Festival posers Five things we may learn at Cheltenham this week

1 Will the resurgence of northern-trained horses continue at the Festival?

In a 10-year spell from 1979 four northern trainers won six Gold Cups. Since Graham Wylie took his horses to Ireland, the north has lacked a powerful owner, but the horses are back. Sam Spinner has a big chance in the Stayers’ Hurdle, as does Definitly Red in the Gold Cup.

2 Can any trainer other than Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott get a look in?

Last year those trainers won 15 of 27 races; Elliott and Mullins six apiece, Henderson three – a tally which would have won the top trainer award most years until 2000. If you add in Jessica Harrington’s three that left only nine for the rest. One likes to see the love being shared.

3 This year will youth trump experience?

Joseph O’brien, 24, and Amy Murphy, 25, both have good chances of becoming the youngest trainer to triumph at a Festival, while teenage jockeys James Bowen, who only turns 17 today, Harry Cobden and Jack Kennedy – only Ruby Walsh is shorter in the betting to be top jockey – all have chances to star at some stage this week.

4 Will there be more Irish winners than British, as there were in 2017?

Last year, though honours were pretty even elsewhere, Irish horses won an unprecedented (for them) seven of the 10 handicaps. That appears to be a blip – it has not happened before – so though it will be close again, the 2-1 about Britain regaining the Betbright Cup looks good value.

5 How much will be bet?

Bookmakers’ estimates range from £210 million to £300 million turnover this week. Regardless of the bookie hype, what is indisputable is that this is the biggest week of the year in betting. In the top 40 biggest betting races of the year, 20 are at the Festival. Because of the Gold Cup’s lure, all seven races on Friday are top-20 races.