The 2009 contest went the way of Philip Hobbs’ high class Menorah who subsequently went on to land the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham so Tetlami is treading in some fairly serious hoofprints in taking this season’s event, justifying 11/8 favouritism and having his odds for victory in the big race at the Cheltenham Festival cut to 20/1 having been readily available at 33/1 prior to beating Vulcanite by three-and-a-half-lengths.

The winner of two bumpers in the 2009/10 season (including a listed contest at Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day fixture that term), the Susan Roy-owned son of Daylami then suffered a setback and missed the whole of last season before making his hurdling bow at Sandown in early December where he put up a very pleasing performance in defeating Black Thunder by five-lengths, clearly having fully recovered from both breathing problems and a pelvic injury that had kept him on the sidelines for more than 18 months.

Henderson had always hoped that the six-year-old gelding would make up into a decent horse and throughout the Kempton race he was always travelling strongly under Barry Geraghty, leading at halfway then staying on too powerfully for Vulcanite, a 101-rated Flat performer, who nonetheless ran a cracker on his hurdling bow to be second ahead of some useful opposition. Henderson insists that Tetlami must have decent ground to be seen at his best so he won’t be asked to slog through the mud in mid-winter, but should the ground remain ‘good’ then he could be asked to tackle the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in late-January.

The professional gamblers looking at cheltenham best bets and tips will have a large portfolio of carefully selected bets but many armchair punters will have only backed a handful of their favourite horses and they are the worst effected when horses are withdrawn before racing.

One horse that will probably have appealed to both sets of punters would have been Solwhit and his withdrawal from the Ladbrokes World Hurdle will almost certainly have an impact.

The popular Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old was as short as 12/1 for the race and had gained some followers with three runner-up finishes behind the well-liked Hurricane Fly.

These solid performances supported the form line from a good sixth place in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year and encouraged some strong early support from the more adventurous backers.

Unfortunately, Byrnes reported that the horse was not working well at home and the decision has been made not to run at the annual renewal.

In addition, connections have decided not to target a run in the Aintree Hurdle and instead the horse will be schooled over fences with a view to a new career over fences from the Autumn.

The withdrawal will be a blow for some but most ante-post backers will take the rough with the smooth and the huge odds on offer in these markets can eclipse these occasional disappointments.

In the opening race, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, he looks to hold a particularly strong hand. Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre have both won two novice hurdles this season and they have not come off the bridle in doing so.

The latter of the pair was beaten on his first start over obstacles at Ascot, however that run came over 2-miles 3-furlongs, and he might also have needed the outing. Since returning to 2-miles though the Carloine Mould owned gelding has looked right out of the top drawer and he could prove the stables number contender for the festival opener and anyone looking to bet on Cheltenham 2011 .

Spirit Son was the trainer’s novice hurdler who came into the season with the big reputation and nothing he has done on the racecourse has damaged that opinion. He has won twice at Huntingdon and Exeter and his second win at the Devon track saw him destroy a field of promising sorts. The one concern about Spirit Son is that he could be betrayed by his lack of experience at the festival, by winning on the bridle in both those outings he hasn’t been in a battle and it isn’t likely he’ll win at the Festival on the steel.

Henderson hit the bar in the Supreme last year, his Oscar Whisky loomed up looking like the winner two furlongs from home, but like Spirit Son he hadn’t been off the bridle in his previous wins and his lack of experience put pay to his chance.

It is a concern that lightning could strike twice, but it is unlikely that Henderson would swap his team for any other contenders in the race.

Meanwhile, there are currently four horses contesting favouritism in the Grand National betting and the race, which takes place on April 9th, looks set to be very close indeed.

All of the final declarations have now been made so there should be very few changes to the line-ups below and the odds are no longer ante-post so what you see is what you get! The odds are from Paddy Power Bookmakers who have a fantastic ‘Bet £10 Get £20 Free’ offer on so you don’t just double your money, you treble it!

And watch out for their money back specials e.g. Paddy Power Bookmakers will refund all losing Win Singles if Dunguib wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The first race which is the Supreme Novices Hurdle will be a cracker of an opening with Dunguib currently the ante-post favourite. Past winners include Go Native in 2009 and Captain Cee Bee in 2008.

There are six races scheduled for today which are as follows:

1.30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f

• Dunguib 4/5
• Get Me Out Of Here 9/2
• Blackstairmountain 10/1
• Menorah 10/1
• Oscar Whiskey 10/1
• Dan Breen 20/1
• Flat Out 20/1
• General Miller 25/1
• Vino Griego 66/1
• Spring Jim 100/1
• Cootehill 100/1
• Far Away So Close 100/1
• Fiulin 100/1
• Dream Esteem 100/1
• Chain of Command 150/1
• Hollins 200/1
• Mister Wall Street 200/1
• Takestan 200/1

2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 2m

• Captain Cee Bee 5/2
• Somersby 7/2
• Sizing Europe 5/1
• Sports Line 7/1
• Riverside Theatre 8/1
• Osana 14/1
• Kangaroo Court 20/1
• Mad Max 25/1
• Woolcombe Folly 25/1
• Fosters Cross 40/1
• Quiscover Fontaine 40/1
• Im Delilah 100/1

