William Hill have installed Willie Mullins as 15/8 second favourite to repeat last year’s feat and pick up the Thomas Pink-sponsored top trainer award at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row.

Mullins picked up the trainer award for the first time last year as Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Final Approach and Sir Des Champ all romped to victory at the festival.

Those victories put him ahead of renowned trainer Paul Nicholls in the trainer standings, despite the fact he was a 13/2 shot before the meet.

Now William Hill admit they are keen to avoid paying out sums similar to last year, and have put him behind favourite Nicky Henderson to bag the top trainer award.

“We foolishly underestimated Willie Mullins last year and will certainly be taking no chances over the defending champion this time around.” A spokesman for the bookmaker said.

“However, this looks one of the most competitive title-races seen for as long as we can remember.”

Henderson picked up the award and is available as short as 7/4 for the award, and will count upon Grandouet, Binocular and Spirit Son in the Stan James Hurdle and Oscar Whiskey in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle to help him secure the award.

Elsewhere Nicholls, who has claimed the award six times over the course of his career can be backed at 2/1, with star pupil Kauto Star gunning for a historic third success in the Gold Cup.

William Hill have also opened their top jockey market for the festival which gets under way in March with Ruby Walsh leading the way at 8/11.

Walsh has claimed the gong six times in the past – and William Hill rate Barry Geraghty as his biggest threat.

Geraghty is available at 11-4 while 16-times British champion jockey Tony McCoy is an 8-1 chance.

The layout of the site itself is the first thing that punters will notice. Having undergone several overhauls since the original site, it now feels more like an app than a website, a true operations centre for the sports bettor.

The arrangement of different areas is fairly standard initially, with events down the left hand side and the active coupon on the right, with most details in the middle of the screen.

• Pick up a free £200 bet here! Courtesy of Bet365 bookmaker

The experience becomes totally unique when the punter enters the in-play section. They can select from virtually any live event in the world, with dozens of live bets available. Many events also display a live stream within the page itself, while a scoreboard at the top lists all important betting events, including goals, cards and corners. The live betting implementation is truly a masterpiece.

The Bet365 signup bonus is one of the most popular in the industry. Rather than the player having to make a fairly large bet to receive a free bet, Bet365 simply matches the punter’s first deposit of between £10 and £200 at a rate of 100%. This makes the bonus stand out not only for being lucrative, but also for being flexible.

There are literally dozens of on-going promotions at any one time. A favourite among racing enthusiasts is the ‘Channel 4/1’ offer. If the punter backs a winner at 4/1 or greater in a Channel 4 live race, they receive a free bet of equal value on the following live race. This is complemented by a bonus on all top-level European football accumulators, where the player can receive up to a 100% bonus on winning bets.

Bet365 is truly an all-purpose bookmaker, with a great selection of events and live streams, plus one of the best live betting centres of any site.

The site itself makes excellent use of the Boylesports colour scheme of red and blue, making it one of the most aesthetically pleasing online bookmakers. The interactive data tables are also a great feature.

They are primarily focused on horse and greyhound racing and football, with all of the latest events listed in a clear, tabulated format. Numerous tabs allow the customer to customise their view, sorting by event or competition.

• Pick up a free £40 bet here! Courtesy of Boylesports Bookmakers

Bonuses are not always Boylesports’ strong point, possibly due to their roots in high street bookmaking. After all, bonuses are extremely uncommon offline yet now most bookmakers have to offer something to keep up with the competition. The signup bonus on offer at Boylesports is relatively paltry, offering a free match bet of up to £20. While it is not the greatest bonus, the company does offer guaranteed best prices on all UK and Irish horse and dog races. They also regularly select individual events for money-back specials.

The most positive aspect of Boylesports as an online bookmaker is that they know what they are good at and do it really well. The number of events on offer is relatively small, but the events they do cover offer some of the best odds in the business. The layout is also a huge positive, with both coupons and in-play bets being displayed with unparalleled clarity.

Anyone who has already bet with Boylesports on the high street will know what to expect. Other customers will likely love it or hate it for its simplicity. High stakes gamblers may prefer more extensive event listings, for example. However, any casual gambler who particularly enjoys football and horses will be well served at Boylesports.

Ladbrokes take a fairly simplistic approach to their layout, focusing on clarity and ease of use rather than trying to overload the customer with data, news and specials in a small space.

They advertise their most popular bets plus upcoming football matches alongside a clear menu interface. Users can also customise their own favourites list which contains football and horse racing by default.

• Pick up a free £50 bet here! Courtesy of Ladbrokes Bookmakers

The main page also includes a search box, a truly excellent feature that is somehow missing from the majority of competing sites. Punters simply type in the name of their team, horse or individual and the site automatically displays all upcoming events together with current odds where available, including events that are currently live in play.

The majority of signup bonuses at Ladbrokes cover their casino promotions. However, new sports betting customers can enjoy a free bet of up to £50. While it is not the highest bonus, the withdrawal terms are easy enough to play through quickly. On-going promotions include money-back specials and other useful bonuses. They are generally announced on an ad hoc basis depending on the events of the day.

