The Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us and Prestbury Park went through its final dress rehearsal before the biggest jumps meeting on the planet begins in just five and a nose weeks time. Saturday's Trials Day gave us more than a taste of what's to come in March. But it all nearly didn't happen. Those who snuck out of bed to watch The Morning Line were told that, with the ground frozen overnight, the odds were against them running. But I think the Channel 4 team had too much fun in the bar the night before as, thankfully for one client, Doncaster was the big one to go. So after buying the meeting's Starting Prices at 47 for £45 our man was hopeful that the soft ground would upset the odds. But the odds weren't just upset, they were in tears as 8/15 jolly and Nicholls starlet Pistolet Noir was comfortably beaten when Baccalaurete landed the Finesse Hurdle. Oh yeah, it was a 100/1 shot as well! Our traders might as well have gone home as the biggest shock so far in the calendar year had happened. The punter's fun didn't stop there as 16/1 shot Taranis upset Gold Cup hope Carruthers while at 14/1 Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay turned back the clock to beat a decent field. The final SP total of 150 meant our man increased his Festival fund considerably by £4,635.

Here's a little insight into my weekend activities. Mrs Mole away for long weekend = Mr Mole punting like a maniac on one of his favourite sports, darts. Yes, my ITV4 minutes made up the maximum last weekend as I watched every bit of their Players Championship coverage. I love it, but this client didn't as a new tungsten star was born. Geordie-come-Aussie Paul 'The Asset' Nicholson found himself in the semis against you know who and the punter decided that a buy of you know who's Highest Checkout Supremacy over Nicholson at 24 was too good an opportunity to miss (for £20). They say that you know who hasn't had much time to practice since he won his 15th World title but he's no Ricky Hatton in between fights is he? Nevertheless Nicholson found himself 3-1 down early which would've perked the punter a little. But like Whitlock did at the Palace, the self-proclaimed bad boy hit some big checkouts. None bigger than the stunning 170 when you know who was waiting on 32 to go 5-4 up. It was not looking good for the client as Nicholson played the game of his life. Level on 9-9, you know who had the darts in the final leg only to lose as Nicholson finished on dangerous double 5. You know who only managed a 79 checkout to leave supremacy make-up at -91. A £2,300 loss.

Football United simply outclassed their London hosts on the way to a comprehensive 3-1 Sunday afternoon victory. United were the better team from start to finish, leaving Gunners fans complaining of a lack of penetration. The green and golds are up two points on our Premier League Championship Index to 44-47.

Rugby Union England begin their Six Nations campaign with a tricky tie against 2008 Champions Wales on Saturday. Martin Johnson's boys were booed off the field at Twickenham in the autumn but the coach has promised a more attacking style of Rugby. Punters have reacted by getting long of England Tournament points all week and the market is now up two points to 102-107.

Rugby League The Leeds Rhinos are due to release a gospel song, but it hasn't made them a soft touch. They ran out comfortable 34-6 winners against Crusaders in their opener last week. The defending Super League champs are up two points to 43-46 on our Super League Outright Index.


Sporting video fun

First up is Guti who has recently contracted the football version of dartitis. Then, for those of you who haven't seen Boom Boom Afridi eat the cricket ball, you have now.