The Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest run on the meetings second day. Won last year by Peddlers Cross, it’s open to four year old and above novices’, run over two miles and five furlongs, on the Cheltenham Old Course, with a total of twelve hurdles to be jumped. 10 Year Trends: 10/10 – were aged five or six 9/10 – were in the top six of the market 9/10 – won at least half of their hurdling runs 9/10 – ran first or second last time out 9/10 – had won over hurdles at 2m 4f and above //...

On the final day of the festival the stands will be packed, with all eyes on the ‘Blue Riband’ event, the Gold Cup. As the most prestigious race in the National Hunt calendar, this Grade 1 event is open to horses aged five years and older. Run on the New Course over three miles, two and a half furlongs, there will be twenty-two fences standing between the runners and possible glory. Last year was billed as ‘Kauto Star v Denman’, with Kauto Star starting the race odds-on to retain his crown. The crowds were, however,...

The Triumph Hurdle is a race run for four-year-old novices run over a total distance of two miles and one furlong. The race is run on the final day of the Festival and opens the Gold Cup day of The Festival. With this race being for four-year-olds only, it has often pointed to inexperience to being a problem in the past. Although in recent years with more horses coming off the flat to contest this race it has been less of an issue. 2007 victor, Katchit, was the first winner of this race since Kribensis in 1988 to go on to win the Champion...

The second race on the opening day, and my personal festival favourite, is the Arkle. Won last year by Sizing Europe, it’s open to five year old and above novice chasers, run over two miles, on the Cheltenham Old Course, with a total of twelve fences to clear. 10 Year Trends: 10/10 – returned at odds of 9/1 or below 10/10 – had raced no more than five times over fences 9/10 – never finished outside the first two over fences 9/10 – were rated 142 or higher over hurdles 8/10 – came first or second on their last run //...

The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race run on the second day. Won last year by Cue Card, it’s open to horses aged between four and six years of age, run over the Cheltenham Old course and covers an extended two mile trip. 10 Year Trends: 10/10 – won a bumper with at least thirteen runners 9/10 – had won their last race 9/10 – were aged five or six Also worthy of note: Fourteen of the eighteen winners of this race were trained in Ireland. Only one French bred horse has ever been placed. // Knight Pass...

With the race still pretty much in its infancy with just six years in the history books, it has thrown up horses we’ve have proved to be equally good over larger obstacles as hurdles. The ill-fated Pride of Dulcote, Gone To Lunch, Over The Creek and similarly ill-fated Wichita Lineman have all done well over fences since running in this race, and one other more notable would be Weapons Amnesty who returned to Cheltenham the following year to add the RSA Chase to his curriculum vitae. Despite being a person who doesn’t take...

The Grade 1 Champion Hurdle is the highlight of the opening day and the climax of the NH hurdling season. Known for epic finishes, and won last year by Binocular, it’s open to five year old and above horses, run over an extended two miles, on the Cheltenham Old Course, with a total of eight hurdles to be jumped. // Binocular – N Henderson 7yo bay gelding Enrique (UK) - Bleu Ciel Et Blanc (FR) (Pistolet Bleu (IRE)) Followed a second in the Supreme, with a close third in this race two years ago. A poor season by his standards...

The World Hurdle is regarded as the feature race of Day 3 of the Festival. Some good horses have won this race down the years, including the ill-fated Inglis Drever who won the race on three separate occasions. Paul Nicholls’ Big Bucks aims to repeat the feat of Inglis Drever before him by winning three World Hurdles. I’m not really one for stats and usually stick to punting on the flat due to me being a time merchant, however a few key stats to adhere to in this event are: No five-year-old has ever won the World Hurdle. An...

Where better to start than at the very beginning with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Grade 1 event is the curtain raiser to the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. Won last year by Menorah, it’s open to four year old and above novices’, run over an extended two miles, on the Cheltenham Old Course, with a total of eight hurdles to be jumped. 10 Year Trends: 10/10 – won at least 50% of past hurdle starts 10/10 – had run within the last 45 days 8/10 – had won their last race 8/10 – were aged five or six 7/10 – were trained...

The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle is a Grade 2 event run over two and a half miles, and has been run now for three years. Over the last two years the race has been won by Quevega and trainer Willie Mullins will be sending his superstar racemare to try and complete a historic treble in the race, named after the legendary David Nicholson (God rest his soul) who rode 5 winners and trained 17 more in a fantastic career. Nicholson trained some of the fantastic festival favourites which include Barton Bank, Charter Party and the formidable...