IT may have been a case of ‘woe, woe and thrice woe’ for Wales in a sport at which they usually excel – rugby – but a quartet of the principality’s finest will head to Cheltenham with serious hopes of taking significant prize money to the land of song.

Sean Bowen has conquered all before him in the past two seasons and will head to the meeting on course to retain his jockeys title, closing in on Sir A.P. McCoy’s all time annual total, but still in search of an elusive Festival winner, while his brother James also has an eye-catching book of rides confirmed.