FOR all that there has been an increase in the number of handicaps at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, there is still no shortage of odds-on hotpots for multiple-backers to combine over the biggest four days in National Hunt racing.

As punters have found out, painfully at times, however, it can be the case that at least one of the so-called ‘good things’ lets the rest of the bunch down. Apologies to those still in recovery for mentioning it, but this Cheltenham Festival marks 10 years since Annie Power’s stunning final-flight exit as 1/2 favourite in the Mares’ Hurdle, shortly after Douvan (2/1), Un De Sceaux (4/6) and Faugheen (4/5) had all collected earlier on the card. It was a monumental sucker punch for all involved.