This week sees the arrival of the ringing with it a week of top quality jump racing that culminates with the highlight of the British and Irish Jump Season, ‘The Gold Cup’.

The Gold Cup has a fantastic history and has seen some truly fantastic Horses, Jockeys and Trainers over the years. The race was first run in 1924 and since then seen many legends past the winning line. One such is Golden Miller who, in 1932 won the cup on its first attempt and went on to win a further 4 times on consecutive years. 

However it is the recent history that you will want to know if you are someone who enjoys a bet on this prestigious event. Of particular interest is the news that Kauto Star will be running after he was all but ruled out after a nasty fall during training in February.

Long Run is curently the favourite  over Kauto Star but not by much. Burton Port is also up there at 7/1 with Weird Al looking worth a punt at 10/1 after an impressive win in the Charlie Hall Chase last October.

The middle of March sees the 2012 Cheltenham Festival take place and the eyes of the racing community will be turning to one of the nations greatest sporting extravaganza.

The world’s greatest jump horses will be coming to Cheltenham in search of a place in the record books and the heroes from last year’s festival will be waiting in defense of their crowns after exhilarating victories last year.

Tuesday is Champion Day and the anticipation is palpable until the tape rises on that first race and the tension is popped with a mighty cheer that lets us know the wait is over and the Festival is under way.

Wednesday is Ladies Day giving you an opportunity to have some fun with the Ladies Day fashion awards.

The power of the Cheltenham Festival is apparent as they move a national saints day forward, dubbing the 15th as St. Patrick’s Thursday.

Friday brings us the climax to the festival and the jump season, the Betfred Gold Cup which brings to a close arguably one of the best race days of the year.

This race is another recent addition to the Cheltenham Festival and made its debut in 2005. Many pundits and commentators were doubtful about the addition of a four year handicap hurdle at this meeting and some feel that it has taken something away from the main juvenile event – the Triumph Hurdle.

Putting that argument to one side for the moment it does or rather has given Cheltenham the chance to pay tribute to one of its favourite sons in Fred Winter who was not only one of the greatest jockeys of his era but went on to make an indelible mark on the training ranks also, winning most of the major races including two Grand Nationals and the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdles.

With a race as new as this it is always going to take a while to pin down the type of horse that is needed to win it but already it has become apparent unlike some of the other handicaps at the Festival that the winner is not tucked away down the bottom of the handicap. Five of the six winners – last year’s winner Sanctuaire included – have come from the top third of the weights. It would appear that the class acts in this handicap are capable of giving away the weight in this race and the Cheltenham racing betting will no doubt reflect this.

Once again it often pays to follow particular trainers in certain races at the Festival and it would appear that the David Pipe stable has developed a real penchant for this race – they won it in 2007 with Gaspara and since then have suffered three near misses with two seconds and a third in the race – last year’s second Grand Crus has looked a useful tool this year and with Festival experience he should be kept in mind for this year’s events at the Festival – he currently holds an entry in the World Hurdle having improved since his defeat last year and any Cheltenham 2011 bets placed on him could reap dividends.

What is noticeable about this race though is that the last five winners came here off the back of a win and clearly winning form will stand you in good stead in a race which commemorates a real winner – Fred Winter.

The mighty Denman, a horse with a huge fan club who has endeared himself to the racing public for a number of seasons, is back in full training and beginning his build-up to what is likely to be his last attempt to win the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup for a second time, writes Elliot Slater.

The 11-year-old gelding, winner of the 2008 renewal when beating the awesome Kauto Star by seven lengths, finished second to his stable companion 12 months later and occupied the same position last year when putting in another sterling effort, but found the new kid on the block, Imperial Commander, too good for him.

Despite advancing years, Denman continues to produce top-class performances, and the winner of 14 of his 22 career starts and over £1 million in career prize money is still a serious force to be reckoned with and will not be going to Prestbury Park on March 18 just to make up the numbers or for old time’s sake and this is reflected in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting.

Despite the crushing burden of 11-12 Denman ran a terrific race on his seasonal reappearance when attempting to land the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury for the third time, but in the end found the concession of 26lbs to the smart Diamond Harry just too much, eventually finishing an honourable third. That run proved that Denman is still very close to his best ever form and Nicholls has decided not to attempt to have his horse ready to run in a prep race before Cheltenham, but this time to concentrate on having him 100% fit to run for his life on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham 2011 extravaganza.

A best-priced 8/1 third favourite behind Imperial Commander (4/1f) and Kauto star (5/1), Denman will remain a popular choice with his adoring legion of fans.