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Sir Alex Ferguson leads Cheltenham fever as UK battle for 'horse racing's Ryder Cup'

Cheltenham is kicking off on Tuesday, with horse racing trainers from Great Britain and Ireland set to battle it out who can school the most winners at the races

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Sir Alex Ferguson will be sure to feature in the coming week(Image: PA)

Brit-clop fever is set to sweep Cheltenham with UK horses in the running to lift racings Ryder Cup for the first time in 10 years led by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Trainers from Great Britain and Ireland battle it out annually to see who can school most winners in the 28 races at the four-day festival starting on Tuesday (March 11). It mirrors in intensity golfs Europe v USA bi-annual fight for the Ryder Cup.

At Cheltenham the winning country lifts the Prestbury Cup - named after the nearest village to the racecourse and containing a chunk of its hallowed turf. Britain has not won since 2015 and four years ago Ireland walloped the home nation 23-5.

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Britain hasn't won the Prestbury Cup since 2015 (file)(Image: GETTY)

But this year bookies reckon the Brits could be great and have a chance of finally regaining the trophy thanks to a stable of up-and-coming young horses. Bookmakers have calculated Ireland leads 4-2 in festival certs seemingly sure-fire winners.

But they think a wealth of rookie racehorses could spring surprises and swing the cup Britains way. Manchester United legend Fergie leads the home charge with seven horses expected to run across the week.

Protektorat and Monmiral are both seeking to win at Cheltenham for the second year in the row.

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The country is set to be engulfed in 'Brit-clop' fever (file)(Image: Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Other Fergie fancies include LEau Du Sud, Potters Charm, Hitman, Caldwell Potter and Il Ridoto. Top thoroughbreds Constitution Hill and Jonbon are heavily backed to bring it home for Britain too.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: Britpop characterised British music in the mid-1990s. Perhaps this years Cheltenham Festival is about to experience some Britclop.

Britain has struggled for some time. But an indication of their strength this year is that theyre only around evens to have 12 victories. Right now we only make GB 8-1 to win 15. That would be enough to give the Brits the cup for the first time in a decade.

Paul said the Turners Novices Hurdle on Wednesday may give an early indication of where the Prestbury Cup could go.

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Cheltenham is set to take centre-stage this week (file)(Image: Sportsfile via Getty Images)

It exemplifies the fierce rivalry between the two sides brilliantly with hardly anything in the betting between the Green teams hope Final Demand and The New Lion attempting to roar to a home defence.

Fergies Potters Charm should be right in there too. Anything can happen in racing.

Perhaps team GB will be able to conduct a smash and grab raid similar to Liverpools against PSG in the Champions League last week.

If the Brits do somehow manage to muster a `Fergie time winner perhaps Sir Alex will lead a rousing chorus of the National Anthem in the winners enclosure at the close of proceedings.

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