Trainers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival

Top Cheltenham Festival odds

Year after year the top stables regularly send out the winners at the Cheltenham Festival and it is common knowledge that each of them will be battling for the right to end up in the winner’s enclosure once more. Some trainers are often referred to as ‘course specialists’ at Prestbury and will go all out in their efforts to become Top Festival Trainer. But who will prevail come March? Here, we take a look at the very best of those with runners in the festival programme.

Paul Nicholls

A dominant force over the jumps, Paul Nicholls is regarded as one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of his time and it’s easy to see why. Four Gold Cups and three Queen Mother Chase’s appear very nicely at the head of his racing CV and one can be sure he’ll be going for gold again in 2011. Trainer of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Bucks and Master Minded; there are very few trainers that can boast this yard talent and all four will be gunning for major honours. Often pairing up with master jockey Ruby Walsh, the duo have had great success in the last decade since Nicholls’ breakthrough at Cheltenham with See More Business in the 1999 running of the Gold Cup. His Somerset-based stable has been firing on all cylinders of late in preparation for March and he sets the benchmark for the festival’s top trainer but can he land the spoils?

Nicky Henderson

Three winners at last year’s festival were enough for Berkshire-based trainer Nicky Henderson to claim the 2010 Top Trainer award. Henderson currently holds the record for the most wins in Cheltenham Festival history still active in racing but will he continue to lead the way after the four-day period in March? The former amateur jockey has an excellent record at the meeting training three Champion Hurdle winners and one Queen Mother Chase victor. And twelve months ago his star performer was Bincoular in the Champion Hurdle and one can be sure he will again give it a good shot in the latest renewal. One will regularly see Henderson sending out horses for owner JP McManus and stable jockey Barry Geraghty will be given the task of navigating his many runners.

Willie Mullins

This Irishman’s hot property for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is arguably the hat-trick seeking David Nicholson Mares hurdler, Quevega. One of Ireland’s most successful jumps’ trainers, Mullins has had a glowing impact across the water here in Britain and all his runners must be monitored closely. He is the son of legendary trainer Paddy Mullins and will be striving to emulate his success with a few more Cheltenham winners in March. He will also have the services of a certain Ruby Walsh at his disposal and under the tutelage of the Irishman, they can have a huge impact from day one of the festival.

Jonjo O’Neill

Building on his success as a Champion National Hunt jockey twice, Jonjo O’Neill has made huge strides during his career as racehorse trainer. His Gloucestershire stable is based just down the road from Cheltenham after JP McManus signed the Irishman on as his leading trainer. His success to date at Cheltenham has been fairly limited, with his only notable win coming in the 2008 RSA Chase event with Albertas Run. With the services of Tony McCoy in the saddle every runner O’Neill sends to Cheltenham must hold every chance of success. Their green and gold hooped colours make his runners and riders easy to identify so certainly one to follow closely.

Philip Hobbs

A fearful, respectable record at Cheltenham’s premiere meeting, Philip Hobbs has tasted Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle triumphs whilst taking a number of the support races on the four-day card. His horses often perform admirably in the trail races before the festival as past results show his success in the Tingle Creek amongst others. Those who take in these races will have a good idea as to where Hobbs’ horses are before the showdown and one should be more knowledgeable of his chances. Richard Johnson is his stable jockey and the pair have a decent strike rate at Prestbury and expect it to continue.

Nigel Twiston-Davies

A long-serving trainer who has over four decades of experience gained his greatest success in last year’s Gold Cup with Imperial Commander. This victory really put the Twiston-Davies’ name in Cheltenham folklore and he will be aiming to follow up his success twelve months ago with a good Cheltenham Festival. Paddy Brennan is often in charge of riding his many runners, although his son Sam looks an up and coming star of the future after an impressive start to the jumps season. Expect the yard to pick up a winner or two, with a watchful eye on the progress of Imperial Commander.

