Colin had two winners and four placed horses from 17 festival tips in March

The new season is nearly upon us at Cheltenham, where the action starts with the showcase meeting on 18 and 19 October. Oh boy, it is so close.

I love this month, so if you are like me and are going these two days are a must. The bonus is that under-16s can go free, so you can take all the family if you want to, but Mrs Tipster is letting me go on my own.

If you have dream of going to Cheltenham and think you can't afford it with the credit crunch, then the Best Mate season ticket, which is new for this season, might be your best bet.

It costs �110 for 17 days racing, including the festival, and it works out at around a pound a race across the whole season.

Horses to follow for 2008-2009 season:

I've been contacting trainers again from Gloucestershire and all over Great Britain, Ireland and even Germany; here are the tips that I have had for horses to watch out for this season, a big thank you to you all the trainers, especially if the horses win!

John O'Shea (Westbury on Severn)

Kanpai - he is back after injury, so hold on to your hats - oh boy does he look good! If you think he was good in 2006, just watch him go this season, he is going to be awesome - well that is what I think! His loveable trainer tells me that Kanpai is better than ever and also watch out if A.P. McCoy is on board.

Richard Phillips (Adlestrop)

King Jack - Richard tipped me this one last year and he won for us. The trainer thinks a lot of him, so watch out for him again, he could be the leader of the pack.

Charlie Longsdon (Sezincote)

Charlie is struggling to make up his mind and saying "I've got some lovely horses in my yard" before adding it would be either Otage De Brion or Songe, who finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the 2008 festival. I agree Charlie's got some really nice horses. I like You Do The Math.

Jonjo O'Neill (Jackdaws Castle)

I spoke to Jonjo at Stratford-on-Avon and he told me that Wichita Lineman is going novice chasing this season, so look out for him in all the big novice chases and the big one at the 2009 festival. If all goes well he could well have a pop at the 2010 Gold Cup. Oh boy, wouldn't that be grand!

Kahlil J. Burke

Kahlil is not based in Gloucestershire anymore, so all the best to him in his new yard in Wales, especially as he tells me Raysrock is a lovely horse who could go well this season.

That is it for Gloucestershire trainers, so what about those in the rest of Great Britain, Ireland and Germany?

Lucinda Russell (Kinross)

Quws Law is going novice chasing this season. He is a lovely big horse, has won an Irish point-to-point and Lucinda tells me his jumping is lovely.

We like Shoreacres a lot, he's probably my nicest, but we have lots of other nice horses, lets hope they all win! Brendan Powell

Philip Hobbs (Minehead)

Ring the Boss is another who is going novice chasing this season, so look out for him in two-mile contests on soft ground or two-and-a-half mile races on good ground. Let us hope he is as good as Phillip's tip last year - he gave us Snap Tie who won once and was placed three times in four races at Cheltenham.

Brendan Powell (Upper Lambourn)

"We like Shoreacres a lot, he's probably my nicest, but we have lots of other nice horses, lets hope they all win," Brendan told me. Well we can all dream can't we?

Peter Monteith (Rosewell, Midlothian)

Quicuyo - Peter knows how to train horses and with owners like David Johnson, who has got a lot of horses in his yard, look out for him because this could be his year.

Charlie Swan (County Tipperary)

Glenstal Abbey had just one run last season and finished fourth in a grade three race at Fairyhouse. I like him a lot and if Charlie likes him that is good enough for me.

Christian Von der Becke (Weilerswirst)

He told me that Champus, who is now at Noel Meade's yard, is a good horse. Perdur is the one to keep an eye on from Christian's yard near Cologne, in Germany, as apparently he is going well at home.

That is all I have got at the moment, let's hope they all win.

In my November update, I will hopefully have some more for you and, who knows, I might have the winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup for you.

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