The 2018 Cheltenham Festival gets underway on March 13, with many online bookmakers currently living in fear of a number of short-priced favorites, which look set to dominate the four-day festival in Gloucestershire.

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Buveur D'Air is being described as one of the ‘bankers' of the festival and at a price of around 4/9, he is likely to be the cornerstone of many festival accumulators. Nicky Henderson's charge looks the classiest runner in this year's Champion Hurdle, where he is likely to bump into stablemate, My Tent of Yours. Having won the 2017 staging of this event, the seven-year-old is back to defend his crown and looked in imperious form when beating just two rivals in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

Footpad is another red-hot favorite and looks set to attract plenty of interest when competing in the 2018 running of the Arkle. Willie Mullins sends a typically strong contingent to Prestbury Park this year but Footpad rates as one of the Irish trainer's best chances of success in 2018. The six-year-old is currently the 5/4 favorite in the Cheltenham festival betting, but that price is likely to shorten before the off. Another of the Mullins' string is Getabird, who is four from four under rules and is going to take some beating in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, which is the opening race of the festival. Mengli Khan is also in the betting at a much bigger price and seems unlikely to turn the tables following his nine-length defeat in the Moscow Flyer Novices Hurdle at Punchestown.

Another strong Irish fancy is Apples Jade, who comes from the Gordon Elliott stable. She is the odds-on favorite in the Mares Hurdle ahead of Lets Dance and Vroum Vroum Mag.

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Altior is another runner who is likely to feature in many multiple bets. The Queen Mother Champion Chase market is dominated by the Nicky Henderson trained horse, who returned from an absence to beat Politologue in the Game Spirit Chase at the beginning of February. The outstanding two-miler remains unbeaten over fences and is currently 8/11 to continue that winning streak at Prestbury Park. The aforementioned Politologue lines up in the field once again alongside Min and Douvan, both of whom will be waiting to capitalise should there be any slip-ups from the favorite.

The Henderson yard will also send Might Bite to the Cheltenham Festival, where plenty is expected from the King George winner. It looks set to be a competitive renewal of the Timico Gold Cup but the impressive nine-year-old, who has previous winning form at this track, has been installed at the head of the market ahead of recent Newbury winner, Native River. Last year's winner Sizing John also returns to the scene of his victory and will be aiming to make it successive Gold Cup triumphs for trainer Jessica Harrington.

Apples Shakira is another favorite who has been heavily backed for success in the Triumph Hurdle. The four-year-old is another Nicky Henderson representative who remains unbeaten over the smaller obstacles and will be hoping to make it a memorable four days for the Seven Barrows stable.

The Cheltenham Festival is creeping ever closer and horse racing fans around the world are beginning to finalise their ante-post bets. The bookmakers, who enjoyed a relatively prosperous festival in 2017, will be praying that a number this year's short-priced favorites can be overturned when they take to the Gloucestershire turf on March 13.

The weights have been declared ahead of the 2018 Randox Health Grand National and Definitly Red will be required to shoulder top weight in this year's renewal. The Brian Ellison trained runner was outstanding in the Cotswold Chase at the end of January but it could be a tough ask to replicate those heroics carrying 11st 10lb throughout the energy-sapping four-mile event.

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Definitly Red comes into the race with a rating of 165 and may find things tough in the 40-strong field having been burdened with top weight. The nine-year-old was rated just 149 when tackling the course last year and despite being one of the favorites going into the iconic race, the Northern raider was forced to pull up early in the contest due to a tack problem. The Ellison charge has previously chalked up success at the Merseyside course when making all in the Many Clouds Chase, which is a Grade 2 event staged over the 3 miles 1f.

The National Hunt star looks set to tackle the Timico Gold Cup at Prestbury Park in March prior to his trip to Aintree. Brian Ellison has suggested that he stands a good chance of placing in the blue riband event and he is currently seventh-favorite in the betting. Definitly Red can be backed at around +1600 for the race which is held over 3m 2f and is generally considered to be the highlight of the four-day festival. Cheltenham is always one the standout events on the racing calendar, with thousands of spectators descending upon Prestbury Park each and every March to watch races such as the Queen Mother Champion Chase, RSA Chase and Champion Hurdle. Those who wish to find out more information about the Gold Cup and the chances of Definitly Red can find news, results, tips and analysis over at Timeform, alongside a detailed breakdown of the racing schedule across the action-packed days.

Definitly Red may have been handed a tough assignment carrying top weight, but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion isn't far behind and will haul 11st 6lb around the Aintree course. The current favorite was impressive during an all-conquering performance in the Becher Chase but is yet to succeed over the extended yardage and could find it tough during the latter stages of the race where stamina is desperately required.

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There is also likely to competition from the likes of American (11st 2lb) who finished behind Definitly Red at Cheltenham in January but will be carrying exactly the same weight for the Grand National. The Harry Fry-trained, French-bred runner finished eight lengths behind the runaway winner that day but coped admirably with the heavy ground and hasn't been penalised for that terrific performance.

Bristol de Mai has been handed 11st 9lb and is another representative of the prolific Twiston-Davies yard. He finished a distant third behind Definitly Red and the aforementioned American but goes up in the weights and may find it tough going. The triple Grade 1 hero has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with jockey Daryl Jacob and that looks set to continue at Aintree.

Many Clouds succeeded in 2015 when carrying top weight but no other horse has been victorious in the contest carrying more than 11st 9lb since Red Rum in 1974. Neptune Collonges defied 11st 6lbs in 2012 but very few horses have been successful when saddled such a large load. 14 of the last 17 winners have carried 11st or less to victory and both Definitly Red and Bristol de Mai, whilst classy performers, are up against it.

