THE countdown to the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is almost over and 1.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) will see the first race set off to a tremendous cheer from an anticipated 50,000 crowd.

While the confrontation between Totesport Gold Cup champion Kauto Star and previous winner Denman will dominate conversation, there will be many other top class clashes and superb equine examples battling to come up that finishing hill in first place.

Picking winners at the Festival is far from an easy task and, despite a number of fancied short-priced favourites turning out, there will undoubtedly be some longer priced surprises.

In the big races, I fancy Go Native for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle but if you want a longer price, try Khyber King, who loves the course.

Master Minded should take the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase; current champion Big Bucks should come home in front in the Ladbroke's World Hurdle, and, if forced to pick between Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup, I will side with the former, although Denman's odds are attractive.

If you fancy a better price in Friday's big race, try a bit on Tricky Trickster, another Paul Nicholls inmate not without a chance.

For the crazy punter, a small each way on Arctic Magic in the 4.40 on the first day may prove profitable (cuurently 50-1).

Ruby Walsh is likely to take the top jockey title but he is odds-on, so try Barry Geraghty at 5-4 in the book without Ruby.

Top trainer could be Nicky Henderson at 4-1 or Alan King (12-1).

Among the others I fancy over the four days are Garde Champetre (Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase); Restless Harry (Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle); Lake Legend (Coral Cup); Planet of Sound (Ryanair Chase), and Sentry Duty for a place in the Ladbroke's World Hurdle. Character Building could oblige in the William Hill Handicap Chase.

Whatever happens, let's hope all the horses and riders come back safe and sound.

Keith Whitford.

Congratulations must go to Polly Gundry who, at Wadebridge, Cornwall, over the weekend became the lady rider with the highest ever number of winners on the point-to-point circuit — at 288, beating the now retired Alison Dare's record of 287.