2.40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f

• Bensalem 11/2
• The Package 11/2
• Theatrical Moment 10/1
• Character Building 12/1
• Ogee 12/1
• Exmoor Ranger 14/1
• The Tother One 14/1
• Niche Market 16/1
• Casey Jones 16/1
• Razor Royale 16/1
• Beat the Boys 16/1
• Nenuphar Collonges 20/1
• Kicks For Free 20/1
• New Alco 25/1
• Chief Dan George 25/1
• Tatenen 25/1
• Joe Lively 25/1
• Comply or Die 33/1
• Officier De Reserve 33/1
• Offshore Account 33/1
• Stan 50/1
• Bible Lord 50/1
• Knowhere 50/1
• Ollie Magern 66/1

3.20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 1/2f

• Go Native 7/2
• Solwhit 11/2
• Punjabi 7/1
• Binocular 7/1
• Khyber Kim 8/1
• Medermit 9/1
• Celestial Halo 9/1
• Zaynar 9/1
• Starluck 12/1
• Won In The Dark 50/1
• Jumbo Rio 80/1
• Raise Your Heart 200/1

4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 7f

• Garde Champetre 9/4
• L’Ami 10/3
• Sizing Australia 9/2
• Monkerhostin 12/1
• Another Jewel 16/1
• Drombeag 18/1
• Silver Birch 20/1
• Freneys Well 25/1
• Lacdoudal 25/1
• Double Dizzy 25/1
• Heads Onthe Ground 33/1
• A New Story 33/1
• Preists Leap 40/1
• Cornish Sett 40/1
• Tawnies 50/1
• Oceanos Des Obeaux 66/1

4.40 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m 4f

• Quevega 7/4
• Volver La Vedette 7/4
• No One Tells Me 10/1
• Sway 12/1
• Zarinava 20/1
• Carole’s Legacy 22/1
• Easter Legend 22/1
• Stravinsky Dance 25/1
• Pepite de Soleil 25/1
• Argento Luna 33/1
• Amber Brook 33/1
• Aura About You 33/1
• Arctic Magic 50/1
• Alasi 100/1
• Here Comes Sally 100/1
• Just Beware 250/1
• Princess Rainbow 250/1

Last year saw him win the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase in Leopardstown in February which preceded his impressive RSA Chase victory at Cheltenham the following month. In winning the RSA he was no less impressive than Denman had been in the same race two years previously, so it looks like things are looking promising for Cooldine and his team in this year’s Cheltenham Festival!

There was big disappointment for Cooldine’s return race at the end of December 2009, the Lexus Chase, where Ruby Walsh chose to ride him over What A Friend, showing the faith that there is in his abilities. Unfortunately for all concerned, he was pulled up, but there was a big change in the bay gelding for the Hennessy Gold Cup which has reignited not just his trainer Willie Mullin’s hope in him, but also the punters and the bookmakers, who have given him odds as low as 10/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it has been speculated that his form is likely to be even better than it was in February by the time of the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March.

Cooldine is currently third favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday 19th March with ante-post odds of 12/1 with Paddy Power Bookmakers.

Whether he will be a realistic threat to the Nicholl’s stable clan is yet to be seen, but he is definitely considered a worthy opponent.

Cheltenham Racecourse is located near Cheltenham Spa in Gloucestershire, England, in the suburban village of Prestbury. Cheltenham is regarded as the ‘Home of National Hunt racing’ predominantly because of the four day Cheltenham Festival held in March each year, which featuring the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. The racecourse itself is located in a natural amphitheatre just below the Cotswold Hills, at Cleeve Hill and can hold 67,500 spectators.

The racecourse has three separate courses – the Old Course and the New Course. The New Course has a downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases than the Old Course. Hurdle races over two miles on the New Course also have a slight peculiarity in that most of the hurdles are jumped early on in the race with only two hurdles being jumped in the last seven furlongs. The third course is a cross-country course which is laid out inside the main racecourse.

There are three enclosures at Cheltenham, the first being the Sun’s Best Mate Enclosure which is directly opposite the main stands. Being so close to the main stands give a great view of the racing, and there are a great choice of foods and betting facilities and bars, while ‘cover’ bands provide musical entertainment.

The Tattersalls Enclosure is extended for the Festival to include the Guinness village to provide extra viewing steps as well as additional bars, bands and other forms of entertainment. The Tattersalls gives access to all the bookmakers in the betting ring, as well as to The Centaur, Paddock and unsaddling enclosure and the Hall of Fame, the Gold Cup and Festival restaurants and the trade stands in the Tented Village. A Club Day badge for The Festival entitles you to use all the facilities within the Tattersalls enclosure.

The Centaur, one of the largest auditoria in South-West England holds over one thousand additional seats as well as a big screen to watch all the racing, along with a full range of betting options, food and bars, it also hosts live music after racing at The Festival.

