Yes, I know she looks like a school headmistress, or that dear aunty of yours who bakes lovely homemade scones, but beneath the cloche hat and the string of pearls Henrietta Knight is a seriously good racehorse trainer, writes Elliot Slater.

The lady who produced the mighty Best Mate to win three successive Cheltenham Gold Cups during the last decade has focused her gaze on the upcoming Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where her rising star Somersby will be sent into battle against the mighty Irish pairing of Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe.

Currently on offer in the Cheltenham Festival Betting with Ladbrokes at a best-priced 8/1 (generally 7/1), the six-year-old Second Empire gelding has impressed in his two outings over the larger obstacles this term. He cruised around Warwick to justify favouritism on his chasing bow, before taking the scalp of the useful Crack Away Jack in a Grade 2 event at Sandown last month.

Rather than court the headline writers, Knight is to send Somersby to Hereford for his final pre-Festival race. After this, if all goes well, it will be full steam ahead for the Arkle.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Somersby has already shown a liking for Cheltenham having run a blinder when third at 40/1 in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, behind Go Native and Medermit.

Furthermore, ‘The Hen’s’ latest rising star has always looked as if his career would only really take off when he faced fences and that anything he did over hurdles would be a distinct bonus.

If you think that Ms Knight is on the verge of unleashing another Cheltenham champion, then maybe now is the time to step up and have a bit of 8/1 on her imposing looking charge winning on the opening day of the Festival.

Meanwhile, most pundits think you can bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup glory for either Denman or Kauto Star with few experts predicting other horses will get a look in during the race.