IF

there’s one question I get asked more than any other it’s: “What’s your banker for the Cheltenham Festival”.

The question I ask more than any other is, “Can you lend me a tenner until pay day”?

When people enquire, “When’s pay day”? I reply: “I dunno, you’re the one with a job”.

Last year my Festival banker Let’s Dance duly obliged in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

I was imparted that tasty morsel of information by someone bearing the surname Mullins — and I wasn’t let down.

It might be a bit too early to start bandying names around in terms of bankers for next month but I have heard good reports about one particular horse from multiple sources.

That nag is LE RICHEBOURG, who is scheduled to run in the Arkle on the opening day.

Joseph O’brien’s six-year-old has won four of his last five races, including his second Grade 1 success of the campaign two weeks ago.

Widely available at 7-2, he looks a knocking bet to get us off to a winning start.