FOLK within earshot of Prestbury Park racecourse at 2pm tomorrow will be left in no doubt that the three-day Cheltenham Festival is once again underway.

On the stroke of the hour the starter calls the runners and riders into line and for one fleeting moment a great hush descends upon the place. But the silence before the storm is shortlived as the tapes fly up and a huge roar explodes for the first of the 20 pulsating, electrifying, spine-tingling races.

There'll be a crowd of 50,000 or more yelling, cheering, shouting, willing their horse to be first past the post at the home of jump racing, where National Hunt's thoroughbred championships are won and lost.

Whether it is owners, trainers, or jockeys, all the top names from the UK and Ireland are there to do battle. And it takes a very good horse to get even a slice of the action, let alone win a race like the Champion Hurdle or the Gold Cup.

"It's the hardest place in the world to win, but that's part of the magic," says Ferdy Murphy, to whom this correspondent unashamedly returned for the second year in succession to seek advice on a bet or two for the 2004 Festival.

After all, 12 months ago it was Ferdy who gave readers of this column two bits of visionary advice - back Tribal Venture each-way in the Pertemps Final, plus the same bet on Truckers Tavern for the Gold Cup.

The result was quite stunning, and neither did we have a long wait before collecting.

On the first day, Tribal Venture, freely available at the jaw-dropping odds of 100-1 eight hours before the "off", was the subject of a monumental pre-race gamble.

And boy did he do the business, finishing a gallant third at 33's, the equivalent of a 24-1 winner if you got the 100's, or 7-1 at starting price.

Neither did the 33-1 shot Truckers Tavern let us each-way "thieves" down, chasing home Best Mate to grab second spot in the Gold Cup.

Little surprise then that I should go back knocking on Murphy's door, in search of more tips for this year's preview. As ever the genial Irishman's greeting was generous, even though his powerful Wensleydale-based stable is not enjoying the best of seasons.

"Ugh, it's true our horses have been under a cloud just lately, but not Truckers Tavern and Dominikus. There's no problem with them," said Ferdy.

My internal radar immediately began to bleep furiously. Truckers Tavern is already on the short-list, but Dominikus? Can't say that one rings a bell.

Somewhat feebly I steered the conversation back to Dominikus. "He hasn't run since winning the Perth Gold Cup last June, but that's not a worry. We took him to Carlisle recently and galloped him with Truckers Tavern after racing had finished and he went real well," said Murphy.

Just like Tribal Venture, Dominikus is a "dark horse" as far as the betting public is concerned, but that could all change for tomorrow's Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase, a race in which Ferdy is hoping history repeats itself, having previously won it with Stop The Waller in 1996.

"Keith Mercer rides Dominikus, he's a good lad from Liverpool. Keith has been with us for a while and has ridden a winner or two, including Luzcadou at Ayr in January," explained Murphy.

Truckers Tavern is bang on course for another head-to-head with Best Mate in Thursday's Gold Cup. The latter, 4-9 in his bid to win the Blue Riband event for the third year in succession, is poor value, so "Truckers", at around 16-1, is once again the recommended each-way steal.

While Truckers Tavern and Dominikus could be described as lively outsiders, the Graham Wylie-owned Inglis Drever, a red-hot 5-2 favourite for Wednesday's SunAlliance Hurdle, is considered by many to be their banker bet.

Wylie, the Newcastle computer magnate who has shelled out millions of pounds over the past 12 months, has all 33 of his horses in training, including two other Festival hopefuls, Inching Closer and Dalaram, with Howard Johnson at White Lea Farm, Crook.

"Inglis Drever will be suited by the 2m5f trip in the SunAlliance. Dalaram goes for the Triumph (Thursday) and he's an improver, while Inching Closer is in the Pertemps Final, a race he won last year when with Jonjo O'Neill," said Johnson.

The trainer also has high hopes for Boy's Hurrah (National Hunt Chase) and Log On Intersky (Grand Annual).

Other potential contenders from our region include Richard Guest's trio Our Armagedden, Mr Bossman, plus Tyneandthyneagain.

"All being well Our Armagedden will run in the Arkle (second race tomorrow). He looks like a bull and is in great order. Mr Bossman's in the Mildmay Of Fleet (Wednesday). He got a bit tired under top-weight at Kelso and will strip a lot fitter for that run," reported Guest.

Tyneandthyneagain has been declared for tomorrow's William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase. Ideally he needs more rain to further soften the ground, although there's no question about his current well- being, having won Newcastle's marathon Eider Chase in great style last time out.

Brandsby-near-York-based Peter Beaumont, who has enjoyed notable success at the Festival in the past with Jodami and Hussard Collonges, is always to be feared, so the presence of Hunters Tweed cannot be ignored.

Peter is undecided over the Mildmay or Cathcart (Thursday) for Hunters Tweed, although whichever he opts for, the dashing bay gelding is an absolute "must" wager, despite being pulled up at Kempton last time out.

"I don't know what happened at Kempton, but he was very impressive when winning at Cheltenham the time before, and don't forget, he's also run well there before over hurdles too," said Peter, a man well known for choosing his words wisely.

I for one will not be ignoring the hint.