Your DAY-BY-DAY guide to the FESTIVAL

DAY ONE: TUESDAY

It’s all to play for in the Champion Hurdle, with Alan King’s Yanworth and Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air heading the betting. Henderson also runs Brain Power and My Tent or Yours as he seeks a record sixth win in the race. It could be Henderson’s day — he saddles short-price favourite Altior in the Arkle Trophy, while it is Melon for starters for Willie Mullins as the gelding heads his challenge in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

DAY TWO: WEDNESDAY

Douvan has won all 13 races since joining Mullins and the trainer rates the seven-year-old as the best horse he has trained. Regarded as the meeting’s biggest certainty in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ruby Walsh’s mount is aiming for his third Festival success. Harry Fry’s Neon Wolf will have his reputation as Britain’s best novice hurdler tested in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

DAY THREE: THURSDAY

Unowha time an harry bids for his ninth consecutive win when he lines up in the Stayers’ Hurdle for Fry, while backers of the brilliant Yorkshill in the JLT Novices’ Chase will be watching anxiously, with the Mullins-trained gelding having a question mark against his jumping. Tobefair, owned by a bunch of pub regulars, will be the meeting’s feel-good story if he wins the Pertemps Hurdle Final for the tiny stable of Debra Hamer.

DAY FOUR: FRIDAY

Many hearts will side with Cue Card in the Gold Cup, as Colin Tizzard’s 11-yearold bids to make amends for last year’s fall. This race is so open that Champagne West, Djakadam and Sizing John are among many favoured by the tipsters. Katie Walsh has a chance on Wonderful Charm in the Foxhunters and Augusta Kate goes in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for her syndicate, which includes Ant and Dec, Alan Shearer and Lee Westwood.