Cheltenham Festival betting , your guide to the Festival

However Tanya Stephenson of Channel 4 Racing is certainly worth following and I was lucky enough to catch up with her at the trials where my Easy Back Method selection Taranis won at 16-1 SP.

Every day I shall post here my big price Easy Back Method selections so bookmark this page!

Cheltenham 5.15 12/1 Cheltenian, (Won SP 14-1) 12/1 Divine Rhapsody, 14/1 Lord Gale

He will be in the parade ring before each race and you can learn his up to the minute observations on Twitter at PaddockTips

Binocular has been withdrawn from the Champion Hurdle race on Teusday after testing positive to a medication that is legal to administer but prevents a horse from entering a race. The horse will remain sidelined until a negative test is recorded.

11 entries remain in the Queen Mother Champion Chase including current holder, Big Zeb and previous winner Master Minded.

Following a breathing op, Master Minded, a winner for trainer Paul Nicholls in 2008 and 2009 has enjoyed a revival this season after a lack lustre fourth in last year's renewal.

Others to consider are Woolcombe Folly, Ireland's Golden Silver and the JP McManus owned former Cheltenham Festival winner Captain Cee Bee.

Ryannair Chase 2nd favourite, Riverside Theatre has been withdrawn from the race at the Festival with a hairline pelvis fracture.

Winner of last months Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase at Kempton, Riverside Theatre will be a force to be reckoned with on his return next season.

Sizing Europe will line up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and is as short as 10-1 with sponsors Sportingbet.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "He loves forcing the pace and jumping at speed. Over two miles that's him and he loves it. He loves that pace and in last year's Arkle he had them off the bridle coming down the hill and Andrew Lynch was taking a pull on him, so I can see him doing the same."

Neptune Collonges has been withdrawn from the Grand National 2011 and will be trained for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "We've decided he's got too much weight. He is A1 now and will go for the Gold Cup."

Dare Me, who created such a favourable impression when twice an easy winner of Exeter novice hurdles following his 6th to Cue Card in last year's Champion Bumper, has been withdrawn from the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after sustaining a season ending leg injury.

His trainer, Mick Meagher said: "The horse injured a hind leg yesterday and won't be able to run again this season."

Silviniaco Conti has been withdrawn from racing in the Champion Hurdle after a lack lustre performance at Wincanton on Saturday. Connections now believe he is a 3 mile horse and will come into his own next year.

Back In Focus ran out an easy winner at Haydock on Saturday and is a fine prospect for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The former Irish point-to-pointer put his chief rival, Court In Motion firmly in his place and his odds have plummeted from 66-1 to 8-1 for the Festival.

Forpadydeplasterer will not contest any races at the Festival after returning from the William Hill King George at Kempton a sick horse. His trainer, Tom Cooper said:"The horse comes first and we will not be doing that. Hopefully we can get him back for Punchestown."

Cue Card is being aimed at the Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle although his trainer Colin Tizzard said: "...the Champion Hurdle is there if the three top horses came out for any reason - we do live in a precarious world."

Woolcombe Folly was withdrawn from the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury due to a bad scope and will probably not run again until the Queen Mother champion Chase at the Festival, his main target of the season for which Master Minded is the 2-1 favourite.

Cue Card, winner of the 2010 renewal of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, upheld his illustrious reputation with a brave display against Menorah in the Stanjames.com International Hurdle where he was runner up. His trainer Colin Tizzard said: "He's absolutely fine, no problems this morning. I was delighted, it looked a big ask for a four-year-old and he comes out of the race with great credit."

He has entries for 3 races at the Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - for which he is favourite - Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Oscar Whiskey gave an assued performance in winning at Ffos Las and now heads for the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The Contenders Hurdle at Sandown was won in workmanlike fashion by Binocular who failed to impress jockey, Tony McCoy. Trainer Nicky Henderson however was content with the run and said:""I am happy with the run as they went a crawl early on and that was against him."

After a drought of Grade 1 wins, Medermit restored lustre to his reputation with a narrow win in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown. His trainer, Alan King now considers the 2m Irish Independent Arkle Chase his best chance at the Cheltenham Festival.

