Jonjo O’Neill, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ben Pauling and Fergal O’Brien to name but a handful, all live a stone’s throw from each other near Stow-on-the -Wold.

As Festival fever begins to build in the run up to meeting, locals together with punters from the Emerald Isle, begin to gather. Binoculars seem to fill the hills with those looking for a glimpse of their favourite bankers of Festival week in work, before the meeting opens on Tuesday 12th March, and the crowd roars.

On the first day, The Champion Hurdle is now slightly more open with Constitution Hill no longer running. State Man seems to have had an ideal preparation for the meeting and should put in a strong performance.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase could provide Nicky Henderson with a solid win if Jonbon maintains a rhythm and jumps comfortably.

Local Cotswold trainer, Ben Pauling, has a number of horses with a chance at the meeting and Handstands is looking an attractive each way bet in the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle.

The Gold Cup has a hot favourite this year, in last seasons’ winner from the Mullins yard,  Galopin Des Champs, when he beat Bravemansgame by seven lengths.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country race always attracts a huge following with its unique course over varied obstacles and a test of stamina at 3 miles 6 furlongs. The Irish love it and have been hugely successful over the years. This year’s list of runners looks no exception as they field some eleven runners between them. Enda Bolger has a good record in this race and runs two outsiders in Stealthy Tom, and Easyland for JP McManus. Gordon Elliott has the brave Delta Work, Conflated  and Galvin sitting high up in the betting. Dan Skelton and Martin Keighley are boldly flying the flag for the English with Latenightpass Back on the Lash respectively. Both have respectable each way chances.

The  JCB Triumph Hurdle is the opening race of the final day of The Festival, and whilst many will go  with the safer option of Sir Gino, another Henderson horse, Burdett Road, trained by James Owen, may well challenge some of the many Mullins runners for a place, if not the top spot.

Have a great week, and remember the bank always wins!