It is under two weeks now to the greatest race in the world, the John Smith's Grand National Steeplechase worth £925,000.00 run over 4 miles 4 furlongs at Aintree. Mon Mome (pictured) is the likely top weight and will carry 11 stone 12 lbs, 12 lbs more than he carried when winning last year by 12 lengths. The other placed horses last year, Comply or Die the 2008 winner, My Will and State of Play are all due to run again. Big Fella Thanks was sixth last year and will be ridden this year by Ruby Walsh for the owners of Denman. Ruby Walsh had the choice of Big Fella Thanks, Tricky Trickster or Snowy Morning. Snowy Morning was third in 2008 and ninth last year. He has been trained specifically for the race this year by Willie Mullins and will be on my short list. Tony McCoy will be riding Cant Buy Time for his boss J.P.McManus who will probably have four runners. Niche Market won the Irish Grand National last year and has shown good form this year. He was eliminated from the Grand National field last year as was Maljimar who could be another interesting runner this year and like Niche Market will also get in the final forty. There is another declaration stage next week. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The picture shows Kauto Star leading Denman around the parade ring at Sandown on "Whitbread" Day back in April last year and I would imagine that is the order they will finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup tomorrow. Both are super Chasers and I hope we witness another great race between them. At 4/1 Denman represents an each way bet just in case there is any chink in Kauto Star's armoury. The Imperial Commander camp fancy their horse who, if he stays the 3 miles 2 furlongs, looks likely to fill third place. Lets hope all the horses and jockeys return safe and well. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The centre piece of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle worth £260,000 run over 3 miles. Big Bucks will be a warm order to repeat his win of last year. His price will be prohibitive for the small punter but that means there should be some value about the other runners. Tidal Bay and Time for Rupert showed they stayed the trip when finishing first and second in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day at the end of January. Karabak owned by J.P.McManus and to be ridden by Tony McCoy is another with a chance but the forgotten horse in the race is Cousin Vinny (pictured stumbling when cantering all over Pandorama at Leopardstown last season). He has not taken to chasing this season and did not set the world alight over hurdles last season as expected. He showed himself to be the outstanding bumper performer in 2007/8 season. Provided he stays the 3 miles he could be the each way value. The race before the World Hurdle is the Ryanair Chase worth £220,000 run over 2 miles 5 furlongs. Nicky Henderson runs three in this namely Barbers Shop, Petit Robin and Jack the Giant. Poquelin from the Paul Nicholls yard has been antepost favourite for this for some time. Next in the betting is Tranquil Sea from the Edward O'Grady yard in Ireland. Tranquil Sea won the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham back in November. A year previous Barbers Shop ran second to Imperial Commander in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase giving him weight and has since run in the top chasers without getting his head in front. This could be his and Nicky Henderson's opportunity to give The Queen a Cheltenham winner. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The centre piece on Wednesday is the Queen Mother Champion Chase run over 2 miles. Master Minded will be a warm favourite for this and connections will be looking to win this race for the third year in a row. Trainer Ferdie Murphy is pleased with the condition of his Kalahari King and is confident he will finish in the first three. Big Zeb (pictured) so nearly beat Master Minded at Punchestown last April. He and Twist Magic both fell in this race last year. Well Chief has not really sparkled this season and perhaps the years are catching up with him. I am prepared to give Big Zeb another chance and he could be the each way value. The Royal and Sun Alliance Chase is run over 3 miles before the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It is a race for first season novice Chasers and looks particular competitive this year. Trainer Nicky Henderson has a strong hand with three runners, the likely favourite Long Run, Punchestowns and Burton Port. Diamond Harry and Weapons Amnesty also come into the reckoning but I am a big fan of Punchestowns and I hope to see him power up the Cheltenham hill the same as Cooldine did last year. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well the wait is nearly over and the Cheltenham Festival will get underway on Tuesday 16th with the centre piece being the Champion Hurdle. This years race looks a very open affair. There is nothing of the calibre of a Night Nurse who is the best Hurdler that I have ever seen. Night Nurse (pictured on right leading Monksfield and Dramatist at the last in 1977) won the race in 1976 and 1977. This years race has Go Native attemping to win a £1 million bonus if he can add to his Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle wins. Nicky Henderson has a strong hand with his three runners. Punjabi won the race last year in a driving finish from Celestrial Halo and the 6/4 favourite Binocular who also runs again for Nicky Henderson. His third string is Zaynar who if you ignore his last run must have a great each way chance. Zaynar won last years Triumph Hurdle over course and distance and will be ridden on Tuesday by Andrew Tinkler. The meeting starts with the Supreme Novices Hurdle, won last year by Go Native from unlucky in running Medermit. As mentioned in an earlier blog this race should go to Dunguib but he is not a betting proposition for the small punter. The 2 mile Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase was won last year by Forpadydeplasterer from Kalahari King. This year there is a lot of confidence behind Captain Cee Bee who will surely go off favourite. There is not much between him and Sizing Europe who might be the each way value. The runners and riders for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase are very sketchy at the moment. I am hoping Niche Market runs and puts in a good performance in preparation for the Grand National on April 10th. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".