James Toney

2 months ago | gloucestershirelive.co.uk | James Toney

A short walk from Cheltenham's winners' enclosure is Golden Miller Road, just around the corner from Arkle Close and Cottage Rake Avenue. You can even toast your successes, or drown your sorrows, in the Best Mate Inn. If Galopin Des Champs joins those immortals as a three-time winner of the Gold Cup, the Festival's most storied race, they’ll need to start redrawing the map, as well as redrafting history.

2 months ago | gloucestershirelive.co.uk | James Toney

In a week best remembered for its thrills, spills and shocks, Galopin Des Champs is set to deliver on his favourite status and cement his place in racing legend at the Cheltenham Festival. Only three horses have won three consecutive Gold Cups (4.00pm) — the legendary Best Mate, Arkle, and Cottage Rake. The biggest question is not whether Galopin Des Champs will propel Paul Townend to more success on Friday, but whether he will return in 12 months for a tilt at a fourth.

2 months ago | gloucestershirelive.co.uk | James Toney

Sir Alex Ferguson might not have much to cheer about at Old Trafford, but he could be back in the winners' enclosure at the Cheltenham Festival. Caldwell Potter became the most expensive National Hunt horse in history when it sold for over £600,000 earlier this year to a syndicate that includes the former Manchester United manager, who enjoyed two wins on this day last year. The horse failed to deliver when odds-on to win at the Berkshire Winter Millions at Windsor.

2 months ago | gloucestershirelive.co.uk | James Toney

In recent years, the corner of this Gloucestershire field has become forever Ireland, especially the verdant patch of grass in the winners' enclosure. In the last 17 renewals of the Turners Novices' Hurdle there have been just three British winners and six different Irish trainers have shared the rest.

2 months ago | gloucestershirelive.co.uk | James Toney

In the perennial battle between head and heart at the Cheltenham Festival, it pays not to be too emotionally connected. However, there’s sound logic in choosing Marine Nationale over Jonbon in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00pm), where festival form is always important. Marine Nationale was a winner of the Supreme Novices' two years ago under a brilliant ride from the late Michael O'Sullivan, who is remembered throughout this week after his tragic death following a fall earlier this year.