It wouldn’t be the Cheltenham Festival without a couple of surefire, iron-clad bankers.

Every year there are a handful of horses punters just love to pile into – and every year, at least two or three have the bookies sprinting for cover.

We’ve picked out five who could make or break racegoers’ hearts, as the greatest show on turf draws ever nearer.

Tiger Roll

Aintree’s best friend needs no introduction.

Tiger Roll has won the last two Grand Nationals, the last two Cross-Country Chases at the Festival, and is aiming for an extraordinary fifth Cheltenham victory on the bounce.

The manner in which he strolled over the cheese wedges and scattered hedgerows last year suggests he will be mighty hard to beat in Wednesday’s Cross-Country – a race he’ll bid to land for a record third time.

Already odds-on, punters have piled in to the stamina-laden superstar following his excellent fourth over hurdles last month.

And although there’s sure to be a big field, he appears to have only once horse to beat – French raider Easysland.

David Cottin’s exuberant jumper showed plenty of zest at the track before Christmas, but faces his acid test now against one of the most versatile racehorses of all time.

Tiger Roll has been there and done it, and at ten years old he shows no signs of slowing down. Expect him to bring the house down once again.

Paisley Park

Emma Lavelle’s tough-as-teak staying machine gave us one of the stories of last year’s Festival when he ground out victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Owned by Andrew Gemmell – who’s been blind since birth – he came with a withering late run to down Sam Spinner in the final throes of the Thursday feature.

Despite his disability, Gemmell’s enthusiasm for the sport knows no bounds and it was particularly special to his pride and joy soar to victory in one of the most prestigious contests of the season.

Paisley Park returns to the Cheltenham Festival to attempt to win the contest for a second time on the trot – and punters think he’s bombproof.

His warm up races for this certainly proved he retains all of his ability, and if anything, this year’s race is weaker than last.

However, his success could depend on the destination of star mare Benie Des Dieux.

Willie Mullins’ multiple winner is apparently more likely to head to the Close Brothers’ Hurdle on the Tuesday – though would be a massive threat to Paisley Park if rerouting to the Stayers’.

Hopefully, though, that won’t happen and the way will be clear for the country’s best staying hurdler to stamp his class on Prestbury Park once again.

Envoi Allen

Irish voices will be singing until the early hours if Envoi Allen does the business in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott usually has a powerful battalion at his fingertips and his exciting hurdler could well be top of the tree.

Winner of last year’s Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, he’s since taken to the smaller obstacles like a duck to water with three victories, including success at the highest level last time out.

This intermediate distance is perfect for him and he has both the speed and stamina needed to make him a huge player.

He’s unbeaten in seven career starts and will have the services of Davy Russell, whose genius in the saddle is well-documented, and whose Festival record is second to none.

There’s always a big hope sent over from the Emerald Isle and this horse, like Samcro in this race a few years ago, could decide whether the Irish have a week to remember or a week to forget.

Al Boum Photo

Another horse returning to defend his crown is Al Boum Photo, an electric winner of last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup is the ultimate test of a racehorse – you need to jump, travel and have that extra burst of speed to see you up the lung-bursting final hill. Al Boum Photo has all those qualities, and more.

He proved he’s lost none his spark with a fine warm-up victory for this at Tramore, a race he won before Cheltenham glory last year, and everything points to a huge run.

Although not as short in the market has some of the other bankers in this list, he’s the class act of the race, and, as always, previous Cheltenham form is so vital.

It would be no surprise to see his yellow and black silks fly up the Cheltenham hill in the Friday feature once again.

Thyme Hill

There are few better trainers than Philip Hobbs, and he’s done a wonderful job with Thyme Hill.

His top class hurdler has been a revelation this campaign, winning at Cheltenham before striking at Grade 1 level in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

There are few stamina doubts as far as he’s concerned which is just what you need in the stamina-sapping Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Three miles in soft ground will really test these novices but he’s as game as a pebble and will be staying on when many others have cried enough.

Betfred are Non Runner No Bet on ALL races at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival*

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