Best of the rest…

Not for one moment should one take the aforementioned trainers as just those who can bag the winners. There are a notable number of other trainers who have previously hit form in time for Cheltenham. Alan King is one of those who has won the Arkle, Queen Mother and Champion Hurdle in previous years and one should not rule out further progress in 2011. Another of those that relishes the March showdown is David Pipe, who will be targeting many races including the one named after his father, David, on the final day. He often enters a number of runners with stable jockey Tom Scudamore often saddling the potent force. Noel Meade is the last to take a look at. The seven-time Irish Champion Trainer normally has a few big race entries and will be looking to score on the biggest of stages. An experienced trainer, who has been sending horses to Cheltenham for an age, will be in with a good chance of claiming a few big cash prizes.

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Starting prices of winners in Cheltenham grade races and handicaps

Cheltenham Festival betting

The Cheltenham festival is no stranger to serving up some tasty priced winners, whether it is in grade races and/or handicap contests. The latter often sees hefty outsiders upsetting the odds while the graded events generally go to those at the head of the market. However, in the unpredictable sport that is horse racing one is all too familiar with longshots showing the favourites a clean pair of heels. But is there a succinct difference in the starting prices of graded race winners and Handicap victors?

Each-way value

Last year the largest handicap race winner was Chief Dan George in the William Hill National Hunt Chase at odds of 33/1. Compare this with the largest winner in a grade 1 event and one will find Bertie’s Dream who won the Albert Bartlett Novices at the same price. So not much distinguishing between the two races at a first glance, and while larger odds are common in both races, they tend to be more so in Handicaps. The letter of the law for Handicap races allows for more skill in the betting as horses are weighted accordingly and if all run to their handicap mark, it should theoretically finish as a dead-heat between all the runners. But big price winners are common at the festival in handicaps and if we take the aforementioned William Hill Trophy Handicap and analyse the winners of the last ten years – winners of 33/1, 50/1, 25/1 and 20/1 have gone in. This just goes to show the each way value there is to be had in handicap races.

Graded events

Grade 1 events in the past have often gone to those at the head of the market. Take Kauto Star and Big Buck’s as two defining examples who have won the Gold Cup and World Hurdle twice before at odds against. The better the grade of a race will see only the top performers participate and these horses are fairly short in the betting because all hold very sound prospects. In the Gold Cup last year horses as high as 250/1 went to post yet rarely threatens against top class opposition who head the betting. However, Mon Mome was priced at 50/1 for this race last year and did manage third albeit a massive twenty-three lengths behind subsequent 7/1 winner Imperial Commander. While you may see 50/1 shots win Handicaps it is unlikely a horse this price will take one of the four major championship races, of which many go to single figure odds winners. There are as ever exceptions to this and there are shocks and upsets aplenty at the meeting.

So there is quite a line to be drawn between Handicap starting price winners and those who win top graded events. But the price shouldn’t put one off backing a selection and all too often the market in handicap races fails to guide towards the direction of the winner. As a general rule, one should not let the betting dictate and regardless of the SP, a horse who is well handicapped or is well up to the task of winning a top graded event should come in for some money.

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Cheltenham Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Ryanair Chase betting

The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase is the third race on day three which will see entries five years or older do battle over two miles and five furlongs. During this distance, runners will have to take seventeen fences swinging left-handed as they complete the circuit on Cheltenham’s new course. Another race which was added to the festival’s card when a fourth day was introduced in 2005, but one which earmarked the rise of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. Paddy Brennan won aboard the 8yo in the Ryanair in 2009 and twelve months later he followed up this win by claiming the Gold Cup from heavily fancied pair Kauto Star and Denman. Surely this year we can’t envisage another future Gold Cup winner taking the Ryanair Chase can we?

Ryaniar Chase odds

In the six runnings of this event second favourites have had a very healthy record. In fact, three of those six have been solid in the betting behind the market leader so it might be best to focus on those horses occupying the top few in the betting. Paul Nicholls has a 33% strike rate in the Ryanair when teaming up with Ruby Walsh – they partnered Thisthatandother (2005) and Taranis (2007) to claim the £220,000 prize money. The deadly pairing are sure to be well backed in their pursuit of a three-timer in this and if money does arrive for Nicholls’ representative the market could guide.

Trip

The two mile five furlongs is an interesting distance, an intermediate one which is certainly an advantage to those horses who do not quite get the three mile trip but need a little more than two. And a good trial to assess potential entries trying this trip is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase in November. Imperial Commander won it in 2008 before going on to score in the Ryanair five months later. And this year Nigel Twiston-Davies worked his magic once more when son Sam scored on 20/1 shot Little Josh at Cheltenham over course and distance. So keep an eye on the front-running Little Josh in the run up to this one as the Twiston-Davies yard seem to be firing on all cylinders at this early stage of the season.

