Nigel Twiston-Davies’ impressive team are primed and ready for next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Guiting Power trainer has seen it, done it and won pretty much everything there is to win in the great sport that is National Hunt racing, but that doesn’t lessen his enthusiasm as he looks ahead to the four-day extravaganza which gets under way on Tuesday.

So says his assistant Carl Llewellyn who expects the stable to have “10 or 12” horses running at Prestbury Park and, as always, Twiston-Davies’ string will be among those pushing for the top prizes.

When Llewellyn spoke to The Local Answer yesterday morning, the rain was falling across the county and while many would have been yearning for a bit of last month’s sunshine, that wasn’t the case for Llewellyn, who said: “I hope it rains all day.”

Twiston-Davies’ horses historically run better when there’s been a bit of rain about, and he’s certainly got plenty who are capable of making a splash at Cheltenham next week.

They could get off to a flying start because Al Dancer is heavily backed in the opening race of the meeting, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm).

“He’s the favourite,” said Llewellyn of a horse who has won his last four races, including at Cheltenham in December.

There are also high hopes for Wholestone in the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday (3.30pm).

“His form at Cheltenham is good,” said Llewellyn. “He does seem to like Cheltenham and he’s run some great races there.

“It’s not the strongest Stayers’ this year and if he’s at his best he’s got a great chance.”

Four of the eight-year-old’s seven wins have come at Cheltenham and he is generally rated around 25-1 by the bookies for the big race in seven days’ time – Al Dancer is being offered at around 5-2.

Llewellyn, meanwhile, reckons that Twiston-Davies’ Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup hope – Bristol De Mai – is worth an each-way bet at around 25-1 in the showpiece race on Friday (3.30pm).

“The more rain that comes the better for him,” said Llewellyn. “He beat Native River when he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and Native River is the third favourite for the Gold Cup. He also beat Thistlecrack that day as well.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux and Might Bite, trained by Nicky Henderson, were also in the five-strong field that day and Llewellyn said of next week’s blue riband event: “It’s a very even race, there are plenty who will fancy their chances. You’ve got to be a strong stayer.”

So what does Llewellyn consider will be a good Festival for Twiston-Davies and his team?

“One winner of any race is a great year,” he said, “it doesn’t matter which race.

“In the longer term, Bristol De Mai running in the Gold Cup is fantastic. But what you hope for is that all the horses run to their ability and come back safely.”