Will Hayler never saw a horse until he was nine, but was instantly hooked on racing from the moment he had his 50 pence pocket money on New Attitude at 12-1 to win a maiden on Geoffrey Freer Stakes day at Newbury. He spent the next few years walking closely behind randomly-selected adults so that he could get in for free as an accompanied under-16. The day he was rumbled and had to pay still wrankles with him. He was chief racing correspondent of the Press Association, before joining the Evening Standard in 2006, then turning freelance last year. He is the President of the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association and presently writes for the Guardian and Observer.

• Cheltenham Long-Shots: Cape Tribulation - World Hurdle - Thursday March 18
• Cheltenham Festival Long-shots: Hunters Ploy - National Hunt Chase - Wednesday March 17
• Cheltenham Festival Long-Shots: Bellvano - Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Tuesday March 16