Last year can guide…

Last years winner Albertas Run was the largest price winner of the Ryanair since its inauguration scoring at 14/1. A P McCoy did the steering and rewarded those value punters who got on at this price. The Irish raider had previous Cheltenham winning form to his name and this could point the way to backing the 2011 victor.

Ryaniar Chase free bets

Cheltenham Festival free bets

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Cheltenham betting – Master Minded vs Big Zeb?

Is the Queen Mother Champion Chase a toss up between Master Minded and Big Zeb

Question marks continue to hang over the head of Paul Nicholls’s star chaser Master Minded who fluffed his hat-trick bid in last year’s running of the Queen Mother. Big Zeb and Barry Geraghty foiled his efforts last time but the real Master Minded could well be back after three victories in as many races since his defeat at the festival. Colm Murphy runs Big Zeb again and will be hopeful of a repeat performance but he suffered a setback at Punchestown latest when he was beaten half a length by another Queen Mother entry Golden Silver. Somersby ran Master Minded to the wire and only a short head was the difference in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January – a result which leaves this Grade 1contest wide open.

All the talk prior to the 2010 Champion Chase surrounded Master Minded and his attempt for a third consecutive victory in the race. Sent off at 4/5 jolly, Ruby Walsh could not get a tune out of the French import as he tried to make an impression on the leaders. Of those leaders, it was Big Zeb who defied odds of 10/1 and won cosily in the end. But Master Minded seems to be running himself back into some sort of form with three odds on successes in preparation for the Queen Mother. However, he was run mightily close by the aforementioned Somersby last time and many would argue the horse has lost its sparkle of old. Clive Smith’s horse is now two years older than he was when he claimed the 2009 Queen Mother as a 6-year-old and many punters believe he could have burnt out at the age of eight. Punters will be queuing up to lay this horse at 5/2 but one would be foolish to think he has little left in the tank which has seen him power to two excellent Champion Chase wins.

On the other hand, Big Zeb would have surely been clear paper favourite for the race had it not been for his latest defeat to Golden Silver. Barry Geraghty looked the winner from a long way out but his failure by a narrow margin has seen bookmakers push out Big Zeb’s price a little to 11/4. But that form makes difficult reading as Golden Silver was beaten by Big Zeb at Leopardstown two runs back and to reverse the placing’s next time has left a lot to be desired for Willie Mullins’ 9-year-old. Big Zeb is two years Master Minded’s senior but age seems no barrier and a big run can be expected at Prestbury Park.

Somersby’s tight knit finish with Master Minded last time puts him right into contention for this race and the 8/1 about him is value. He has placed in all but one of thirteen appearances at a racecourse and has been the shining light of the underperforming Henrietta Knight stable at present. Sizing Europe (10/1) is another who could enter the fray and last year’s Arkle winner ran a creditable four-length second behind Kauto Star at Down Royal towards the back end of last year. Henry De Bromhead’s runner should give another good account and can threaten the ‘big two’ on his day. Woolcombe Folly (8/1) and Captain Cee Bee (10/1) can feature too and make this more than just a two-horse race.

The Queen mother Chase is far from a duel between Master Minded and Big Zeb although they could go off joint favourite for the festival’s day three feature race. Their prices currently fluctuate between the 11/4 and 3/1 mark so it will be interesting to see who the money comes for just before post time. Market confidence can often point the way and it would be no surprise to see them come in for major money. Big Zeb probably shades the vote, albeit a tentative one, after being nudged out of it last time.

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Cheltenham Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle betting

Arguably one of the most wide open contest across all of the four days where Buena Vista for the David Pipe team will bid to make it a hat-trick of wins in this handicap hurdle race. The eleven-year-old form has been rather patchy since last March and for that reason stablemate Our Father and Sivola De Sivola feature ahead of him in the ante-post markets.

