Bookmakers are bracing themselves for a triple knockout blow from punters today as the four-day Cheltenham Festival gets under way.

The seven races include three odds-on favourites in Sprinter Sacre, Hurricane Fly and Quevega and success for the trio will reap misery for bookmakers at the biggest betting meeting of the entire year.

It is difficult to see the layers escaping unscathed.

Sprinter Sacre, who is three from three over fences, has looked absolutely awesome at Doncaster, Kempton and Newbury.

Although some may argue that Nicky Henderson’s strong- travelling gelding failed to get up the Cheltenham hill last year when third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he subsequently underwent an operation on his wind.

Barry Geraghty, who has ridden more top-notch performers than most, has described Sprinter Sacre as “potentially the best horse I have ridden”, words that must strike further fear into the bookmaking fraternity.

Al Ferof, who beat him last year, Cue Card and Menorah are among those against him in the £130,000 Racing Post Arkle Trophy, but Sprinter Sacre is expected to put them firmly in their place and give punters a monster strike in their continuing battle with the bookies.

Come the Stan James Champion Hurdle and the bookmakers are again likely to be running scared of Hurricane Fly, trained in Ireland by the all-conquering Willie Mullins.

A ten-times Grade 1 winner, Hurricane Fly is a class act. He won this last year, beating Peddlers Cross, and is unbeaten in his two starts this season.

Ruby Walsh takes his usual place in the saddle aboard the brilliant eight-year-old, who is fancied to hold too many guns for Binocular and Rock On Ruby.

Walsh and Mullins also team up with Quevega in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, a race she has called her own in the last three years.

What will beat her this time? Nothing is probably the answer.

She is a very high-class mare, trained specifically for this race, and it is hard to visualise her being denied a four-timer.

Popular, though she is, the bookmakers will be the only ones not cheering her home.

The remainder of the card looks much more open. The opening William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has attracted a hugely competitive line-up.

Marginal preference is for Jessica Harrington’s triple-winner Steps To Freedom, a talented Flat horse who has taken well to hurdling.

Tony McCoy, who may give Steps To Freedom plenty to think about aboard Darlan, has another cracking chance in the JLT Speciality Handicap Chase aboard Quantitativeeasing, trained by Henderson. Top weight may not be a barrier to this course specialist, who promises to relish this step up to three miles.

The Glenfarclas Handicap Chase, a cross-country race, is a specialised event, and it often pays to have horses with experience of the course on your side.

Sizing Australia won this race 12 months ago and, judged by his promising third-placed effort over a trip well short of his best on his latest start, he looks as though he’s being brought to the boil for a repeat. He looks sure to go close.

The Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap Chase completes the first day line-up, and while Hunt Ball, a revelation this season, deserves every consideration despite top weight, my vote goes to the likeable Mic’s Delight, a progressive performer who won at Market Rasen recently and who will have the considerable assistance of Denis O’Regan.

racing selections

Cheltenham (today)
1.30 Steps To Freedom, 2.05 Sprinter Sacre (NAP), 2.40 Quantitativeeasing, 3.20 Hurricane Fly, 4.00 Sizing Australia, 4.40 Quevega, 5.15 Mic’s Delight.

Today’s other meetings: Sedgefield and Southwell.

Southwell (tomorrow)
1.55 Reve Du Jour, 2.30 Imprimis Tagula, 3.05 Copperwood, 3.45 One More Roman, 4.25 Priceless Art, 5.05 Hamis Al Bin, 5.40 Bookiesindex Boy.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Cheltenham, Huntingdon and Kempton.