A Grade 1 chase over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles, the Ryanair is one of the feature races of the festival with total prize-money of £375,000. Top-class chasers compete for the prestigious prize and winners such as Cue Card and Frodon have gone on to win the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL is the greatest racing meet of the year – and the ultimate punting puzzle to solve! Some 28 races, hundreds of horses and, potentially, a lot of cash to take off those

Betfair provides its best seven Cheltenham Festival horse racing tips from some of the best in the industry including Daryl Carter, Kevin Blake and many more

Cheltenham is gruelling, and undulating and unlike any other track, so the old maxim 'horses for courses' remains valid. Taking it a step further, horses who have performed well at previous festivals often have an edge as they are familiar with the intense atmosphere as well as the demands of the track.

The first day of the Cheltenham Festival is very nearly upon us, drawing back the curtain on four days of the very best jump racing has to offer.