Qualifiers

Jonjo O’Neill has an excellent record in this handicap claiming three wins, although the last of those was almost seven years ago with Creon. But any horse he sends out will no doubt come in for some cash, particularly if it has negotiated its passage to this final with ease. The eight qualifiers are the obvious place to start when analysing the form of these runners and those who breeze past these stages need to be taken very seriously indeed. One of those qualifying races is staged at Cheltenham monitor those who act on this course and distance.

Big price winners

Two 50/1 shots have been first home in more recent years, one of those was Creon for Jonjo O’Neill in 2004 and the other Kaldoun in 2006 for the Michael O’Brien yard. This just goes to show the greatest underdog can do well in the Pertemps Final Handicap and the form book of the previous qualifiers can sometimes go out the window. For this reason, one should consider all avenues even those with the most unlikely odds because Handicaps can be so unpredictable. Twelve months ago Hadden Frost was first home aboard Buena Vista for David Pipe. And 16/1 was a very generous price considering the 9yo gelding only failed by two lengths to Kayf Aramis the year before.

If you’re a favourite backer look away now because only one favourite has won this in the last decade. Inch Closer justified his price in 2003 but since market leaders have come unstuck so it may be best to look elsewhere once more. Value in handicaps must be sought after when time and time again we see big priced outsiders upset the odds. A thorough market inspection is needed before tackling this race from a betting perspective and any significant signals could speak volumes. There is likely to big gambles on the Irish representatives as there is most years so check on those market movers.

Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle free bets

Cheltenham Festival free bets

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Can Long Run take Imperial Commander’s Cheltenham Gold Cup crown?

Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup preview

All the talk prior to the King George VI Chase at Kempton in January revolved around Kauto Star as he attempted to land the race for the fifth consecutive year. Sent off 4/7 favourite Paul Nicholls’ star chaser finished a disappointing third behind impressive winner Long Run. Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen aboard the French import comfortably dispatched of his rivals, spoiling the Kauto party in the process – but can the horse make the discernible step up and become a Gold Cup winning horse at Cheltenham?

The lightly raced 6-year-old has taken to a racecourse just five times before but has managed three victories. However Long Run’s two defeats have come at Prestbury Park – he was a beaten favourite on his penultimate start in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase despite being sent off 2/1 market jolly. He did run respectfully behind useful types Weapon’s Amnesty and Burton Port in last year’s RSA Chase at the festival but the Gold Cup represents a notable gulf in class. And if he is to frank his King George VI form then the Nicky Henderson trained horse must put an end to the myth that surrounds 6-year-olds winning the festival showpiece. One has to trawl through the archives and dig up the year 1963 since Mill House won the prize aged six. But only four horses this age have contested the race in the last 40 years so this record isn’t as awful as the statistics suggest.

In Long Run’s favour though is the last eight of the last 11Gold Cup winners contested the King George – so one must be shrewd before ruling out Mr Robert-Waley-Cohen’s 6/1 (Betfred) chance? The question may not be how good Long Run is, but just how good his rivals are. Imperial Commander looks the chief threat after landing the £475,000 prize twelve months ago but if Long Run is said to be too young to be crowned winner; the opposite can be applied to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge who turned ten this year. Cool Dawn in 1998 was the last horse aged ten years plus to score and before him Cool Ground in 1992 but Twiston-Davies believes the relatively few miles on Imperial Commander’s clock will stand him in good stead. Fellow Gold Cup winners Kauto Star and Denman are a year older but the reigning champion has competed in just 18 races under rules.

Rather worryingly perhaps is Imperial Commander’s preparation for the Gold Cup where he currently heads the betting at 7/2 with race sponsors Totesport. He has has just the one run this term when he landed the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. He beat Nacarat that day by 2-and-a-half lengths and he has since contested the King George finishing a close up fourth behind Kauto Star so that form makes for difficult reading. Paddy Brennan schooled Imperial Commander at Kempton last Saturday and the horse looks to be fit and well after his early preparations were hampered due to a cut leg.

So what to make of Long Run’s chances against Imperial Commander and the field? The slight negative with Long Run is his only two defeats to date have come at Cheltenham. If he doesn’t act as well on the ground, Imperial Commander certainly has a love for the track with six course wins to his name. But this is far from a two-horse race, the remainder of the field pose serious dangers and one would be foolish to discount Paul Nicholls’ deadly duo should Kauto and Denman be on song.

