in the mix but fell at the last at Thurles in January but and was a tad disappointing when only second to stablemate Janidil the following month at Gowran Park.
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Dark horses?
FUGITIF finished runner-up to Il Ridoto by just a length and has gone up six pounds. He is 2lb better off and is another who has each way claims.Last year's Arkle Chase fourth WAR LORD returned to form with an excellent weight-carrying second at Wetherby in February and remains on what seems a lenient mark.
I AM MAXIMUS was well-beaten behind Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival but could a be serious contenders in this company .
CALL ME LYREEN won the Liffey Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last season, but can't defy top weight in last season’s County Hurdle. He hasn’t been seen since October after positive outings during the summer, including a narrow defeat to Visionarian and an unlucky fall at four from home at Listowel.
FRERO BANBOU, SEDDON, SHAKEM UPARRY, MARVEL DE CERISY and MARS HARPER are other horses with podium ambitions.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
All the bookmakers we recommend are offering No Runner No Bet on every Cheltenham Festival race.
Festival Plate Trends
- 3 of the last 5 winners were favourites
- 17 of the last 22 winners returned at double-figure odds
- 6 of the last 7 winners were novices or second season chasers
- 11 of the last 14 winners carried under 11-0
- The last 11 winners were running off a career-high handicap rating - or no more than 3lbs lower
- The last 9 winners were rated in the 140s
- 8 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
Festival Plate Predictions
The following section contains our recommended bets on the Festival Handicap Plate. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival tips and get the highest odds available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button! We also invite you to take a look at all our Horse Racing Free Predictions resources here!
2023 Festival Plate Free Bets
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2023 Festival Plate FAQs
What time is the Festival Plate?
The Festival Plate is the 5th race run on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Thursday March 16, 2023 and the official starting time is 4:10pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Festival Plate?
There are 17 obstacles to jump for the Festival Plate runners
What is the distance of the Festival Plate?
The Festival Plate is run on a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs
What is the prize money for the Festival Plate?
The total prize money on offer for the Festival Plate at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival will be £110,000.
Who won the Festival Plate last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Coole Cody at SP of 22/1, trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Adam Wedge.
What weights are carried for the Festival Plate?
As it is a traditional National Hunt handicap chase, weights range from 11 st 12 lb for the top weight, to 10 st for the bottom weight.
Who is the leading jockey in the Festival Plate?
Bryan Cooper and Tom Scudamore have both won the race twice in the last decade. Richard Johnson’s two wins in the race came in 2000 and 2003.
Who is the leading trainer in the Festival Plate?
Trainer David Pipe is the trainer to follow in this handicap chase with three winners and four placed horses from 21 runners in the past 13 years. Nicky Henderson has won this race four times while David Pipe has won it three times since 2010.
