Horse Racing: Regarded as the biggest event in the National Hunt racing calendar, and the highlight of any punter’s calendar, the Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday.

Even at a time when the nation is engulfed by an ongoing credit crunch, most people up and down the land will find a few spare pound coins on Friday to place bets on the week’s main event, The Gold Cup.

However the festival boasts a series of top quality races featuring the highest pedigree horses the UK and Ireland have to offer including Wednesday’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, sponsored by Calne-based businessman Barry Hurley.

“This event is my Christmas come early every year,” he said.

“Cheltenham is the one week of the year when it’s time to relax, go and watch some racing with friends and have fun. It’s party time.”

Hurley owns a selection of horses but will have just one on display at the Gloucestershire course this week in the shape of 25/1 shot Mobaashar, who runs in Thursday’s World Hurdle.

Come Friday, all eyes will be on the battle between reigning Gold Cup champion Denman, co-owned by Bradford on Avon’s Harry Findlay.

The extrovert professional gambler advises against backing the nine-year-old to repeat his triumph but will just be glad to see him competing after heart problems had threatened to rule him out of the meeting.

Findlay was set to pull him out of the race until an impressive outing in training convinced him otherwise.

“He is a real character but he looked very happy and barring any accident, he will be a runner in the Gold Cup,” said the owner.

“I’m not sure there is any value in his price even now.

“But it’s always good when a champion gets the chance to retain his crown and that now looks like being the case.”

Meanwhile, Barbury Castle trainer Alan King’s best chance of glory at Cheltenham is Voy Por Ustedes, the current 13/8 favourite for Thursday’s Ryanair Chase but the trainer is also predicting success for Walkon in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle.