Cheltenham Day 3: Irish take over on St Patrick’s Thursday

The Cheltenham Festival and St Patrick’s Day don’t always coincide on the calendar, but the organisers know a good thing when they see one. So it is that the third day of this four-day bonanza is always designated as ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’.

Naturally enough, there have been years when the greening all felt a tad contrived, and not just because of the abundance of Oirish clichés. The Thursday racing has habitually been something of a disappointment for the visiting entrants. Kinda like the national day itself, you might say.

Not yesterday.