Forget poncing around Cannes at MIPIM with the property people. The National Hunt festival is where the contracting world gathers in March led by our Irish colleagues.

Nothing gets the blood pumping like the Cheltenham roar. Or whatever is flowing through your veins after a hard morning in the Guinness tent.

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We’ll need a decent wedge to survive Cheltenham so it’s time to find a couple of winners among this weekend’s football matches.

The big game is the FA cup clash between Manchester United and Arsenal.

Hopefully you followed our advice and took a bit of the 9/4 on Barcelona to win the Champions League before their destruction of Arsenal.

It was a joy to watch the Spanish midfield at work and they look unstoppable in the competition.

I know Arsene Wenger misses a lot on the pitch. But surely even he noticed the 800 odd passes that bamboozled his troops while claiming Van Persie’s sending off changed the whole game.

But Man Utd are no Barcelona and they were simply shocking while surrendering our cash against Liverpool last week.

The Red’s midfield is misfiring horribly. I doubt Michael Carrick would get a job as a Barcelona boot boy with his current pass completion rate.

Wenger will also see the FA Cup as a real chance to finally win something so let’s take a chance and side with the Gunners at a very attractive 3/1.

Bolton also appeal on Saturday at 13/8 against a Birmingham side who have got one eye on survival and who have probably used their cup luck up for a season.

We’ll tuck in at those prices and hope both quarter finals provide us with a bit of stake cash for the Festival.

Enjoy the racing and don’t miss the last train home.

Running Total for all bets to a £10 stake: +£5.75

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