It's only around the corner now.
The cards on the Racing Post website are being studied frantically, the odds are being checked, the ante-post dockets are being filled. The jockeys are being coy, the trainers are giving nothing away, the owners reckon their lad "is in with a shout."
The punters are counting down the seconds to the roar, some are even travelling over to Pretsbury Park and they've told everybody they've met about that.
The buzz is here now. There's something about the Cheltenham festival. The cream of the Irish and the British horse racing crop clashing, the week that defines a whole year, can define a whole career for jockeys, trainers and owners.
What better way to ramp up the anticipation than to attend a preview night. Here's the dates and venues of the upcoming events. Most will kick off between 7.30 and 8.00.
Cheltenham preview nights
1. Park Hotel, Clonmel, Tipperary.
Tickets €20. (Proceeds to St Mary's hurling club Clonmel)
https://twitter.com/MCYeeehaaa/status/968108815722995712
On the panel is - Matt Chapman, Gary O’Brien, Davy Russell, Joseph O’Brien, Kevin Ryan.
2. Larry Tompkin’s Pub, Cork City.
Tickets €10. (Proceeds to Crumlin Children’s Hospital)
https://twitter.com/mahon999/status/968436672990982144
On the panel is - Charlie Swan, Tony Mullins, Enda Bolger and Colm O’Connell.
Wednesday, February 28
3. Kettles Hotel, Swords, Dublin.
Tickets €15.
On the panel is - Eamon Dunphy, Rob Catterson, Davy Russell, Jack Kennedy, Brian Flanagan, Andrew McNamara, The Couch, Denis Kirwan.
https://twitter.com/kettleshotel/status/967742762073325568
4. Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick.
Tickets €15 (€10 students) + Free €5 bet from Paddy Power.
On the panel is - David Casey, Donn McClean, Donagh Meyler, Sean Flanagan and Mark Boylan (MC).
https://twitter.com/AnFocal_UL/status/966051553005178882
5. Red Horse Inn, Cork.
Tickets €10 (In aid of Injured Jockeys Fund)
https://twitter.com/thinchion/status/968533443171749888
Thursday, March 1
5. Woodlands Hotel, Waterford.
Tickets €20.
On the panel is - Brian Gleeson (MC), John Francome, Jim McGrath, David Casey, Davy Russell, Tony Mullins Bryan Cooper, Nicola McGready (Ladbrookes), Ted Walsh and Dan Skelton.
https://twitter.com/WaterfordSport/status/968506738600304641
6. Kennedy’s Pub, Westland Row, Dublin.
Tickets €20. (Proceeds: Irish Injured Jockeys Fund)
On the panel is - David Jennings (MC), Johnny Ward, Mark Daveron, Kate Harrington and Patrick Mullins.
Friday, March 2
7. Swan Bar, Wexford.
Tickets €15.
On the panel is - Joseph O’Brien, Jamie Codd, Sean Flanagan & Mark Bolger.
8. Skerries Harps GAA, Dublin.
Tickets €10. (Proceeds to Cycle Against Suicide)
MC David Coughlan ( Daily Star): Panel Gary O’Brien (At The Races), David Jennings (Racing Post), Gavin Cromwell ( Trainer), Ado McGuinness ( Trainer), and Keith Donoghue ( Jockey).
Monday, March 5
9. Reardens Bar, Cork.
Tickets €20 (Proceeds to Irish Cancer Society/hurling for cancer research)
On the panel is - Ap McCoy, Matt Chapman, Davy Russell.
Tuesday, March 6
10. Ratoath GAA, Meath.
Tickets €20.
On the panel - Barry Geraghty, Ryan McHugh, Keith Donoghue, Tony Martin, Gavin Cromwell, Shark Hanlon, James Griffin.
https://twitter.com/RatoathGAA/status/696805286200414210
11. The Castle, Glanmire, Co Cork.
Tickets €15. (All proceeds to Alzheimer’s Society, St Luke’s home)
On the panel - Ap McCoy, Gary O Brien ATR, Kevin O Ryan MC. Joseph O Brien, Davy Russell.
Wednesday, March 7
12. Harcourt Hotel, D2 nightclub, Dublin
Tickets €20. (All proceeds to Irish Cancer society /hurling for cancer research)
On the Panel - Gordon Elliott, Joseph O'Brien, Sir Ap McCoy, Gary O Brien, David Casey assistant trainer Willie Mullins, Davy Russell, Kevin O Ryan (MC)
13. Paddy Power preview, Westmanstown sports centre, Dublin.
Tickets €20.
On the panel - Denis Kirwan MC, Ruby Walsh, Warren Greatrix, Jack Kennedy, Sean Flanagan, Rachael Blackmore, Dave Jennings (Racing Post), Andy Gibson (Professional Punter, Racing Analyst & TV Pundit), Paddy Power (Bookmaker), Conference Call with Willie Mullins.
Thursday, March 8
14. Hayes Hotel, Thurles.
Tickets €20.
https://twitter.com/ThurlesHour/status/955942106731892736
On the panel - On Nina Carbery, Joseph O'Brien, Ap McCoy, Gary O'Brien, Davy Russell , Kevin O'Ryan MC.
Friday, March 9
15. Silken Thomas, Kildare Town.
Tickets €20.
Kevin O’ Ryan – MC at the Races Presenter, Gordon Elliot – Trainer, Joseph O’Brien – Trainer, Mark Walsh – Jockey, Jack Kennedy – Jockey.
