Betting on Leading Trainer at Cheltenham

As you would expect, Paul Nicholls and Martin Pipe are vying for favouritism in the betting market to be the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival - and the rest are all offered at double-figure prices! Nicholls, who was crowned leading trainer at the penultimate Festival when three winners on the last day saw him leapfrog his rivals, is a top-priced 11/8 to regain the mantle, which went to Nicky Henderson last season. Martin Pipe has, by his own extremely high standards, suffered something of an indifferent campaign thus far. But with such a strong team, it would be folly to write him off. He is 2/1 with Paddy Power. Nicholls does look to have a stronger hand in terms of likely winners than Pipe, while the latter handler will no doubt have more ammunition in terms of numbers of runners. However, looking at the entries of both trainers, I find it extremely easy to pick holes in many of their leading fancies. Indeed, there is far, far better value to be had by splitting stakes and having small punts on Nickey Henderson winning the prize again, at 10/1 with VC Bet, and Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who holds a strong hand and is available at the same price with Stan James. Henderson has excellent chances with the likes of Fondmort in the Ryanair Chase - a race he was narrowly beaten in last year. Liberthine, winner of the Mildmay Of Flete last season, should go well in the Kim Muir, while the Seven Barrow's handler also has strong claims with the likes of The Market Man, whether he runs in the Coral Cup or the Pertemps Hurdle, Copsale Lad in the Racing Post Plate and Grand Jete in the County Hurdle. Mullins, meanwhile, has excellent chances with the well backed Quatre Heures (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) and Missed That (Arkle Chase) on the first day, while Our Ben (Sun Alliance Chase), Ballytrim (Champion Bumper), Mister Hight (Triumph Hurdle) are all worthy favourites for their respective races. In addition, in one of the most open recent renewals, it would be unwise to overlook the claims of last year's Grand National hero Hedgehunter in the Gold Cup.