The countdown to The Festival™ has already started and this year Cheltenham Racecourse has teamed up with one Cheltenham Local who has decided if you can't beat them join them in his quest to become Cheltenham Ready. Dom Joly, local resident and best known as the star of Trigger Happy TV will film a four-part series where he discovers how to get ready for the Cheltenham Festival. 
 
The first episode follows Dom to London where he visits tailors, Dress 2 Kill who are on hand to advise on what Dom should wear to the races. With the help of SKY Sports presenter Rachel Wyse, he chooses his tweed outfit that he will wear on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 14.
 
Dom admits he is horse savvy but when it comes to knowing much about horse racing and understanding racing terminology and jargon this is where he stumbles. On Saturday, January 27, Festival Trials Day, Dom visited the yard of Fergal O'Brien to meet three horses who were racing that day. Getting up ridiculously early (his words!), Dom met Fergal at the yard where he visited the gallops, had a tour of the yard and chatted to a jockey Sam Twiston-Davies who gave Dom an insight into life as a jockey, while Fergal chatted to him about life as a trainer and most importantly the chances of the three horses running that afternoon at Cheltenham.
 
Sounding the part, Dom later at the racecourse met with bookmaker Simon Wallis of White Sunderland who gave him a quick guide into betting. Visiting the weighing room Dom met with jockeys who had just been weighed out for their race.
 
The day proved to be very insightful to Dom and he admitted he was actually starting to enjoy himself and getting into the swing of The Festival™.
 
The final episode will be filmed on Ladies Day, dressed in his new Racing Outfit, Dom will get to walk the course before racing and even try and enter the #ColourMeMarch competition to win a mini (this is only open to Ladies!). Dom will get tips on the best places to eat and drink, where to watch the races and enjoy the start of the day in the Guinness Village.
 
Dom Joly said: "Living so close to The Festival, it's great that I finally get a chance to get an insider's view of the affair. I'm enjoying the experience greatly."
 
Tickets are still available to The Festival - to book visit www.thefestival.co.uk or call 0344 579 3003.
 
To watch the first in the series, please visit www.thefestival.co.uk/domjoly