Which trainers are hot - and who's not - ahead of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham looms large. In two days' time a familiar, guttural roar will ring around the Cotswolds to greet the start of the festival – welcome back, old friend.

In the meantime, punters will continue to look for angles to try to get the better of the bookies next week, with a number of races remaining difficult to unpick.

One of those will be the form of trainers, big and small, as they prepare to take their teams to Prestbury Park. Here is a look at who is hot, and who is not, as Cheltenham finally arrives.

Hot

Willie Mullins

Key stat: At close of play on Saturday, Mullins had saddled 13 winners from 29 runners in the last fortnight, an impressive strike-rate of 44 per cent.

Ireland's champion trainer is blessed with arguably the most enviable string heading into the festival, and it will be no surprise to see him add to his Cheltenham record of 78 winners.

Shishkin may stand in his way of a maiden Champion Chase victory, otherwise his team looks to be in rude health, and he could have seven live chances in the Champion Bumper alone.

Main runners: Sir Gerhard (Supreme/Ballymore), Dysart Dynamo (Supreme/Ballymore), Blue Lord (Arkle), Appreciate It (Champion Hurdle), Concertista (Mares’ Hurdle), Stattler (National Hunt Chase), Galopin Des Champs (Brown Advisory/Turners), Energumene (Champion Chase), Chacun Pour Soi (Champion Chase), Facile Vega (Champion Bumper), Allaho (Ryanair), Klassical Dream (Stayers’), Vauban (Triumph), Al Boum Photo (Gold Cup).

Paul Nicholls

Key stat: Nicholls has had nine winners from 33 runners in the month up to March 12, a strike-rate of 27 per cent, his best since November.

Bravemansgame is the great hope of Ditcheat and there are signs the stable is returning to form after a miserable start to 2022. Nicholls' strike-rate was a lowly ten per cent from January 1 to February 12, but a double on Saturday ensures he heads into the festival in top shape.

Main runners: Frodon (Ultima), Stage Star (Ballymore), Bravemansgame (Brown Advisory), Thyme White (Grand Annual), Simply The Betts (Plate), Bob And Co (Hunters’ Chase).

Gary Moore

Key stat: Moore’s total of 36 winners in 2022 is already half of his 2021 tally of 72.

Moore has enjoyed a fine start to 2022, picking up where he left off in December, with 36 winners since the turn of the year. Adding to that tally at Cheltenham might be tough, however. He has 15 entries for the festival, all of which are available at 10-1 or greater, but with his string in such fine shape it may be foolish to discount them.

Main runners: Shallwehaveonemore (Supreme/County), Full Back (Ultima), Editeur Du Gite (Champion Chase/Grand Annual), Porticello (Triumph), Teddy Blue (Triumph).

Cold

Henry de Bromhead

Key stat: From his 105 runners up to March 12, De Bromhead had a return of just 11 winners.

The trainer enjoyed a golden 2021 festival, with Rachael Blackmore delivering a number of memorable winners. Honeysuckle is odds-on to defend her Champion Hurdle crown and could provide one of the moments of the week, while the prodigious Bob Olinger could be set for a mouthwatering clash with Galopin Des Champs.

However, winners have been scarce for De Bromhead since the turn of the year. That said, one of his seven winners in February came from Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Main runners: Magic Daze (Arkle), Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle), Telmesomethinggirl (Mares’ Hurdle), Journey With Me (Ballymore), Envoi Allen (Champion Chase/Ryanair), Put The Kettle On (Champion Chase), Bob Olinger (Turners), Journey With Me (Albert Bartlett), Shantreusse (Albert Bartlett), A Plus Tard (Gold Cup), Minella Indo (Gold Cup), Grand Jury (Martin Pipe).

Alan King

Key stat: In the last two weeks, King was operating at a strike-rate of eight per cent.

Edwardstone is one of the few British favourites in the big races at Cheltenham, and he is as short as 2-1 to land Tuesday’s Arkle. A victory for Edwardstone would help ease what has been a difficult start to the year for King – he had eight winners from 99 runners as of March 12.

Tritonic and The Glancing Queen also look to have solid credentials heading into the festival.

Main runners: Edwardstone (Arkle), Forever William (Boodles), The Glancing Queen (Plate/Mares’ Chase), Tritonic (County).

Read more:

'Rachael Blackmore multiples will be a headache' - bookies share festival fears

'My horse is nicely handicapped, but Willie's could be very well handicapped!'

'He's my festival banker' - David Jennings and Paul Kealy answer your questions

New Sky Bet customers can get £25 in free bets when you bet £5. Free bets awarded each day of the festival and £5 today. New customers only. First single and each-way bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £5 bet tokens. First £5 free bet credited on bet placement. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.