Noble Prince is set to contest the inaugural running of the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as likely favourite. After chasing home Realt Dubh at Leopardstown, trainer Paul Nolan said he considered him a middle distance horse and better ground and a step up in trip would suit.

Neptunes Collonges' win in the Argento chase at Cheltenham on Saturday was as delightful as it was unexpected. Paul Nicholls 11 year old had failed to shine in 2 previous outings this season but recaptured all his old zest and enthusiasm to capture this valuable grade 2 prize and will now be considered for both the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup.

Punchestowns hopes of competing in the latter race will have taken a serious dent and immediate plans are undecided. In mitigation, his trainer Nicky Henderson said: "It looks as if he still needed it. He's still having a massive blow. He was travelling well up to the top of the hill and then he just got tired.

"We ran him today so we could run him again if we needed too, and we do. But where? I just don't know."

Local Hero who ran out a gutsy winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Grade 2) 2m1f at Cheltenham on Saturday will need need to brush up his jumping to trouble the principles come March at the Cheltenham Festival.

His trainer Steve Gollings said: "He'll definitely have an entry in the Triumph and possibly the Fred Winter as well, but we are leaning towards the Triumph. We had to get some questions answered today and in the end he has done it well. I think a stronger gallop would have seen him win convincingly.

"His jumping wasn't great. He kicked one out of the ground and then threw himself at the last. I said to Tony before he ran at Doncaster to watch him as he thinks he knows it all and Tony came back and agreed.

"There is a lot to learn with him. He needs a bit of break now and we'll freshen him up for the Cheltenham Festival. He's tough, he's brave and he stays."

See below for a full analysis of the 2010

The winner of this race can usually be found in the first four in the Cheltenham Betting. The selection was impressive when winning a Grade 2 at Leopardstown beating the favourite Alavain by 11 lengths.It is possible to pick holes in his main rivals form - Alavain may not appreciate left handed courses while Advisor and Soldatino lack experience.

Won four on the trot last season and put up a fine performance to finish 7th in the Totesport Trophy at Newbury in February on ground much softer than he likes.If the rain stays away he rates excellent each way value at 16-1

Has shown high class form with a 15 length Grade 1 win at Navan in December and 3rd and 4th have won good hurdles since.Although not a proper trends horse (not won over at least 2m5f and not had 3 runs over hurdles)he is a course winner and his trainer Paul Nolan is respected when bringing runners to Cheltenham.

Kauto Star

An imperious effort in winning his fourth King George will make him hard to beat

Found only Cappa Bleu too good in this race last year, is in fine form winning the last two outings and recorded the fastest time of the day at the Millborne St Andrews meeting where previous winner of this race Kingscliff leapt to prominence

Won a class 3 hcap hurdle at Kempton last time out with plenty to spare. Up 10lb but with trainer going great guns could be up to the task

Fulfils a number of trends - short in the betting and carrying no more than 10st 11lb - is in fine form winning last time out and ridden by a wily jockey Barry Geraghty

Well handicapped at the foot of the weights and has achieved as much as any of these, winning 3 of 4 chases this season and unseating when in contention in a class 3 at Warwick won by The Hollinwell.Rates excellent value against some shorter priced rivals

This often falls to a horse who won last time out, is older than 5 and has won a class 3 or higher.This Nicholls/Walsh combination looks a worthy favourite

A strong trend in this race is to have won or been placed in the Paddy Power Gold Cup or Boylesports Gold Cup and Poquelin finished 2nd in the former and won the latter this term.The trip and ground will suit.

Vor Por Ustedes 2nd in this last year to Imperial Commander is a live threat and worth a bet in the place market at decent odds

Will be hard to beat as he returns to defend his title and remains unbeaten in six starts since his return to hurdles

No stranger to the winners enclosure and the manner of his win in the Class 3 Attwood Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase on good ground suggests that a second win at the Cheltenham Festival is on the cards

Winner of the totesport.com Summer Plate Handicap Chase (Listed Race) at Market Rasen last summer is nicely placed in the market and the good ground will suit.