Ladies Day is a great day at The Festival and this year is being held on the Thursday of the meeting (March 18th). The Fashion Awards are held throughout the morning during the build up to the first race at 13:30. There will be three winning race-going ladies who will enjoy a package of prizes which include twelve months use of a brand new Alfa Romeo Mito, an overnight stay at The Greenway Hotel in the Cotswolds, twenty-four hour use of an Aston Martin DB9, a tweed coat from the Tweed Collection from Cousins of Cheltenham, and a magnum of rose champagne. The prizes are allocated for three categories: The Best Dressed Lady, The Lady with the Best Hat and The Lady with the Best Accessories. The prizes are presented in the Winners Enclosure before the first race and the charity being supported by Ladies Day 2010 is Cancer Research UK. To enter head to the Fashion Area near the Octagon, between the main Grandstand and the Parade Ring and look for the pink parasol!

Have fun at your first Cheltenham Festival, we guarantee it won’t be your last!

He is last year’s Ryanair Chase winner, with good odds with Paddy Power Bookmakers, William Hill and Ladbrokes to win the gold cup and completed two miles on the Kempton turf course under jockey Paddy Brennan, in a spin alongside an unnamed younger horse ridden by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies’s assistant Carl Llewellyn.

According to Racing Post, Brennan said:”He just really enjoyed himself. He was very keen and fresh, which we were hoping for. I couldn’t be any more happy with him. We just did two miles in a swinging canter. We didn’t really build it up much from that. It was case of getting him out of the yard. He is having a nice blow and he’s had a lovely time.”

Twiston-Davies said: “He was just having a canter, that’s all. It’s his last piece of racecourse work before Cheltenham and it will put him just right.”

Can Imperial Commander cause a real upset in the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Anything is possible on the day and despite the star power of Denman and Kauto Star they’re not invincible so maybe Paddy Brennan, who is really on form at the moment, and Nigel Twiston-Davies will be celebrating before Paul Nicholls!

There’s no doubt that there was a brave winner in Joncol, who mastered Cooldine in the dying strides, but the three mile Grade 1 race was run at a dawdle and told us little we didn’t already know about the main combatants. My first impression was to write the form off as being of little significance, and they do say in racing that you should never change your mind once you’ve made a decision.

The slow pace meant that Joncol’s suspect stamina wasn’t tested, but what we do know is that he is fit and well. However, I feel the horse is unlikely to be good enough to land the Ryanair Chase. The race was a better effort from Cooldine, but there is no way that this form comes anywhere close to that of the market principals in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. If he takes his chance in the race I think Cooldine is one to lay for a place as the likes of Imperial Commander, What A Friend, Money Trix and the dark horse Taranis are more likely to fill third spot than the Irish challenger.

I would also discount the below par effort of Nicky Richards’ Money Trix, a genuine three miler who was completely at sea at the farcical pace. Perhaps jockey Davy Russell should have taken the bull by the horns and gone out there to make the running under his own terms, but a bad blunder at the second last left him unable to join in the sprint finish.

If it comes up very soft or heavy at Cheltenham, then a bit of 66/1 each-way Money Trix could prove a shrewd investment.

Denman, triumphant in eight starts, has been nicknamed ‘The Tank’ – once you see his big structure it’s easy to see how the pet name came about. Denman cam home first in both the Hennessy and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the 2007-08 season. This achievement made him the only horse since ‘Arkle’ to win two Hennessy’s, Arkle famously won three successive Cheltenham Gold Cups. The 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup was a career best for Denman, due the extra weight he carried, and his self-assured jumping and steady pace won him the race by three and a half lengths from What a Friend.

With Denman going for his next Gold Cup this March at Cheltenham it is easy to see why there is so much speculation about which horse will be the victor in 2010, the only horse likely to put up a resistance to the Tank (Denman) is last years winner Kauto Star! Who has also been compared to the remarkable Arkle, and the upcoming Cheltenham Gold Cup is speculated to be like the celebrated 1964 race, when Arkle and Mill House provided a truly epic battle. What makes things even spicier than the 1964 race where Mill House and Arkle represented different countries, is the fact that Kauto Star and Denman are in fact stable mates!. BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith, has in recently lowered Kauto Star two pounds, since his last race, giving him a new mark of 193. Even after the drop Kauto is still the highest rated horse Smith has marked.

Denman is usually paired with jockey Sam Thomas, yet is was the excellent jockey Ruby Walsh who rode him to victory in the Hennessy Gold Chase, yet it looks like that Ruby will pair off with Kauto Star for the 2010 steeplechase, having triumphed there last four races. What makes the race more electrifying is the fact that Denman is likely to be ridden by Ruby’s principal competitor Tony McCoy , who the pundits agree will be a good match for the race, with a stamina-sapping 237 yard uphill finish race. Will McCoy and Denman have enough in the Tank to get past Kauto Star and Ruby? Only time will tell, The one thing we know for sure is Paul Nicholls will be happy whoever wins!

If you fancy a bet on one of these great horses then try Paddy Power Bookmakers.