#Ballymore Hurdle

Gordon Elliott smashed the bookies with a massive priced four timer - Party Central (9/4), Mighty Potter (20/1), Felix Desjy (11/1) and Absolute Notions (25/1) all going in on the opening day for the Cullentra trainer. Energumene was one of the few Cheltenham Festival winners to stand up the form when he fended off Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion…

CHELTENHAM GOT off to a flyer yesterday on the opening day and day two promises to produce more of the same. Today punters and racing fans will get to see Sir Gerhard in the The Ballymore Novices Hurdle and Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Chase along with many other horses. Paul Nicholls has trained 3000 winners, won the 2012 Grand National, four…

he Cheltenham Festival has arrived and while, as ever, there looks to be some wide open contests, there are also plenty of short-priced fancies across the four days at Prestbury Park. Last year's meeting set a record for the most odds-on favourites in Cheltenham history - seven - and while it doesn't look as if we'll get quite that many this…

SIR ALEX FERGUSON always spoke about the importance of team-mates and teamwork when he was Manchester United manager. That conviction has served him well in another sport - and netted him an absolute fortune in the process. Fergie, 80, spearheads several groups of multi-millionaire pals who plunder the biggest horse races around. And this season…

SHISHKIN has everything in his favour to make it a third successive victory at the Cheltenham Festival by capturing today's Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The winner of the Supreme Hurdle two years ago and last year's Arkle Chase at the Festival, SHISHKIN (3.00, nap, ITV) has yet to be beaten in his seven outings over fences.This talented…

17:00 Fairyhouse, Monday Live on ITV4 Good efforts in valuable staying handicaps the last twice, 15½ lengths fourth of 12 to Diol Ker in Leinster National at Naas (24.6f, heavy) 36 days ago. Big effort needed to defy top weight. Eight wins from 19 NH runs. Little impact in competitive handicap company this season, well held in Topham at Aintree 10…

ONE of the best things about jump racing is the way champions come back year after year to defend their titles. Next month sees three superstars who have tasted Festival glory return with every chance of finishing in the frame. And combining their odds adds up to a tasty bet. A £1 each-way treble would pay £18.72 if they all place and a whopping…