Festival features

Colin the Tipster

Colin the Tipster with my update for March - much-awaited month of the National Hunt Festival in Cheltenham.

To begin, I'm going to take a brief look at six Gloucestershire-trained horses worth following at the festival. Then, the same again but with six horses NOT trained in Gloucestershire.

Finally, an overview of how the Gloucestershire Trainers' Championship table looks at this point in the season. So, to begin...

Six horses trained in Gloucestershire to follow at the festival...

Day One

Angelo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Nigel Twiston-Davies is the top trainer at Cheltenham this season and he could get off to a flyer with Pigeon Island who has ran awesome 17 times this season and is getting better the more he runs.

He is 14/1 at the moment so get on him now. He's got to beat Deep Purple (trained by Evan Williams) who is priced at 16/1 and I think it's between the two of them. Yes, I do know that Evan isn't a Gloucestershire trainer, but I just like the horse.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Zanir from Tom George's yard. I like this horse a lot and I know tom does. He's not run a bad race this season and at 25/1 looks like a great bet to me.

Look for Lemon Silk from Kahlil Burke's yard, he likes Cheltenham but I'm not sure if he's quite good enough, but what do I know? I do know it's a hot race though.

Day Two & Three

Not got anything from Gloucestershire on day two but day three is hopefully going to be a good day.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle: Now I know Inglis Drever is a wonderful horse but who can back Howard Johnson's horses at the moment? Not me, so it's got to be Jonjo O'Neill's Wichita Lineman at 10/1 who looks like a good bet to me. The key to this horse is jockey A.P. McCoy - Wichita will fight all the way up the Cheltenham hill for him.

Jonjo O'Neill and A.P. could complete a quick double in the Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase, Don't Push It at 6/1 has a touch of class, handicap steal and all that. He looks like a banker to me, so come on A.P make my day!

Day Four

JCB Triumph Hurdle: I know Franchoek is the favourite and looks hard to beat and he should win it, but watch out for Songe from Charlie Longsdon's yard.

Charlie's having his first Festival runner and at 50/1 he looks like a good each way bet to me. If you have not seen him run, he's got a great turn of speed - it's awesome.

Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup: We all know this is supposed to be a two horse race between Kauto Star and Denman and it could be, but I would love it if when the field jump the last, we saw Jonjo O'Neill's Exotic Dancer and Nigel Twiston-Davies' Knowhere fighting it out all the way up the Cheltenham hill.

Well that's what I would like to see. Exotic Dancer's priced at 12/1 and Knowhere at 50/1, so got to be worth an each way bet.

P.S. Watch out for Jonjo O'Neill's horses in the amateur races - he does like winning them.

Six horses NOT trained in Gloucestershire to follow at the festival...

Day One

Irish Independent Arkle Chase: for me Noland is one of the bankers of the whole meeting, if you can get 3/1, get on it. He's trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh and this could be a great start for lots of punters.

Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle: I do like Katchit, he goes so well at Cheltenham but for me it's got to be Osana who is trained by David Pipe.

He won the boylesports.com International Hurdle at the December meeting, so he likes Cheltenham. Now he's been laid out for this, so get on him now!

Day Two

Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase: Anyone who reads my weekly updates knows I like Twist Magic, but Ruby Walsh is now riding Master Minded.

They are both trained by Paul Nicholls and so when Ruby chooses to ride one above the other that's a tip on its own.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper: It's Gold Award for me, trained by Nicky Henderson, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald and owned by the Her Majesty the Queen. He's 12/1 at the moment and I think that's a steal, lets hope it's a good day for all.

Day Three

Ryanair Chase: Mossbank at 4/1 has done nothing wrong this season, his trainer Michael Hourigan could have a star on his hands.

He was only four lengths behind when he raced against Denman, so that's not bad. This could be one of the Irish bankers of the meeting.

Day Four

David Nicholson Mares' Only Hurdle: It's Chomba Womba for me, she has won all her races this season and Nicky Henderson will have her spot on.

I hope this is a great race because David was a great man, oh yes he was. I will have my red socks on will you?

P.S. If this lot win, please don't tell Mrs Tipster!

Gloucestershire Trainers' Championship table

From 19 October 2007 to 02 March 08:

Nigel Twiston-Davies and Charlie Longsdon have been awesome so far, so who's going to win? Well I don't know, but it's going to be close so good luck to all at the festival.