Overall, Ladbrokes has adapted well to the task of transferring both their brand and their betting experience online. The simplistic nature of the site makes it great for new customers, and the odds on offer are among some of the best in the industry. The number of events available is also a positive, covering not only sports but also awards, television shows and numerous novelty bets.

William Hill is the largest bookmaker in the UK in terms of the number of offices, with over 2,300 around the country. It is also one of the most popular online bookmakers, drawing on customer loyalty and providing an excellent all-round betting experience.

All of the most common touches associated with their land based shops are evident online, from the royal blue branding to the huge focus on horse racing and football.

William Hill have really made a huge effort to transition into an online bookmaker as opposed to simply offering the same bets online as they do in their shops. This effort has manifested itself as an excellent all-round online offering comprising a fully-featured site, mobile apps and even integration with many of the Racing Post’s online properties.

The site itself features excellent functionality, including a range of tools and filters plus a search box. One of the more unusual features is the ‘Top 5 Bets’ box. Rather than displaying what the bets are, the site displays the odds on the top five bets plus a slider, allowing the customer to automatically bet on the most popular events. They can of course see what the bets are simply by expanding the box.

• Pick up a free £25 here. Courtesy of William Hill Bookmakers

New players at William Hill can enjoy a free £25 bet on both football and horse racing. Other bonuses can be thin on the ground, and are usually associated with one of William Hill’s other properties such as poker or games. However, the lack of promotions in no way detracts from the experience, which is topped off by a range of news, previews and podcasts to keep gamblers interested and informed.

Most sports bettors will be familiar with William Hill, and their online presence is a joy to use, offering one of the most refined combinations of great odds and additional information. The extensive features and range of options make for a highly recommended online bookmaker.

Cheltenham 2011 is finally upon us, and its set to be one of the most exhilerating and exciting experiences of the year with a literal feast of top grade action from Prestbury Park.

Of course, where there’s punters, tips, banter and gallons of Guiness being quaffed you can bet that the bookmakers will be sniffing around for your custom, and there are plenty of daily specials and free bets for you to claim.

Do you know that Paddy Power will refund all stakes if  Cue Card romps to victory in the Supreme Novices on the opening day? Or that Stan James are paying four places on the Champion Hurdle?

With so many offers available we have come up with a list to help you get the most out of the festival, and to save a fair few quid!

This page will be updated daily as bookmakers offers come into us – last updated Friday 18th March.

Paddy Power

• Free £100 Cheltenham Bet for Friday
• If your horse finishes second to Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup, Paddy Power will refund your losing single stake.
• Non Runner No Bet at Cheltenham
• Claim your £100 free bet and more with Paddy Power here

Ladbrokes

• Free £150 Cheltenham Bet (Promo Code FB150)
• Pay 1/4 odds 1,2,3, and 4 places on JCB Triumph Hurdle
• Paying 1/4 odds on all races on Friday
• Claim your free £150 and more with Ladbrokes here

Boylesports

• Free £40 free bet on any Cheltenham race on Friday
• Paying 5 places on County Hurdle (2.05)  and Conditional Jockeys (4.40)
• Best price on Long Run in Gold Cup
• Claim your free £40 bets and more with Boylesports here

Stan James

• Free £25 on any race at the Festival
• Non Runner No bet on all Cheltenham races
• Happy hour 11am – midday
• Claim your free £25 bets and more with Stan James here

Bet365

• Offer up to £200 in free bets on  Cheltenham Festival Friday
• Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a free bet for the equivalent amount on the next race
• Pay out on all disqualified horses
• No need to take the SP – Best Odds Guaranteed on Every Race.
• Claim your free £200 bets and more with Bet365 here

Betfred

• Offer up to £50 in free bets on the Festival Friday
• Boosted  place terms 5 places on 2.05 1/4 odds on all races
• Claim your free £50 bets and more with Betfred here

William Hill

• Offer up to £25 in free bets on Cheltenham Friday
• place a bet of £20 on the Gold Cup and get a free £10 bet for the weekend
• Claim your free £25 bet and more with William Hill here

This is an improved free bets offer from one of Cheltenham’s more colourful bookmakers.

Paddy Power  also have a great offer on the Supreme Novices Hurdle on the opening day of the Festival. If big favourite Cue Card wins the race they will refund all losing bets.

We can’t really argue with that. Feel free to pick up your  £100 in free bets with Paddy Power here.

Paddy’s will also refund all non runners at Cheltenham that have been backed antepost.

Thirteen wins in three years has handed Ruby Walsh the top jockey prize at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Now the Irishman will embark on his quest for a four successive victory and he is a hot favourite with the bookmakers.

Walsh is currently on the sidelines but should be making a return to riding by the start of March and has been put in as 11/10 favourite to be crowned top jockey again. With champions trainers Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins likely to saddle a plethora of top class runners from Big Buck’s to Master Minded and Kauto Star and Quevega the 31 year-old is going to be tough to beat.

