The great roar that greets the tapes going up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the show opener is the start of four days of drama with 27 highly competitive races to savour.
Hopes in the Supreme for the home brigade very much rest on Cue Card, brilliant, if unexpected, winner of the Champion Bumper 12 months ago.
Two from three since going over obstacles, he remains the apple of Colin Tizzard's eye and few would begrudge him a follow-up success.
Indeed, among those will be fans of Champion Hurdle hope Menorah, conqueror of Cue Card at Cheltenham when they were last seen in December.
This is a vintage Champion, in spite of reigning champion Binocular's unexpected absence. Peddlers Cross is still unbeaten, whilst the Irish will have a major say, too, courtesy of Hurricane Fly and Dunguib, the latter having carried the hopes of a nation in the Supreme last year only to finish third - behind Menorah.
On Wednesday we have the Queen Mother Champion Chase and will discover if Master Minded can regain his winning touch.
The Paul Nicholls-trained superstar is twice a winner of this coveted prize, but lost his crown last year as Big Zeb came out best for Colm Murphy.
Master Minded has looked a different horse again this season, showing the benefit of a wind operation.
The second afternoon sees another of the week's 'bankers' as Time For Rupert - who could have been in the Gold Cup had he not missed a big trial in January - is rightly set to be all the rage in the RSA Chase.
A few weeks ago a third straight World Hurdle on Thursday appeared a formality for Big Buck's, but the emergence of Grands Crus and dark horses Fiveforthree and Mourad makes it an entirely different proposition.
And so to Friday and the jewel in the crown, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Will it be the old guard of Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander again? Or will the young guns (minus the injured Diamond Harry) hold sway?
Form students will point to Denman's tremendous weight-carrying effort in the Hennessy Gold Cup as evidence his powers have not unduly diminished, but Kauto Star was put in his place by Long Run at Kempton and we have not seen Imperial Commander since the Betfair Chase in November.
So with Long Run on the up, and Irish aces Kempes and Pandorama lurking, not to mention emerging course specialist Midnight Chase, it is all to play for on March 18.
A full schedule of this weeks' races are detailed below, along with some free Cheltenham Festival bets offers from the leading online bookmakers.
We are now heading down to Cheltenham and wish you all the best of luck, however many bets you place!
THE FESTIVAL 2011
CENTENARY DAY - Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (Old Course)
Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs
1.30 Stan James Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 110y £100,000 C4/RUK 24
2.05 The Irish Independent Arkle Chase (Grade One) 2m £130,000 C4/RUK 20
2.40 Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase (Grade Three) 3m 110y £75,000 C4/RUK 24
3.20 Stan James Champion Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 110y £370,000 C4/RUK 28
4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Handicap) 3m 7f £40,000 C4/RUK 16
4.40 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle (Grade Two) 2m 4f £70,000 RUK 24
5.15 Centenary Novices Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 110y £50,000 RUK 20
Total prize-money £835,000
Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
LADIES DAY - Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (Old Course)
Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs
1.30 141st Year Of The National Hunt Chase (Amateurs) 4m £75,000 C4/RUK 20
2.05 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 5f £100,000 C4/RUK 24
2.40 RSA Chase (Grade One) 3m 110y £130,000 C4/RUK 20
3.20 sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One) 2m £320,000 C4/RUK 24
4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade Three) 2m 5f £70,000 C4/RUK 28
4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 110y £60,000 RUK 24
5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade One) 2m 110y £55,000 RUK 24
Total prize-money £810,000
Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
ST PATRICK'S DAY - Thursday, March 17, 2011 (New Course)
Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs
1.30 Jewson Novices’ Chase (Grade Two) 2m 4f £90,000 C4/RUK 20
2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed) 3m £70,000 C4/RUK 24
2.40 Ryanair Chase (Grade One) 2m 5f £260,000 C4/RUK 24
3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £260,000 C4/RUK 24
4.00 Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade Three) 2m 5f £75,000 C4/RUK 24
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateurs) 3m 1f 110y £50,000 RUK 24
5.15 St Patrick's Day Derby (Charity Race) 1m 5f - RUK
Total prize-money £805,000
Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
GOLD CUP DAY - Friday, March 18, 2011 (New Course)
Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 1f £100,000 C4/RUK 24
2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 1f £70,000 C4/RUK 28
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £100,000 C4/RUK 20
3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade One) 3m 2f 110y £500,000 C4/RUK 24
4.00 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (Amateurs) 3m 2f 110y £35,000 C4/RUK 24
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110y £45,000 RUK 24
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Handicap) (Grade Three) 2m 110y £75,000 RUK 24
Total prize-money £925,000
TOTAL 2011 FESTIVAL PRIZE MONEY £3,375,000 (Average of £125,000 per race)
For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.
Prestbury Park will play host to over 500 horses and 200,000 race fans this week
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