Foxrock and Katie WalshThe annual feast of racing that is the Cheltenham Festival gets underway in south west England today with tens of thousands of racing owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff, bookies and bettors travelling from Ireland to seek a moment of glory.
Last year Ireland produced a record haul, winning 14 of the 27 races. It is a sport that Ireland unquestionably leads the world and one which the country generates many hundreds of millions of revenue from.
Racecourse attendances and bloodstock sales, two key metrics on the health of the business side of the sport were both up in 2013.  But for the next four days, concerns over declining state funding and delays to changes in the betting legislation will be put to one side as the tapes go up on what promises to be another showcase meeting for irish trained horses.
Today is Champion Hurdle day and Hurricane Fly is favourite to capture a third crown for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh.  Mullins could get off to a winning start in the first race as well though stable second string Wicklow Brave may offer a little better value than the two market leaders Vautour and Irving.
Quevega bids to make history by winning at the Festival for a sixth consecutive year at 4pm while in the race after, the Sport for Business cents will be riding on Foxrock (pictured), trained by Ted Walsh and ridden by daughter Katie at around 4/1.
The value of your investments can go down as well as up of course, and the major bookmakers will be looking to bolster annual profits but if there was ever a week when they give a lot away in terms of offers and prices, then this is it.
If you are reading this from the Cotswolds, have a wonderful day.  We will be back with a few more speculative suggestions tomorrow.