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Cheltenham Betting: Graham Cunningham's top ten tips for Festival glory

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Four figure holiday or £10-a-night B&B for Graham Cunningham? These selections will decide

One weekend until it all kicks off. The time for debate has been overtaken by the time to get off the fence. This time next week we will know whether it has been a triumph or a disaster.

And if you look back at my top ten Festival trades next weekend you will have a good idea whether yours truly is off to Barbados or Bridlington for Easter.

1. LAY Sizing Europe in the Champion Hurdle.

Each time I look at Betfair's market for the day one showpiece I start to fret a little. It would be wrong to say I have gone all in laying the favourite. But I have taken him on strongly for several reasons. First, he jumps carefully; second, he faces several very dangerous rivals; and third, the price is very tight. In short, I make Sizing Europe a 4.5 chance. If he wins, I lose.

2. BACK Tidal Bay win and place in the Arkle.

The deck beckons for Howard Johnson's gelding if you believe some critics. But I suspect they have read Tidal Bay wrong. Granted, he made two blunders when forced to make his own running in a Donny crawl. But this time he will be able to settle behind a fast pace on a course where his record is hard to fault. He's a proven Grade 1 performer - which is more than you can say for most of his rivals - and the fact that Ho-Jo is having winners again is another plus.

3. LAY Rippling Ring for a place in the Supreme Novices'.

Yes, he was very smart on the Flat and reports suggest he has been burning up the gallops at Ditcheat recently. But you would be very worried if a Group class Flat horse wasn't catching the eye against jumpers in his homework. Look at the jumps form book and it's much harder to get excited about this Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. Some very ordinary horses weren't far behind him when he won at Doncaster and this rough house of a race could be a real culture shock for him.

4. DUTCH Wonderkid and Heads On the Ground in the cross country chase.

Handicap marks come a remote second to local knowledge when trying to assess this eccentric contest. And Wonderkid and Heads On the Ground know just what is needed to handle the weird and wonderful range of obstacles here. Wonderkid bounded clear in great style here in December and is plainly a late bloomer, while Heads On the Ground was beaten by stablemate Garde Champetre at Punchestown but looks a good bet to take his revenge back over this longer trip.

5. LAY Trafford Lad for a place in the Ballymore Hurdle.

The ground is likely to be a big factor here. On form Dusty Sheehy's gelding is right up there with the best Irish novices, but he has looked a soft ground slugger in his recent races and might just struggle for pace unless it gets testing. There are plenty of solid alternatives - and don't be surprised if Razor Royale and Lightning Strike go well at big odds - but a place lay of Trafford Lad looks a fair call all things considered.

6. BACK Oscar Park win and place in the SunAlliance Chase.

I have already backed this proven Cheltenham performer each way at [15.0] and will be looking to lay him back in-running at [4.0] and [2.0] respectively. Silverburn, Albertas Run and Air Force One all hold fair claims, but this may not be a vintage renewal. If that's the case then Oscar Park - who won the Pertemps Final off 140 in really gutsy fashion here last year and has jumped boldly to win two novice chases - can prove an ideal back to lay vehicle.

7. BACK Twist Magic win and place in the Champion Chase.

This looks a fascinating three-way clash between the new kids on the block and last year's champion Voy Por Ustedes. Master Minded beat Voy Por in the Game Spirit, while Twist Magic mastered him in the Tingle Creek. The champ could prove much tougher back on the track which suits him best, but Twist Magic's Tingle Creek win was the most striking two mile performance of the season. Very deep ground would be a worry, but otherwise he looks nailed on to have a big say.

8. BACK The Listener win and place in the Ryanair Chase.

The Ryanair isn't going to be quite so tough to win as expected after a spate of withdrawals. Our Vic is bound to go close, while stablemate Tamarinbleu will be a big player if he runs here rather than in the Champion Chase. Mossbank has thrived in Ireland, but The Listener will have conditions to suit him ideally if the rain arrives and could be the value option to give the Alners another memorable success.

9. BACK Blazing Bailey win and place in the World Hurdle.

Granted, he tends to come off second best when he clashes with Inglis Drever and it might be a case of same again if Howard Johnson's gelding is at his very best. But is it asking too much for Blazing Bailey to make up a little over four lengths on the favourite? That's how much he has to find with Drever based on last year's race and the more recent Cleeve Hurdle. He's tough, reliable and relishes that hill. All in all, a very solid each way option.

10. LAY Gone To Lunch in the Albert Bartlett

Some might say I am out to lunch in opposing a novice who was good enough to finish third behind Inglis Drever and Blazing Bailey in the Cleeve Hurdle here. But is Gone To Lunch really as good as that result makes him look? I suspect he isn't. A confirmed hold up horse, he tends to go in snatches and may well have been flattered in the Cleeve. Carruthers, Lodge Lane and The Tother One all look solid in opposition, so I'm content to lay Gone To Lunch and take the consequences if I'm wrong.

Barbados or Brid? These ten will decide...

1 Champion Hurdle: Lay Sizing Europe
2 Arkle: Back Tidal Bay win and place
3 Supreme Novices': Lay Rippling Ring for a place
4 Cross Country Chase: Dutch Wonderkid and Heads On the Ground
5 Ballymore Hurdle: Lay Trafford Lad for a place
6 SunAlliance Chase: Back Oscar Park win and place and lay in runiing
7 Champion Chase: Back Twist Magic win and place
8 Ryanair Chase: Back The Listener win and place
9 World Hurdle: Back Blazing Bailey win and place
10 Albert Bartlett Hurdle: Lay Gone To Lunch