As the excitement ahead of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival reaches fever pitch, Jordan McCarthy assesses the big contenders for glory.

It is that time of year again. The time when thousands of Irish punters make the annual pilgrimage across the Irish Sea to a racecourse situated on the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire. The greatest festival in the calendar year, the most talked about venue in sport, the Olympics of horse racing, the phenomenon that is-Cheltenham.

The Champion Hurdle has been talked about since the autumn, and if the race lives up to the hype then it will be the race of the season. Hurricane Fly, the 19 times Grade 1 winner, takes on the best of last season’s novices. The New One, My Tent Or Yours, Jezki and Our Conor are the young pretenders but Hurricane Fly will have to be at his absolute best to fend them off.  Something he has not quite shown at Cheltenham despite landing two hurdling crowns.  It would be quite a story should the Montjeu gelding land a third Champion Hurdle. Jezki however, could be the one to stop him from doing so. Whatever the outcome, it should be a very entertaining contest.

The defection of Sprinter Sacre has obviously robbed the festival of the best horse in training. The Champion Chase does have a more competitive look to it, however. Sire De Grugy is the one that punters seem to be warming to in absence of last year’s winner, and the Moore’s will feel that they can land the two-mile Championship event. Captain Conan and Al Ferof (should he run) will need to be feared though. The former could compensate for the Henderson team, the latter loves Cheltenham.  Whoever is going to step-up and claim the title, they will all have to beat the veteran Sizing Europe. ‘The Sizer’ has been a great servant to connections. He has won an Arkle, a Champion Chase and placed in two further Champion Chases. What a star!

Thursday is World Hurdle day and the mighty Big Bucks is back to reclaim his title. There is less confidence in the horse from the public this season than there has been in years gone by but can we really write him off? Annie Power, getting 7lbs, will be the main danger and she looks a superstar in the making. Throw in At Fishers Cross and Zarkandar and you have got some race in prospect.

The Gold Cup is the Blue Riband event in racing. 2013 Champion Bob’s Worth looks like he could retain his crown, although connections of King George winner Silviniaco Conti will fancy their chances as well. The Giant Bolster could run into a place again at a big price. Last Instalment looks the best of the Irish challengers. It doesn’t look the strongest of renewals but Bob’s Worth can outstay them all.

As for the rest of the week, the queen Quevega bids for a sixth consecutive victory in the Mares Hurdle, Golantilla has a rare second attempt in the Champion Bumper and Willie Mullins has a squad of superstars to go to war with.