IT'S nearly here – Cheltenham Festival kicks off on Tuesday, March 15.
For those of you searching for a winner and a guide to all the action, then look no further!
DAY 1 – TUESDAY MARCH 15
THE Festival kicks off in style with the Champion Hurdle taking centre stage on the opening day.
The crowds are back and the Queen that is Honeysuckle is out to defend her crown in the big one. She could become the first mare to win the race twice.
Unbeaten in 14 runs under rules, Henry De Bromhead’s eight-year-old has already built up a huge fan club with jockey of the moment Rachael Blackmore in the saddle.
She’s looked as good as ever this season, winning two Grade 1s at ease, despite De Bromhead admitting his team hasn’t fired on all cylinders for much of the campaign.
She’ll probably need to run below her best to be troubled here, but waiting in the wings is bullish Willie Mullins and last year’s Supreme winner Appreciate It.
Mullins had hoped to send his star chasing this campaign but they met a setback and have eyed up a clash with Honeysuckle ever since.
The Closutton maestro is as good as any at getting them fit without a run and he’ll be first in the line if Honeysuckle has a rare off-day.
Epatante leads the British charge, but Tommy’s Oscar – one of the stories of the season for pensioner couple Ann and Ian Hamilton – would be a hugely popular winner if he pulls off a mighty shock.
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As ever the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle opens the show and the big stables will all be represented.
Mullins looks likely to rely on Sir Gerhard, while Nicky Henderson’s star pair of Constitution Hill and Jonbon will hope to get one in the bag early for the Brits who only managed five winners through all of last year’s Festival.
Constitution Hill has won both of his starts over hurdles, the latest in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle and looks Hendo’s number one but it looks a hot renewal.
Throw in the Arkle and the Brits could well have two in the bag in the opening two races.
Alan King’s Edwardstone is the one to beat and has looked a natural since switching to fences.
The main challenger unsurprisingly comes from Ireland and the Mullins camp in the shape of Blue Lord.
The seven-year-old narrowly got the better of Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’Etel at Leopardstown and that mare will re-oppose here under Jack Kennedy.
TUESDAY'S BEST BET – Edwardstone (The Arkle – 2.10)
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DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH
WEDNESDAY’S Queen Mother Champion Chase could well be the race of the week.
If Shishkin vs. Energumene ‘Round Two’ wasn’t enough, then throw in a rejuvenated Chacun Pour Soi for good measure.
Shishkin’s narrow win over Energumene at Ascot was arguably the race of the season and the rematch has been eagerly awaited since. Hopefully they all turn-up in tip-top shape and we should be in for a battle royale.
Shishkin’s unbeaten run is now at ten and he could follow in the famous footsteps of Altior, Sprinter Sacre and Remittance Man if he delivers another Champion Chase for Nicky Henderson.
Amazingly, Mullins has never won the race despite his record-breaking 78 victories at the Festival.
Paul Townend has to pick between the big two in that camp and he’ll be praying he makes the right call.
Nube Negra, Funambule Sivola and Politologue will all be there with a shout, but will surely be playing second fiddle.
Tiger Roll will bow out in style if he stars again in the Cross Country race.
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His career may have been tarnished by an ugly argument over his weight in the Grand National, but his five Festival wins are unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
Owner Michael O’Leary has already said this will be his final run and the unique test of the Cross Country course plays to his strengths.
If he does deliver then he’ll go down as one of the all-time greats whether you like it or not.
The Brown Advisory Chase is another one to relish. Again Mullins will play a big part in the race with his brilliant Galopin Des Champs the hot favourite.
Already super slick over a fence, his win in last year’s Martin Pipe seems a long time ago.
But the home team also have a strong hand here and Paul Nicholls has his best chance of the week in Bravemansgame.
Another superb jumper, this race can’t be missed. Scotland will be cheering on Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor who has the talent and engine to trouble them if he jumps well enough.
WEDNESDAY'S BEST BET – Frero Banbou (Grand Annual 4.50)
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DAY 3 – THURSDAY 17 MARCH
THE Stayers’ Hurdle is the main attraction on Day 3, traditionally Paddy’s Day.
