THE Cheltenham Festival returns today and there are 15 Dorset-trained horses to watch out for.
West Dorset handler Harry Fry, who is based north-east of Beaminster in Higher Crockermoor, has Metier as the county's best hope for victory.
Milborne Port trainer Colin Tizzard is aiming high with 2018 winner Native River targeting a repeat success in the showpiece event - the Cheltenham Gold Cup - on Friday.
Tizzard has a two-pronged attack in the Gold Cup, with Lostintranslation also entered.
Finally, Anthony Honeyball's sole chance comes with Sully D'Oc AA on Thursday.
The ground is currently rated as soft, good to soft in place after 10mm of rain fell on Sunday evening.
You can watch the action unfold on ITV, with the first race setting off at 1.20pm.
The 15 Dorset-trained horses at Cheltenham
METIER
Trainer: Harry Fry; Jockey: Sean Bowen; Odds: 11/2; Race: Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Tuesday 1.20pm
METIER looks the class of the Dorset runners across the whole Festival, having won all three of his contests this season.
He goes off in the first race at 1.20pm but will face stiff competition from favourite Appreciate It.
Willie Mullins' favourite is unlikely be the fastest Supreme winner on record but already has fine Festival form – albeit as a beaten favourite when second in last year’s Champion Bumper.
ELDORADO ALLEN
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: Harry Cobden; Odds: 50/1; Race: Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase - Tuesday 1.55pm
IMMEDIATELY after Metier comes Colin Tizzard's first mount - Eldorado Allen.
Despite being a past winner at Cheltenham and recently at Newton Abbot, the seven-year-old is only a 50/1 shot.
Just six horses are the in the race, but odds-on favourite Shiskin, plus Allmankind, have both beaten Tizzard's horse this season.
WHITEHOTCHILLIFILI
Trainer: Harry Fry; Jockey: Sean Bowen; Odds: 100/1; Race: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - Tuesday 3.40pm
UP AGAINST a quality field, Fry's Whitehotchillifili is the rank outsider for this race.
Won at Sandown this January but failed to live up to the billing at Warwick late on. Odds of 100/1 seem very harsh.
OFALLTHEGINJOINTS
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: Robbie Power; Odds: 40/1; Race: National Hunt Novices' Chase - Tuesday 4.50pm
ONE for the future, Ofalltheginjoints looks set for a good career in Chases.
Did lose at Doncaster this season after claiming victory at Exeter. Odds of 40/1 again seem generous.
THE BIG BREAKAWAY
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: Harry Cobden; Odds: 11/2; Race: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Wednesday 1.55pm
THE Big Breakaway won over course and distance in December but has tailed off slightly since then.
Still possesses bags of potential and could form a tactical allegiance with Tizzard's other entry in the race - Fiddlerontheroof.
Priced at 11/2 after finishing runner-up in the Kauto Star at Kempton.
FIDDLERONTHEROOF
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: Robbie Power; Odds: 25/1; Race: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Wednesday 1.55pm
IMPRESSIVE winner of the Tolworth last season and scored at Exeter in November.
Also has two second-placed finishes since then but will need to defy expectations to take glory here, most likely acting as a foil for stablemate The Big Breakaway.
UNOWHATIMEANHARRY
Trainer: Harry Fry; Jockey: Kevin Brogan; Odds: 33/1; Race: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - Thursday 1.55pm
WARRIOR. The only true word to describe Unowhatimeanharry.
The 13-year-old is the eldest horse in the race and is Fry's most renowned star with 14 career victories.
If the ground stays soft, don't write him off for a stunning swansong.
COPPERHEAD
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 40/1; Race: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle - Thursday 1.55pm
DORSET'S other contender in the Pertemps is Copperhead, saddled by Tizzard.
Soft ground could also play into Copperhead's hands, although a price of 40/1 reflects a form guide featuring no wins since February 2020.
Fell on last appearance at Cheltenham in March last season.
IF THE CAP FITS
Trainer: Harry Fry; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 25/1; Race: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - Thursday 3.05pm
FAVOURING ground of good to soft, If The Cap Fits could be in range to strike a shock and overcome odds of 25/1.
Only raced three times this season but never lower than third, including two runner-up spots.
Claimed fifth in last appearance at Cheltenham in January 2020, but looks much improved since and is Fry's final entry at the Festival.
RESERVE TANK
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 50/1; Race: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - Thursday 3.05pm
RESERVE Tank has slightly misleading odds of 50/1 in the same race as If The Cap Fits.
Tizzard's charge has victories at some of jump racing's most iconic tracks, including Punchestown, Aintree, Sandown and Kempton.
Will thrive on good to soft ground but was pulled up on his last visit to Cheltenham in March 2020.
SULLY D'OC AA
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 25/1; Race: Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase - Thursday 3.40pm
ANTHONY Honeyball's only shot at Cheltenham carries a 25/1 price tag in the Paddy Power Plate.
Only career victory to date came this season at Ascot, living up to recent improvements.
Was also placed at Newbury in November and with fresh legs for this contest could be an each-way chance.
SIZING AT MIDNIGHT
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 33/1; Race: Kim Muir Handicap Chase - Thursday 4.50pm
GROUND may not be to Sizing At Midnight's liking, with Tizzard's mount preferring good going.
Could play in his hands if the weather remains dry later in the week.
Two wins and a second early in the season have since been followed up with a fall at Wincanton before being pulled up at the Somerset course in February.
OSCAR ELITE
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 40/1; Race: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Friday 2.30pm
FOUR career outings have yielded two victories for Oscar Elite, but both of those came at Grade Four meetings.
Did place third in most recent Grade One race on February and will need to step up a level to challenge at Cheltenham.
NATIVE RIVER
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: Richard Johnson; Odds: 14/1; Race: WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - Friday 3.05pm
DORSET'S big hope in the Festival's blue riband event is Native River.
Winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2018, he is one of only two previous champions alongside race favourite Al Boum Photo.
A tremendous stayer with an insatiable appetite to run up the famed Cheltenham hill, Native River will be in the thick of the action with soft ground.
Has 14 career victories in a remarkable honours list, including at Sandown on his last outing in February.
Watch out for this old gladiator, with masterful jockey Richard Johnson on board.
LOSTINTRANSLATION
Trainer: Colin Tizzard; Jockey: TBC; Odds: 33/1; Race: WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - Friday 3.05pm
PRICED at 33/1, Lostintranslation's odds reflect a disappointing season to date.
All the promise has waned after being pulled up in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, following up with an average fifth at Newbury in February.
Will need a return to form last seen in 2019 - complete with four wins - to trouble the major contenders in the showpiece race at Cheltenham.
*All odds correct at time of writing
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