RACING: Leading Irish jockeys on their festival favourites. Interviews by Brian O'Connor.

Barry Geraghty

"Cheltenham is at the back of our minds all year. Even when we start schooling young horses over fences in September and October, everyone's thinking this is an Arkle type or this is a SunAlliance horse.

"The Hennessy is the race of the year, class-wise, in this country as far as I'm concerned and I was lucky enough to win it on Alexander Banquet. But Cheltenham's races are all important."

Best chance of a winner: "Moscow Flyer (Arkle Trophy) has lots of class and the way he schools I can't understand how he has tipped up a couple of times. It's a good Arkle, but I'm very happy to be on this horse."

Other horse I'd like to ride: "I'd love to be on Istabraq. I rode Bust Out against him at Christmas and he beat me in spite of making a mistake at the third last, running free and having most things in the race go wrong."

Charlie Swan

"Racing is there to be enjoyed and people enjoy Cheltenham, so I don't think the festival can be over-rated. Prizemoney isn't the big issue, although the more the better. Cheltenham is more about tradition and the whole English versus Irish thing. It's our best against their best.

"I suppose my most memorable moment there was Istabraq winning his third Champion Hurdle. The whole thing about the blood in his nose beforehand just added to it."

Best chance of winner: "Hopefully Istabraq (Champion Hurdle) will be able to do it again. But I've also got Like-A-Butterfly and Bannow Bay, who've got good chances. To get a winner though takes a lot of luck."

Other horse I'd like to ride: "If Moscow Flyer jumps like he can, he must have a great chance in the Arkle. His hurdles form is far superior to any of the others."

Conor O'Dwyer

"I dragged the video of the Gold Cup in 1996 out recently and the thing that got me was going back into the parade ring after Imperial Call won. It was mad.

"It's different riding at the festival to anywhere else because we are under the spotlight more. I don't find the pressure to be too bad, but it's like that anywhere if you're riding for people who don't put you under unnecessary pressure."

Best chance of a winner: "It's definitely not a vintage Queen Mother Champion Chase and if I can get Native Upmanship jumping sharp, he must have a great chance. But he can be a bit slow sometimes. That's more of a worry than the ground."

Other horse I'd like to ride: "If Istabraq turns up alive, he'll do. Take him out of the race and it just looks like a decent handicap hurdle. He won't need to be at his best to win again."

Paul Carberry

"Cheltenham is a track where you really need to be on the ball. It's always on the turn, bar the time you get into the straight and then you've got the hill to cope with. You would think it wouldn't suit a galloper, but the hill and the gallop they go there evens it out. Any winner at the festival is enjoyable but I remember the SunAlliance on Looks Like Trouble was really great."

Best chance of a winner: "Usually it's the ones you fancy that run stink but Harbour Pilot (SunAlliance Chase) looks my best chance. Soft ground is not a must but he does prefer it."

Other horse I'd like to ride: "Everybody seems to be going for Istabraq and it's obvious because he's such an easy ride. He looks the one."