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Cheltenham Ladbrokes World Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Ladbrokes World Hurdle betting

Where to start with the feature race on race day number three. Well, there can only be one place and that is the hat-trick seeking Big Bucks. Paul Nicholls’ French Import really is the definition of a wonderhorse. The 7yo has tasted defeat only once at Cheltenham and just four times in his progressive career and looks certain to give this years Ladbrokes World Hurdle a really good go. He won the 2009 running at odds of 6/1 and by the time the 2010 Cheltenham festival came around again he had not lost a race and went off the 5/6 favourite. But as good horses do, he justified those odds with ease and many expect him to join Inglis Drever as the most successful World Hurdle horse with a third success in 2011. Can he do it?

Big Bucks or not?

The leading long-distance event in the National Hunt calendar will await Big Bucks amongst others, as they prepare to jump twelve hurdles over three miles exactly. Horses four years plus can qualify for this event and Big Bucks last year scooped a fantastic £260,000 purse. And if the early ante-post market is trusted, then Big Bucks should go close in his attempt of another huge cash windfall. Race sponsors Ladbrokes have him at even money but some bookmakers are as short as 4/5. It is extremely likely he will go off odds against so take advantage of this even money before the price is gone, after all he has the form on paper and is the star performer in the field so what could possibly stop you?

Others to consider….

Well, there are some other good hurdlers being bandied about for this race, none more so than Nicky Henderson’s Zaynar. This 5yo grey won his first five career starts as a 4yo (two of those at Cheltenham) but is yet to get his head in front in 2010 which is a slight worry. Ladbrokes go 6/1 he rediscovers his form in time for the World Hurdle. Quevega is another potential entry and it will be interesting to see whether he goes for this or the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day.

Form, facts and records

The World Hurdle is a real test of a staying hurdler and as Howard Johnson’s Inglis Drever proved on three occasions, the ability to get up the Cheltenham Hill when there’s little left in the tank is the key. Big Bucks has proved his worth at it and we’re all anxious to see whether he repeat his successes and enter his name in the Cheltenham record books. Its worth taking in the trial runs at Cheltenham in January, the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle will provide a good idea as to where Big Bucks and other World Hurdlers are in terms of their peak performances. However, it might pay to stay away from the Irish for a change though, they have a dismal record in this Grade 1 and haven’t trained a winner since the 1995 renewal, but could their luck be in this year?

Realistically, it would be nice to pitch up some other potential winners of this race but its just so hard to get away from Big Bucks. And while you may not get big bucks back if you do back him, he’s sure to be one of the most backed horses of the entire festival. We saw punters hopping on at 5/6 last year and that is sure to happen once more although it’s not something punters enjoy – backing horses at odds on. But it does look like his race to lose but if he does fail in his hat-trick bid it will be his own doing and not because he was beaten by a better horse!

Ladbrokes World Hurdle free bets

Cheltenham Festival free bets

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Cheltenham Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Kim Muir Challenge Cup betting

The final race on the penultimate day of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup over three miles and one and ½ furlongs. It presents us with another chance to see the qualities of National Hunt amateur jockeys and those with links to the top yards usually do well in this contest. Nineteen fenced will be taken by these five years plus runners in this handicap race on Cheltenham’s new course. The event, named in memory of cavalry officer Kim Muir who lost his life during World War II, sees £55,000 head to the winning connections.

Kim Muir Challenge Cup odds

Another difficult race to predict but as always the best place to start is with the top trainers who have achieved victories in this contest before. Donald McCain Jnr and Nicky Henderson have shared four successes in the last eight years and it would come as no surprise to see one of these continue their fine record. It was Donald who trained last years winner Ballabriggs to a ½ length victory under the guidance of Richard Harding. It really is a real moment to saviour for these young apprentices, some are riding at Cheltenham for the very first time and the luckier ones can even write their names into festival folklore.

Amateur impression

In previous years this race has seen the likes of Robert ‘choc’ Thornton, David Crosse and Robert Walford claim victory and they have all since gone on to make a big impression as National Hunt racing jockeys. So could the 2011 Challenge Cup winning jockey be another star of the future. While it may be too early to predict this, look out for the jockey bookings of the top yards particulary Nicky Hendersons mount. He has another outstanding record in this race taking the spoils in 2002 and 2005 respectively. While some of the amateur jockeys’ names might seem unfamiliar, we can go on the expectation of their trainers. Very rarely do you see top yards employing poor or incapable apprentices and the fact that these trainers have entrusted these youngsters speak volumes about their navigating abilities.