And the Irish have the big players. Defending champ Flooring Porter has been beaten on his two runs this year but Gavin Cromwell’s stable star is still the one to beat according to the bookies.
He dominated the race last season but a resurgent Klassical Dream can’t be ignored for Willie Mullins.
He beat the favourite at Punchestown at the end of last season and on their returns at Leopardstown over Christmas.
But he blotted his copybook at Gowran last time out and Mullins admits his horse has his quirks. He can play up at the start and it makes for a fascinating and wide-open affair.
The Brits have a few bullets to fire of their own, none more so than Thyme Hill who has been kept fresh by trainer Phillip Hobbs.
He missed last year’s renewal through injury but went on to score cosily in the Grade 1 at Aintree. He was agonisingly beaten in the Albert Bartlett the season before.
He faces off with Champ again, who just got the better of him at Ascot before Christmas.
Paisley Park was almost retired earlier this year but trainer Emma Lavelle has turned around his fortunes in style.
His memorable win in the Cleeve Hurdle in January brought back great memories of his two victories in this race.
Blind owner Andrew Gemmell will be back on track to roar on his star after heart surgery a few months back.
Mullins labelled Allaho his ‘banker’ in the build up to the Ryanair and it’s hard to argue with that after his jaw-dropping win in it last season.
The race was won at halfway and he’s two from two this campaign. Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue will be the main challenger on paper but has been off the track since October when he fell in the Charlie Hall.
Bob Olinger is likely to play a leading role in the Turners Novices’ Chase. Henry De Bromhead’s chaser is two from two over fences.
Some have crabbed his jumping and he missed a couple of engagements over Christmas. But his win in the Ballymore last season was breathtaking.
Venetia Williams has enjoyed a stellar season so far and her brilliant L’Homme Presse will lead the opposition. He last won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles in style at Sandown and his jumping is his ace card.
THURSDAY'S BEST BET – Champ (Stayers' Hurdle 3.30)
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DAY 4 – FRIDAY 18 MARCH
GOLD Cup day rounds of the Festival and Henry De Bromhead will be feeling the pressure ahead of the feature.
He sends defending champion Minella Indo back to the scene of his famous win, as well as big race favourite A Plus Tard.
Minella Indo hasn’t won since his Gold Cup triumph under Jack Kennedy, but shaped with loads of promise behind Conflated in the Irish Gold Cup last time.
De Bromhead looks to have got him back to form just in the nick of time and he has a new jockey in Robbie Power.
A Plus Tard was runner-up last season but improved plenty to win the Betfair Chase with ease on his return this season.
Galvin then just got the better of him in the Grade 1 Savills Chase over Christmas and is the new kid on the block in this division this year.
Gordon Elliott’s tough eight-year-old won the four-miler at the Festival last season and has kept improving. Veteran Davy Russell will be on board.
The British hopes are led by Dan Skelton’s Protektorat who has been kept fresh since his win at Aintree in the Many Clouds.
Nicky Henderson’s Chantry House and Venetia Williams’s Royalle Pagaille are the other main home chances.
But don’t ignore Al Boum Photo and King George winner Tornado Flyer. They’re both trained by Willie Mullins after all.
The Triumph Hurdle kicks off proceedings and if you believe the betting then it’s another Mullins-Elliott showdown.
Mullins relies on Vauban, while Elliott has two in Pied Piper and Fil Dor.
Vauban took home a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, but was beaten by Pied Piper before that.
Pied Piper went on to win a Grade 2 by nine lengths at Cheltenham, while Fil Dor was second to Vauban at Leopardstown. It makes for a fascinating race.
The Brits will be reliant on Milton Harris and Knight Salute and Gary Moore and Porticello. They have a bit to find with the Irish you would think.
The other Grade 1 on the day is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, a three mile test.
Henry Daly’s Hillcrest looks the one to beat on paper if he gets the green light to run by trainer Henry Daly.
This giant horse has been super impressive this season, especially last time out at Haydock. He could gallop these into submission.
Elliott’s Minella Crooner and the Willie Mullins-trained Minella Cocooner look the big threats. Yes, they are different horses!
FRIDAY'S BEST BET – Hillcrest (Albert Bartlett 2.50)
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