The feelings are as strong now as they were when I first set foot in the place. They haven’t changed nor will they ever change. Cheltenham is jump racing’s magical playground and its capacity to leave you spellbound means it is a place like no other.
I have no problem admitting that I will be impatient for the next couple of days. I know horses have already started arriving at the course, our extensive production meetings are done and dusted — we’ve got some fabulous content for you to enjoy on ITV — and I just wish it was Tuesday morning.
But my wishes don’t stop there. I have five for the week ahead and it would be fabulous to see them fulfilled.
Sit back and enjoy it all. The Festival will be brilliant. The Festival, you should know by now, is always brilliant.
1. Big Festivals on terrestrial television need the love to be shared around. Willie Mullins will have brilliant winners and, at some point, we’ll celebrate the stunning achievement of him being the first trainer to reach a century of Cheltenham Festival winners.
Former champion Paisley Park could raise the roof in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
Willie Mullins is seeking to be first trainer to reach a century of Cheltenham Festival winners
But I also hope smaller operators, lesser-known owners and syndicates have their day in the sun.
Aspiration is so important in sport and nothing sells racing better than seeing a small investment that can get you to the biggest stage, as was the case last summer on the Flat with bargain buys such as Live In The Dream and Regional. That dream has to be attainable over jumps.
STAGE STAR will be one of the best hopes in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, with thousands of Owners Group members cheering him on up and down the land. He won The Turners’ Chase on the same card 12 months ago, don’t bet against him following up.
2. With Constitution Hill out, the Festival has lost its biggest star. Also absent are Marine Nationale, Allaho and Energumene. Household names have fallen by the wayside, so I’d love the grand 12-year-old and former champion PAISLEY PARK to run a screamer in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
Emma Lavelle, his trainer, has described the three near misses this season he’s had at Newbury, Ascot and Cheltenham as amazing and agony in equal measure. The roof will be raised if he’s in the mix turning for home on Thursday.
3. Henry de Bromhead will have a good Cheltenham. Henry de Bromhead always has a good Cheltenham. He avoids winter slugfests with Mullins and Gordon Elliott and is a master at targeting this meeting.
Keep an eye on all his runners, especially QUILIXIOS in the Arkle, who I understand to be thriving. ENVOI ALLEN needs maximum respect in his defence of the Ryanair Chase, too.
4. The rumour mill has been in full swing this week. There are 28 races but I must have been given 56 certainties, such is the fever! But if the gossip is correct, Ballyburn and Fact To File’s rivals may as well stay at home.
I’m having the courage in my convictions, though, and I’m still hopeful for the horse I tipped a few weeks ago, SHANAGH BOB, in the Albert Bartlett on Friday. My nap is JADE DE GRUGY in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle on Thursday. She runs in the same colours as Honeysuckle.
5. Race of the week? Easy. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as it should be. This is what a Grade One should look like, with all the big players lining up and nobody ducking it. It will be a strong field and a cracking betting race. Readers should study the card hard on Friday.
Star chaser Galopin Des Champs is seeking to win back-to-back Gold Cups at the Festival
Galopin Des Champs, the reigning champ, has looked brilliant recently and will be hard to beat but there are dangers galore. Fastorslow, Shishkin, Gerri Colombe, L’Homme Presse, Hewick, Gentlemansgame and Bravemansgame will all have committed supporters.
Tactics will be fascinating as Paul Townend will want to be much more prominent than 12 months ago on Galopin des Champs and I’m convinced they will go hard from the off. Might there be gamesmanship and a false start to test Shishkin, racing’s Carlos Tevez?
The bet for me remains CORACH RAMBLER, each-way, at 20-1. He has Cheltenham form, stays well and loves weaving through a big field. What a finale to the meeting. This is the best renewal of the great race for years, appropriately in its centenary. Let the games begin.
Ed Chamberlin is an ambassador for Sky Bet
