Four days, 28 races and thousands of pounds exchanged as bookmakers and punters went to war at Prestbury Park. The Cheltenham Festival rarely disappoints and whilst the Champion Chase may have been a bit of a damp squib in every sense, The Gold Cup lived up to its billing.

There was also joy for returning favourites Honeysuckle, Allaho, and Flooring Porter whilst Tiger Roll went out on his shield in a thrilling Cross Country, earning a well-deserved retirement after five Festival wins and two wins in the Grand National.

With plenty to get stuck into, where were the big winning markets? And which names do you need to keep an eye out for ahead of the Aintree Festival?

Please remember that unlike fixed odds betting, losses can exceed deposits when spread betting.

TUESDAY – MULTI-MULE MADNESS

The first race of the Festival is always a hotly anticipated affair and this year some useful horses were lining up with Constitution Hill, Dysart Dynamo, Kilcruit and, Jonbon all headed the market. Dysart Dynamo Race Index (19-22) sellers won 19x their stake after Willie Mullins’ charge fell, leaving Constitution Hill (20-23) buyers winning 27x their stake as Nico de Boinville came home in front.

Edwardstone (17-20) landed the Arkle, but Gabynako (3-5) was also a decent winner for buyers on the spread after earning 25 points for a well-deserved second as buyers won 20x their stake.

Two queens of the sport once again came home victorious in the Champion Hurdle as Honeysuckle (32-35) proved what an excellent horse she is by claiming back-to-back victories in this race. Wins for Marie’s Rock (6-8), Brazil (6-8, market settled at 48.2 due to non-runners) and Stattler (22-25) rounded off the rest of the card.

For the day specials buyers on the Multi-Mules market – the racecard number of the winner multiplied by that of the second and then summed for every race – won 237x their stake as the market settled on 649 against a spread of 377-412.

WEDNESDAY – WILLIE’S IN THE BUMPER

Shiskin (29-32) sellers, landing a win equal to 29x their stake were in clover on Wednesday as de Boinville was forced to pull up his mount in the Champion Chase as Enurgemene (19-22) reversed the form from the Clarence House to land the spoils in the Champion Chase.

The rest of the card saw plenty of favourites get home in front as the well-supported Sir Gerhard (31-34) kicked off the day in emphatic fashion despite Paul Townend admitting afterwards that the race hadn’t panned out as he had wanted initially.

L’homme Presse (13-16 market settled at 37.9) and Facile Vega (24-27, market settled at 47.9) did their bit for favourite backers as the testing conditions saw non-runners galore.

In the Cross Country, Delta Work (20-23) spoiled the farewell tour of stablemate Tiger Roll (15-18) but buyers of both came out on top thanks to the 30 points awarded for Tiger’s second in what was an extended field.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for punters though as Commander Of Fleet (1-3, market settled at 47.4) landed the spoils in the Coral Cup and Global Citizen (2-4, market settled at 40.3) touched off Andy Dufresne in the Grand Annual.

Multi-Mule sellers won 233x their stake whilst those who bought Favourites (25 points for a winning favourite, 10 for second, 5 for third) won 37x their stake after the market settled at 110 against a spread of 69-73.

THURSDAY – ALLAHO FLIES HOME

St Patrick’s Day opened with an all-Irish affair in the Turners as four runners from the Emerald Isle went to post in what was effectively a match race between Galopin Des Champs (34-37) and Bob Olinger (31-34).

The big and bold Galopin Des Champs looked to have jumped his rival into submission but his fall over the last – reminiscent of Annie Power and Goshen in Festivals gone by - will live long in the memory of punters. Sellers were left picking up the pieces though as they won 34x their stake.

Bob Olinger collected the spoils with Busselton (5-7) landing the 25 points on the Race Index despite being a distant second.

Touted as a banker all week, Allaho (31-34) justified favouritism in the Ryanair Chase with another impressive success in the race whilst Flooring Porter (13-16) retained his crown in the Stayers’ Hurdle as buyers collected 34x their stake.

It was the last race of the day however, which saw the biggest Race Index win of the day as Chambard (1-3) won the Kim Muir in the lucky last. Buyers collected 42.7x their stake as the spread was affected due to a couple of non-runners.

FRIDAY – RACHEL GOES FOR GOLD

After Paul Townend’s disaster in the first race on Thursday, it was all smiles for the Irishman in the opener on Friday as he guided home one of the talking horses of the Festival in Willie Mullins-trained Vauban (26-29).

Townend and Mullins teamed up for a quick-fire double as favourite State Man (17-20) came out of the pack to claim victory in the County Hurdle and it was a Mullins hat trick as The Nice Guy (5-7) was first home in the Albert Bartlett. Those who bought Sean O’Keefe’s mount in the ‘Potato Race’ trotted off with a win equal to 40x their stake (market settled at 47 due to non-runners).

Rachel Blackmore became the first jockey to come home in front as A Plus Tard (16-19) battered his rivals to come home in front by some distance to land buyers a win equal to 31x their stake.

Last year’s champion Minella Indo (9-11) came home in second place to give buyers a win of 14x their stake whilst there was even a win for Protektorat (6-8) buyers who came back with 2x their stake.

The racing of course doesn’t end there and attention will turn to the Midlands National on Saturday at Uttoxeter. SpreadEx will be with you every jump of the way and with big National Hunt meetings at both Punchestown and Aintree, there is sure to be plenty more excitement on the horizon.