Definitly Red's dominant performance in Gloucestershire at the end of January was mightily impressive and that eye-catching display was always likely to capture the attention of the handicappers. The nine-year-old took a liking to Prestbury Park and may be a much better prospect for the Timico Gold Cup this year. At 16/1, the Ellison runner offers plenty of value in the Cheltenham Festival market and is far more likely to prevail over the shorter distance.

Very few runners defy top weight in the Grand National and although blessed with huge talent, Definitly Red could be susceptible to a low-weighted outsider on April 14th. After last year's disappointment, the Ellison yard are hoping to make amends but it looks set to be a slog and carrying 11st 10lbs isn't necessarily going to help matters.

Red Rum is a legend in the world of horse racing and is almost always the first horse named whenever someone who isn’t into racing is asked to name a racehorse. Back in 1973 the horse took its first steps into the history books by winning what is regarded as one of the greatest ever Grand National races.

The 1973 Grand National would become the first of three Grand National wins for Red Rum and was joint favourite with Crisp, who finished second. Red Rum’s second and third wins in 1974 and 1977 immortalised him as one of the greatest horses to ever race, holding the record for most Grand National wins.

In Grand National 2018 racing bets the current favourite is Blaklion, who was joint-third favourite at last year’s event, where he finished fourth. His trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies has already trained two Grand National winners and would love to see the favourite ride home to glory this year.

If it weren’t for the race in 1973, Blaklion may not even have the opportunity to race in the Grand National as it may not be taking place anymore, as the facilities had been left to be run down by owner Mrs Mirabel Topham, who was looking to sell the course. The public had become disillusioned and fewer people would attend the Grand National due to the state of the race course. There was often talk that the next Grand National was to be the final one.

But along came Red Rum in 1973 and lining up as the joint-favourite with Crisp at 9/1, no one in the crowd or at home could have anticipated the race they were about to witness. Crisp took an early lead in the race and was dominant over the jumps, managing to move further and further ahead of the rest of the field.

After each jump, Crisp (ridden by Richard Pitman), was extending his lead at the front and the joint favourite was looking more and more likely to ride to victory. Crisp, who was carrying the top weight of twelve stone had pulled away from closest challenge Grey Sombrero. This lead had been extended to around twenty lengths when Grey Sombrero fell at The Chair and by the time Crisp and Pitman reached Becher’s Brook for the second time they had what seemed like an unsurmountable lead of thirty lengths.

As Crisp passed the Elbow he held onto a solid lead, however he was starting to tire and Pitman, while reaching the whip, let go of his head allowing the following horses to gain ground. One of those behind the leader in the chasing pack was Red Rum who was breaking away from the chasing pack and starting to close the gap, a gap that no Grand National betting tips could have predicted prior to the race. Despite being so far behind Crisp for much of the race, Red Rum would stage an incredible comeback to win by three quarters of a length.

Red Rum had won his first Grand National and did so in style, while also helping to revive the popularity of the race. His race wins in 1974 and 1977 along with his two second place finishes in 1975 and 1976 helped him secure legendary status in the sport. Such was his reputation within the sport that he had a bronze statue dedicated to him and had his ashes buried at the finishing post at the Aintree course.

The Cheltenham Festival, similar to Aintree’s Grand National meeting, is often a graveyard for favourite backers, with punters choosing to put their faith in the lower prices usually operating at a loss. Big returns go hand-in-hand with the magic of it all.

There’s certainly no lack of hot picks in the antepost betting, including Buveur D’Air, Apples Jade and Samcro, currently all available at odds-on, priced like losing wasn’t an option. But where are the attractions for those looking to play small and win big? Yanworth could be the best of them.

The Alan King-trained eight-year-old gelding, a product of Norse Dancer and Yota, looks to have a couple of options ahead of him as we near the business end of our Prestbury Park preparations, the standout a choice between the RSA Chase on Wednesday and Stayers Hurdle 24 hours later. Dedicated followers of the great horse will be delighted to see him trade at double-figure odds in each.

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Yanworth started the year having run at Cheltenham racecourse five times, his stats there showing two wins and a runner-up. He finished fourth on his track debut in the Champion Bumper three years ago in a battle won by Moon Racer, who was favourite that day.

He bettered than when finding only one too good in the Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle 12 months later. Going off as jolly, he finished behind the impressive Yorkhill over 2m 5f, less than two lengths the difference. Close, but no festival prize pot there.

The experienced campaigner, currently boasting a dozen wins and three seconds from 18 goes, enjoyed the perfect start to 2018 when winning the Dipper Novices Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Decided over the 2m 4f trip, Yanworth edged Sizing Tennessee by a neck in a thrilling finish, despite encountering plenty of problems.

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Never one to do things the easy way, the JP McManus-owned talent made a couple of mistakes in running before finally getting his head down and breaking to the front when it mattered. Opening a comfortable lead, he then appeared to get bored out in front, needing pilot Barry Geraghty to keep his mind on the job. He responded, thankfully for backers, eventually winning a 15/8 joint-favourite with Willoughby Court, who finished third.

Looking through the early betting for the RSA Chase and Williamhill have Yanworth priced third-favourite at a chunky 10/1 at the time of writing. The two currently better off in that list are Presenting Percy and Monalee. The former has limited experience of this venue, running at Cheltenham only once before.

It was a winning effort, however, taking the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle last year. Henry de Bromhead’s Monalee has also dropped by only once, second in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle in 2016, beaten by Penhill.