NEXT week's Cheltenham Festival will make most of racing's media headlines this week, writes Harry Barlow.

I've had excellent information concerning Jessica Harrington's Irish raider Ferbet Junior.

If you can still get the 10-1 offered by the Tote for the Coral Cup Hurdle on a week tomorrow, take it - the Irish don't like losing their money ante-post.

Also next Wednesday why not double Ferbet Junior with Barton. My contact at Tim Easterby's will not consider defeat for Barton or Simply Gifted at Cheltenham.

In the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, March 16, it looks home and dry for Istrabraq, but I will go for the trio with French Holly and Grey Shot to follow the Irish hotpot home.

Also on Tuesday another of my 12 national hunt horses to follow, Rockforce with Joe Tizzard on board, should be excellent each way value in the Guinness Arkle Trophy Chase over two miles at 2.35pm.

I've just returned from a week's cruising around the Canary Islands, so batteries are all charged up for the start of the Flat season just two weeks on Thursday. I'll be visiting two stables this week and will bring you all the up-to-date information next Tuesday.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be praying for the sun along with every Flat trainer in the country.

Our horse Swan At Whalley is back on the gallops and looks a million dollars,. He has a race for charity to run shortly and he usually wins them.

At the moment we will be going for a three-timer at Hamilton on March 29 - more about that next week as I don't want to worry the bookmakers too early.

Southwell (Wednesday) - Vale of Leven (NAP)

Bangor (Wednesday) - Selberry (EW)

Carlisle (Thursday) - The Next Waltz (NAP)

Sandown (Friday) - The Cockertoo (NAP)

Chepstow (Saturday) - Land Agent (NAP)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.