There is no great form to look at and ponder when taking in this final race on day three. Winners at various prices ranging from 9/2 to 40/1 have been cheered into the winning enclosure at Cheltenham in recent years. And although form could still point towards the right direction, horses with experience at Cheltenham and wins over this distance hold the greatest chances.

Kim Muir Challenge Cup free bets

Cheltenham Festival free bets

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Are Kauto Star and Denman past their best ?

Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup preview

They have tasted success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in three of the last four years, but 2010 has been a year both Kauto Star and Denman will want to forget in a hurry. The Paul Nicholls’ trained duo have won the hearts of the horse racing nation over the last five years with some scintillating performances on the biggest of stages.

Arguably, Denman’s career highlight came in the 2008 running of the Cheltenham Festival showpiece at the expense of his stablemate Kauto Star. His excessive weight in the Hennessey Gold Cup prevented him from completing a memorable three-timer, but with 14 lengths to find giving away almost two stone, are his doubters right to believe age has finally caught up with him? Will it be the chance for the likes of Imperial Commander and Long Run?

Kauto Star on the other hand, the most successful chaser in recent years will be gunning for a remarkable third success in the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain. A faller in the event last time, Clive Smith’s gelding had his sights set on an unprecedented fifth successive King George VI win in the rearranged chase at Kempton Park. A workmanlike performance in the Champion Chase at Down Royal seemed to have the 10-year-old primed for an assault on Desert Orchid’s long standing record of four King George’s. Sent off at 4/7, Kauto Star looked a shadow of his former self when he badly blundered 2 out almost unseating Tony McCoy. Taking nothing away from the impressive Long Run, can Nicholls’ star performer rise to the challenge of another Gold Cup tilt at the age of eleven?

Nevertheless, both Kauto Star and Denman’s failure to notch their targeted races have seen the pair pushed out in the ante-post betting for the big March showdown. Punters were quick to snap up the revised odds after these respective defeats when Kauto Star was pushed out to as high as 10/1 and Denman trading around the 6/1 mark. Rather unsurprisingly, this excellent value didn’t last long and now Kauto is 7/1 across the board with his stablemate remaining solid at 6s. Regardless of their latest blips, if both horses can recover in time for Cheltenham and their shrewd trainer is adamant they can, they’re nigh on a certainty to back as each-way propositions.

Somewhat worryingly, Kauto Star was reported to have had a minor bleed from both nostrils after returning to his stable after the King George. But connections refused to make excuses for his below-par run, but he certainly needs to be putting his best foot forward at Cheltenham and his experience will be vital such is his vulnerability to a young and upcoming improver. Similarly, Denman falls into the same bracket and he will also be eleven by the time the Gold Cup comes around. However, his run in the event last time left a lot to be desired considering he seems to save his best runs for the festival. The horse goes well fresh and a good gallop from the off could get a few of these panicking in behind such is his aggressive and gallant style of running.

If age was no barrier, surely Kauto Star and Denman would be all the rave once more going into the 2011 Gold Cup renewal. But statistics in the race make grim reading for older runners – no horse older than 10 has triumphed since 1969 when 12-year-old What a Myth claimed victory. The recent trend is crystal clear that the race often serves up winners nine years or younger although Desert Orchid did manage to place in 1991 at the age of twelve. Therefore, the writing isn’t necessarily on the wall for Paul Nicholls’ coveted pair especially at such excellent each-way value with most firms paying a ¼ of the odds for the first three home. Denman has finished second in this race in the previous two years and on that evidence cannot be discarded as he and Kauto Star bid to cement their names in Cheltenham Gold Cup history!

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches

Jockeys to follow at the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival jockeys

In their efforts to beat the bookies, many punters will sway towards a selection based on which jockey will be aboard the horse. A whole host of top jockeys will contest all of the races at the Cheltenham Festival as they all bid to ride the most winners and thus claiming the jockey’s title award. But who should one keep their beady eye on and monitor closely come the big March showdowns?

