ALL THAT GLITTERS

CHELTENHAM fever strikes again for elite racing fans

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Invigorated and energised, there’s one thing on our bucket

It is that time of year again, as the Cheltenham Festival is set to take centre stage on the racing calendar. For the Cheltenham festival we have teamed up with LiveScore Bet, who are offering plenty of specials for the big day. You can enjoy up to €10 in free bets, with a €2 free bet on offer every day. LiveScore Bet are also offering an added €2 free bet on the Gold Cup (T&Cs apply. 18+ Bet responsibly, gamblingcare.ie). With that offer to whet the appetite for the week ahead, we also have some picks that may well come up trumps.

Matt Browne/Sportsfile

This could be one of the races of the week with four-year-old Batman Girac on course to make a splash. The Willie Mullins-trained horse has been gathering momentum in the betting stakes, recently shortening to 6-1 having been as long as 20-1. The 33-1 shot's fourth-place finish in the South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown is a also sign of what is to come. This is his first season under the stewardship of Mullins and if he continues on this upward trajectory, few will be able to stop him. However, Lark In The Mornin may go off as favourite following last month's display at Punchestown, where he came third in the Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle.

Raise a glass: guests can sit back and enjoy a weekend of luxury

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

With Constitution Hill out of the festival, the Champion Hurdle will take on a new lease of life for contenders. Nicky Henderson declared his sensational seven-year-old as a non-runner after illness, despite destroying the field in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December as 1-12 favourite. That leaves the door open for State Man to pounce — but he will not have it his own way. State Man was priced at 5-2 before Constitution Hill's withdrawal and has since seen his odds tumble to 2-5. But Irish Point and Lossiemouth — both valued at 4-1 — could be worth a punt, even if State Man has won each of his three races so far this year. Irish Point has also won two from two this season, with Lossiemouth winning by 9½ lengths at Cheltenham in January's International Hurdle, leaving Love Envoi for dust.

Champion Hurdle

Banbridge is likely to head into the Ryanair Chase as favourite, but questions remain about the merits of the Joseph O’Brien-trained horse. The eight-year-old won on his seasonal debut — albeit in a Grade 2 — at Kempton on January 13, but has not lined out at the festival in two years. Envoi Allen is set to be Banbridge’s closest challenger, having run Gerri Colombe close in November’s Champion Chase at Down Royal. Henry De Bromhead's 10-year-old won the Ryanair Chase last year at the festival and is likely to be in contention again.

Ryanair Chase

While State Man and Batman Girac are likely to impress on day one, El Fabiolo could be set to light up day two of the festival. The Willie Mullins star romped to victory at last month's Dublin Racing Festival, with an 8½-length victory over Dinoblue in the Dublin Chase. El Fabiolo has also won six from six in chases, his last defeat having been in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree almost two years ago. His conqueror that day, Jonbon, will also be in action in the Champion Chase and is likely to be his closest challenger for glory. Jonbon has won two from three this season, but the 1-4 favourite made a series of jumping errors to lose to Elixir de Nutz in last month's Clarence House Chase.

Champion Chase

Sir Gino is the one to beat in the Triumph Hurdle, with bookies offering odds on the Nicky Henderson star to win comfortably. The 10-year-old has already won at Cheltenham this season, claiming a 10- length success in the Juvenile Hurdle. He also won the Kempton Juvenile Hurdle by a whopping 14 lengths. This will likely be a step up for Sir Gino, but there is little to suggest he cannot rise to the challenge.

Triumph Hurdle

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Money Back as a Free Bet if your horse loses

In the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday, Galopin Des Champs enters as the 1-2 favourite and it is hard to see past the Willie Mullins-trained horse. Despite fluffing his lines at Punchestown in a shock defeat to Fastorslow in November, the eight-year-old blitzed the field in the Savills Chase to win by 23 lengths on its return at 6-4. And while you can make the case for either Gerry Colombe (6-1) or Fastorslow (11-4) to defeat him, both seem unlikely.

In the Irish Arkle Novices Hurdle, Marine Nationale is the horse to beat after his recent show of strength at Leopardstown over Christmas. The seven-year-old obliterated the field in the Paddy Power Beginners Chase on December 27 with an eight-and-half-length victory over Firm Footings. Found A Fifty at 4-1 and Gaelic Warrior at 6-1 are likely to be his biggest threats.

In the Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase, Grangeclare West is the early favourite at 2-1. The eight-year-old is unbeaten this season with outings at Naas and Leopardstown already. Its last victory came in South Dublin during the Neville Hotels Novice Chase – a comfortable six- length success. However, Fact to File (9-4) will give the Mullins horse a serious run for its money, as will Gaelic Warrior at 7-2 and Facile Vega, which is priced at 9-2.

El Fabiolo and Dinoblue will be keen to do battle in the Dublin Steeplechase. El Fabiolo (1-2) won this race last year by 10 lengths and has since won in Cheltenham, Punchestown and Cork ahead of its return to Leopardstown. But Dinoblue won on its most recent visit to South Dublin in the Paddy Rewards Club Chase at 9-4, so perhaps its 5-2 price here might be worth a go.

*T&Cs apply, 18+ Bet Responsibly, gamblingcare.ie

ENJOY up to €10 in free bets FOR CHELTENHAM

Get a €2 free bet every day + €2 free bet on the Gold Cup

Gearing up for the glory of the Gold Cup

It is that time of year again, as the Cheltenham Festival is set to take centre stage on the racing calendar. For the Cheltenham festival we have teamed up with LiveScore Bet, who are offering plenty of specials for the big day. You can enjoy up to €10 in free bets, with a €2 free bet on offer every day. LiveScore Bet are also offering an added €2 free bet on the Gold Cup (T&Cs apply). With that offer to whet the appetite for the week ahead, we also have some picks that may well come up trumps.

Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

*T&Cs apply, 18+ Bet Responsibly, gamblingcare.ie

ENJOY up to €10 in free bets FOR CHELTENHAM

Get a €2 free bet every day + €2 free bet on the Gold Cup