Paul Nicholls has yet to win this race but now that there is no penalty and all will carry 11st 6lb his chances of carrying off the prize are more evident.

Massasoit has progressed well this year and ran a blinder behind Monkerhostin in a class 2 3m 1f chase at Sandown in February. He wore blinkers that day and does so again in a race that has favoured horses wearing headgear.

Won well on his hurdles debut at Punchestown and followed that up with a shocker in a grade 1 novice hurdle race at Navanin December. His next run at Fairyhouse was a truer reflection of his ability as he stayed on well to win despite needing the run.Should come on a bundle for that and the longer trip will suit.

Long Run will be popular but as the trends don't favour a 5yo it may be worth siding with Weapons Amnesty.

He has previous experience of the Cheltenham Festival, winning last years' Albert Bartlett Novices hurdle and has proved himself at least as good over fences and runner up in 2 grade 1's at Leopardstown. The better ground will suit at Cheltenham and he should be spot on for this contest.

Winner of this for the past 2 years and back to his best at Newbury last time. Hard to see anything getting past him again.

Is an improving horse with a good strike rate who won a good 2m 3f handicap at Doncaster last month. His come from behind style should suit the running of this race and the way he stayed on last time suggests the longer trip will not be a problem.

A classy flat winner from France who won the last of four outings over hurdles there. Won well at Plumpton for David Pipe (second won next time) and is likely to progress further.

This is a race that Paul Nicholls has never won at the Cheltenham Festival but Al Ferof could put that right this year. He ticks all the right trends boxes including a win in a field of 15 runners. This could be the year the Irish take second place.

Won his sole hurdle start easily in February and has had a similar preparation to Ebaziyan who sprang a surprise in winning this race 2 years ago for Willie Mullins. Ruby Walsh rides.

Won the William Hill grade 2 Novice chase at Kempton in Dec by an impressive 12 lengths on his last start. Goes well fresh and as his rivals have questions to answer rates a value bet.

Ticks all the right boxes for trends followers and comes here on the back of a comfortable win in a competitive Listed Chase at Cheltenham in December. Previously quirky he is settling better now and has a good chance off a light weight.

Is a dual course and distance winner and is going for his hat trick here. Won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 in November and followed that up by beating Celestial Halo in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle Grade 2. He is clearly progressive and can gain his first Cheltenham Festival win.

Spot Thedifference was a standing dish here and from the same stable, Garde Champetre can follow in his footsteps having won this race for the past 2 years.

Started the campaign by winning the Kleenex Mares' Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in November and followed that with a fine 2nd in a grade 2 hurldle at the same course in January. An effort even more meritorious considering she lost 2 shoes during the race and arguably prefers better ground. Has a fine chance of making the frame at least.

With just a week to go before the start of the CheltenhamFestival, trainers will be keeping their charges wrapped incotton wool. The trials are run, the stage is set and now is the time to grab a little value with some ante post bets.

Supreme Novices hurdle - Dunguib best price 1.91 but his jumping could let him down.

Queen Mother Champion Chase - Master Minded best price 1.83right back to his best at Newbury latest and will be hard to beat

World Hurdle - Big Bucks best price 1.62 goes there fresh andtrainer couldn't be happier

Cheltenham Gold Cup - Kauto Star best price 1.8 in the form ofhis life at Kempton on Boxing Day and has been kept fresh forthis

I attended the Cheltenham Festival trials on Saturday 30th January 2010 with my scout, Sarah Ogilvie. We were guests of Timeform at the Mill House Bar in the main grandstand and revived memories of our last visit when we found the winners of the first 3 races.

I posted my usual Easy Back Method selections at Betting School (obtainable for just £0.83 per day) and was rewarded by the win of Taranis at 16-1 SP (a nice win to pull off at the Cheltenham Festival).

Yesterday's results prompted an email from Jon of Newhorseracingsystems.com and I quote:

"What an excellent day for Easy Back Method. Using Betfair SPs I make it +33.73 points today after deducting 5% Betfair commissions if just backing all in the Place market. Well Done! Jon"

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Don't sit on the fence or get left behind at the Cheltenham Festival....

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