AP McCoy

There can be no place to start other than the fifteen-time champion jockey – Tony McCoy. Since riding his first winner in 1992 aged just seventeen, arguably the finest jump jockey to date has saddled over three thousand winners and one can be sure he is still hungry for success in the latest renewal of the Cheltenham Festival. His record at Prestbury Park can only be described as immaculate; listing the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother on his glittering CV. One can only see him entering Cheltenham’s winning enclosure on a few more occasions in 2011 granted the top rides he will be given. Riding predominantly for the Jonjo O’Neill stable owned by JP McManus, AP can be noticed by his owner’s distinctive green and gold hooped jersey complete with a white cap. And while he may pick up rides for other top yards; Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins to name just two; it’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on him as some racing enthusiasts say he can do no wrong on a horse. He would be an eye-catching jockey booking for any smaller stable, so monitor his mounts over the four days and one looks sure to be rewarded.

Ruby Walsh

Winner of two of the last four runnings of the Gold Cup, Ruby Walsh looked destined for the top after his father Ted was a champion amateur jockey. Perhaps it runs in this Irish families’ blood because Ruby’s younger sister Katy is an up and coming apprentice star of the future. But Ruby remarkably was leading jockey at the Festival five times in the last seven years (including twelve months ago) and is sure to give it another huge crack in March. Being the top, established jockey Walsh is it comes as no surprise that he is given the very best chances of winning races from the top stables. And there are none better than master-trainer Paul Nicholls who has sent out an endless number of winners at Cheltenham, including three winners of the Gold Cup. Any horse which pairs this deadly duo together must be at the head of the market and their record at Cheltenham justifies it. Ruby will pick up other rides elsewhere for Irish trainer Willie Mullins and representing top yards is a given now for the Irish National Hunt champion. After all, he does have that small matter of the most wins in Cheltenham Festival history to his name!

Richard Johnson

Probably the best chance of an Englishman taking the jockeys’ title accolade is Richard Johnson. He has had great success at the Cheltenham Festival in the last decade and took the opener in the Supreme Novices’ at Prestbury last year aboard Menorah. He is one of only two jockeys riding today that has won all Cheltenham’s four championship races and is certainly one to follow closely. Johnson and top trainer Philip Hobbs have combined frequently to land success at Cheltenham and looks sure to do the same this time around.

Barry Geraghty

This former Irish champion jump jockey will be teaming up with the powerful Nicky Henderson yard at the festival and one is sure to see the pair take several notable races. Since 2002, Geraghty has ridden nineteen winners at Cheltenham and became the first jockey to win all four championship races and the Grand National. He collected three wins last time at the festival and is one to keep on your side once more.

Paddy Brennan

Go on Paddy! Go on Paddy! That was the roar from the Cheltenham crowd as Paddy Brennan delivered Imperial Commander late to take last years Gold Cup. The highlight of his racing career was this victory but can he continue in the same vein and bang in more winners at Cheltenham. Well, he already six wins to his name since 2006 and won another major race aboard Inglis Drever in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle almost four years ago. Brennan will once more be riding for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and is sure to be saddled with some good rides from this shrewd trainer.

Timmy Murphy

Timmy is a jockey who must always be taken seriously. Riding for David Pipe on a regular basis he is a trusted jockey who is held in high regard by those who watch him. Another one from across the sea, he will occasionally pick up rides from other top stables and will head into the festival with as good a chance as most. He seems to ride winners with notable regularity during the season and must be feared come March.

Others not to overlook….

It would be unskilled and foolish to suggest just those mentioned above will dominate the 2011 Cheltenham Festival and if this article passed without the ratification of other top jump jockeys, well it wouldn’t be worth writing. And those others to look out for include Colin Tizzard who will take the rides for his father Joe and the early ante-post suggests they could have a winner with their impressive Cue Card, who could go for a number of races including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle opener. Jason Maguire is another jockey to follow after his win aboard Donald McCain Jnr’s Peddler’s Cross in the Neptune Novices last year. Sam Thomas, Noel Fehily and Paul Carberry are other notable jockeys to follow while Sam Twiston-Davies (son of Nigel) looks sure to go well in the amateurs amongst others!

Click here for a full range of Cheltenham free bets from the UK’s biggest and best online bookmakers

*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches