WE might have been a bit blasé about the effects of global warming to the racing scene but suddenly, after an unprecedented dry February, March is here and the Cheltenham Festival on the doorsteps.

With more dry and cold weather next week and the potential for rain the following week, according to some forecasters, the going could have as big an effect on your ante-post wagers as the much-awaited handicap weights which came out this week.

Some forecasts predict extremely cold weather and snowfall to hit Britain between March 12th and 26th.

No one could envy Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin who said this week that: “We have not had any significant rainfall since January 15th.”

Bearing that in mind, I had a quick scout through some of the short-price favourites:

Facile Vega: Even though he is a more attractive 3/1 compared to where he was after Christmas, you have to take him on. Faster ground may not suit as he has a round action. His jumping was poor enough at the DRF,. Do horses win Festival Grade 1s off such a poor effort last time? Eleven of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Supreme.

And how good was last year’s bumper form? It’s difficult to know which of his stable companions will take him on but I’ll happily let him run with my cash elsewhere.

El Fabiolo: The Arkle has generally been a favourites’ race in the last decade or so, with seven odds-on winners since 2011 and eight of 12 being favourite. El Fabiolo overtook Jonbon after his Irish Arkle win but I am happy to stick with the Henderson horse as he is more likely to jump and travel.

Honeysuckle: Is she as good as she was? How far off her best might she need to be but still have the class to win over this extra half mile? Who will line up? Both Marie’s Rock and Epatante seem to have a decent turn of foot in the final stages that Honeysuckle may have lost.

Could go down to the rider in the saddle again as it did when Honeysuckle won her first Mares’ Hurdle three years ago. Echoes In Rain has also looked much improved this year. It’s not a race to play big in.

Gaillard Du Mesnil: Once, twice, third time a Festival winner? He is very short for the National Hunt Chase but is by far the best horse in the race. Then longer distance shouild cancel any faster ground worries. He should win.

Hermes Allen: The form of the Challow Hurdle has been boosted but how does that heavy ground contest fit into a Cheltenham race on much faster conditions? Paul Nicholls’ form in the novice hurdles has been poor since the rise of Mullins, no wins since 2011. There are enough challengers with decent form and less exposed. Oppose.

Energumene: An eight-length winner last year when his two main rivals did not complete which takes a little shine off that. For a reigning champion, he was disappointing when beaten in the Clarence House in January. Edwardstone was the eyecatcher in that race with the ground he made up. I’d be happy to take on the favourite.

Delta Work: The ground, the ground. Delta Work has never been a horse who travels easily in his races and made hard work of beating a 12-year-old Tiger Roll last year. On the plus side, his January run, giving away lots of weight, was decent. However, there are better horses in here this year. Stable companion Galvin would have his measure over normal obstacles, Snow Leopardess could well improve on the January run too, her first over banks, while Gin On Lime is an intriguing entry and her odds do not reflect her overall ability, while Franco De Port is also a solid graded performer. On faster ground, I’d swerve Delta at such short odds.

Mighty Potter: The biggest negative is still holding his Supreme disappointment from last year against him. But he has progressed with each outing over fences. Banbridge and Appreciate It provide decent opposition but I expect the Elliott horse to be too good.

Shishkin: At his best form - and there’s no reason to think he might not be - he wins. Riverside Theatre and Cue Card have won the Ascot race before the Ryanair, so there’s no reason a horse of his class can’t follow up.

Luccia: Five of the last seven winners were in the top three in the betting and she has looked well above average. Surely she wins.

Lossiemouth: Apart from the Leopardstown DRF blip, she has looked very professional and has been favourite all winter. But there are doubts now as to her mid-race speed and her two stable companions looked faster through the race. Despite the race being of a higher quality - only four of the last 12 Triumph winners were favourites. It’s hard to put Blood Destiny’s form in context but both he and Gala Marceau look stiff enough opposition so we will leave the favourite alone at 15/8.

Blazing Khal: He looks a risky favourite, being absent for so long with only three novice runs over hurdles. He did a lot to banish doubts to his place in the market on his return win in the Boyne Hurdle. There were a variety of opinions offered on how serious his subsequent small setback might be. However, it’s one of the most difficult and competitive races of the meeting. I think he’s short enough at 11/4.

Galopin Des Champs: Worthy favourite but the extra two furlongs remain a slight worry, albeit he impressed in the finish at Leopardstown. How the race is run will be key as we saw how a classy horses like A Plus Tard benefited from a slower pace in 2022 than 2021. The winners from the last two years - plus Noble Yeats, Stattler and Ahoy Senor - offer strong opposition though and it’s a ‘wait until closer to the Friday’ race as the going can play a big part.

Allegorie De Vassy: Undoubtedly high class but this is an odd race trying to put novice and experienced form together. She was lucky to keep the partnership with Paul Townend at Thurles though the form has been boosted. She has the scope to jump fences well, but Cheltenham will be less forgiving. She reportedly missed schooling in January so should improve but she is against some high quality mares. Magic Daze looked good at Naas and could push her on the jumping front and Impervious is there too.

Willie Mullins-trained second favourites have won the two runnings but this is a stronger renewal. At 13/8, theadvice is to leave her.