Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins is favourite to re-capture the top trainer crown at Cheltenham.

Mullins’s biggest rival Gordon Elliott took the title for the first time last year, but it is the former who is favourite to bag a sixth title at Cheltenham at 5/4 with Elliott at 2/1.

However, Bookmakers are expecting a third challenger in the shape of Nicky Henderson, who has some big names set for Prestbury Park – including the possible star of the show in Altior – and he is priced at 2/1, the same as Elliott.

Lawrence Lyons, Spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “The Irish may have dominated the top trainer stats for the last five years but Nicky Henderson is going into this year’s Festival with a very strong hand, especially in three of the four championship races.”