Nicky Henderson has been in flying form this season and his stable jockey Barry Geraghty is second favourite along with 13-times champion jockey Tony McCoy at 3/1. Of the two Geraghty should have the superior rides with some of Henderson’s including Grandouet and Spirit Son likely to go close.

On the other hand, McCoy is always going to have a full book of rides and you can’t count the Northern Irishman out but at 3/1 offers no value.

• Pick up a free £200 bet on the Cheltenham Festival with Bets365 here!

Away from the top three in the market there’s some decent each way value for punters to get stuck into. Alan King’s horses have been flying this campaign and retained jockey Robert Thornton could be in with a squeak and the 16/1 offered is an eye-catching proposition. A winner in 2007 Thornton will partner some interesting juveniles whilst his mount in the Arkle on Medermit could be a winning one and he is definitely worth taking on for a place.

Of the others, Richard Johnson (20/1 various) could have a couple of winners including Menorah to sneak into the reckoning whilst last year’s Gold Cup winning jockey Paddy Brennan could be over-priced at 33/1.

It’s hard to look away from Walsh on retaining his crown but with fitness a worry have a shot at Choc at 16s to lift the trophy.

Recommendations

Robert Thornton – 16/1

The favourites in the four blue riband events are going to be at the forefront of punters’ minds but which one can really be a profitable bet of the quartet.

Three of the current ante-post favourites are looking to retain the title they won in the same race last year with Binocular (7/2 various) going for Champion Hurdle number two, Big Buck’s (Evens Victor Chandler) going for another World Hurdle success and Imperial Commander (7/2 various) looking to repeat last year’s Gold Cup glory.

Paddy Power offer a free £100 bet on any race at Cheltenham. Only available on this site! Claim here.

Master Minded (5/2 various) won the Champion Chase in 2008 and 2009 but lost his crown to Big Zeb last year in an injury-plagued season and will be tip-top for this year’s renewal.

The Champion Hurdle is destined to be an absolute cracker with several contenders worthy of tackling Binocular for his crown.

Menorah has been unbeatable at Cheltenham this year whilst Peddlers Cross has already beating Binocular in the Fighting Fifth at Newbury. Hurricane Fly has been imperious in Ireland and Oscar Whisky is on the up. With those four likely to be strong opposition it’s definitely worth avoiding Nicky Henderson’s speedster in Tuesday’s big one.

Master Minded has been unbeaten this season but the way he tired in the Victor Chandler Chase and nearly caught by Somersby late on has put question marks over his Queen Mother claims. With Big Zeb likely to be thereabouts and the improving Golden Silver also crossing the Irish Sea at 5/2 Master Minded is another to avoid.

This year’s Gold Cup will include the old guard of Kauto Star and Denman but some interesting young pretenders have come into the reckoning with Diamond Harry, a smart winner of the Hennessy and Long Run, a runaway victor of the King George. All of these are likely to put current favourite Imperial Commander under pressure and with him coming back from injury could cause another favourite to be dethroned and the 7/2 is avoidable.

Finally, one favourite who should be the answer for punters is the incomparable Big Buck’s. Since returning to hurdles the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has been unbeatable and even though Grands Crus has cast a shadow over his dominance the eight-year-old should still be classy enough.

Two weeks ago you would have not been able to get any better than short odds-on about a third successive World Hurdle crown but since Grands Crus’ win in the Cleeve Hurdle Big Buck’s has drifted and now Victor Chandler’s Even money is definitely the one to be on with the championship races in mind.

6) Joncol, anyone who knows me will know I’m a huge fan of Paul Nolan, and anything that comes out of his yard, and this huge gelding is no exception. He’s left himself with a bit to prove since winning the 2010 Irish Hennessey. He’s not helped by the fact that he can only race on soft, but if the grounds soft enough for him I think he could make a real impact on festival proceedings.

7) Tchico Polos is just one of many brilliant horses that will be fielded by Paul Nicholls’ during the festival week. He is a classy contender and has heaps more ability than he displayed last time out in the Victor Chandler.

Minella Class comes from the very inform Henderson yard. He’s won both UK starts, quickening beautifully in the Tolworth hurdle in pretty bottomless ground. He holds entries for a good few hurdles at the festival at the moment, and whichever he ends up running in, something that can quicken that well at the end of the race is something to be wary of.

9) Golden Silver has the makings of a really top horse. He finally reversed his form with Big Zeb last time out. One of the best chasers in Ireland at the moment in my humble opinion. In the friendly rivalry between the British and Irish camps, the Brits have been getting the upper hand recently, however with horses like this being fielded you can’t say the Irish aren’t fighting their corner.

10) Kauto Star and Denman, I simply couldn’t do this without the two of them. There has been some talk of how they maybe haven’t retained ability as they get older. And maybe they haven’t but you know what? I don’t care. They have quite simply defined a generation of chasing. They’ve endeared themselves to thousands, left us speechless, elated and frustrated. Maybe they aren’t the bankers they once were, but just seeing them there, even if they finish way back, will be a delight and a privilege.

Racing owes this pair a lot.

Stay tuned for more of Emma’s analysis coming soon!

Part 1 of Emma’s Cheltenham Top 10 to follow can be found here