The five types of punter you’re going to see in your local bookie during Cheltenham

The biggest betting bonanza of the year, the Cheltenham Festival, is rapidly approaching so we thought we'd have a look at the types of punter you are bound to encounter next week.

The first-timer: Yes, these innocents still exist and at this time of year they tend to swim into the choppy waters of your local bookie. Venture into any packed bookmaker's office and you will find the flustered novice trying to work out where to go and what exactly to write on the docket. It all sounded so easy when Andy from Accounts told you to put a score on the Ruby Walsh horse in the Albert Bartlett but now they realise they have no idea what that sequence of words means. If one of these poor unfortunates crosses your path, treat them as you would a learner driver on the road; give them a chance and be patient, we were all gambling virgins once. The pro: This is the fella who is in the shop for a Wednesday afternoon meeting from Ffos Las, so he hates Cheltenham week when his beloved sanctuary becomes thronged. As a racing fan he relishes the biggest and best names going head-to-head but he misses the peace and quiet of the shop that he enjoys for the majority of the year. Other tell tale signs of the hardened pro is the fact he will be using his own pen, has the best seat in the house in front of the TV and his Racing Post is immaculately folded. Don't ask him for tips, he's working. The lunchtime sprinter: If you are heading to the bookies in the next few weeks, try and avoid this fella. He has wolfed down his lunch, grabbed a paper and had a look at the form on the way to the shop. He is rushed, frantic and he only has a few minutes before he has to get back to work. Do not get in his way as you may well get mown down as he tries to get seven or eight bets on in about 30 seconds. If, or when, we finally get Cheltenham week off as a national holiday, this guy will no longer exist. Until then, he must be tolerated. The 'This is my Christmas' punter: This gambler takes Cheltenham week off work every year, and he will make the most of it. Of course, he will have been building up various pots over the season on his fancies, so the week itself is to be enjoyed as he hopefully reaps the rewards of all his hard work. Up in time to watch The Morning Line every day of the Festival, this punter will be seen shuttling from the boozer to the bookie at frightening pace during the meeting, especially if a big winner has landed. This fella will have planned out everything, including his budget, meticulously so he won't go too far, and he will enjoy the week, win or lose.  The average JOE: The one week he will take a keen interest in the GGs, this punter will be seen popping in to have a  few quid on the big names. Hurricane Fly, Big Bucks and Quevega are the names he knows and they are the names he will sticking with, though at short odds, he might throw them into a double with a tip he got from Andy from Accounts (he gets around does Andy). He'll definitely have a few bob on the Gold Cup too, but with the big names gone from this year's race, he'll be using the pinstick method to chose between the contenders this year. Patriotic pride will also play a part, and he cleaned up last year as the Irish trained winners totalled a record 14. That kept our average JOE in pocket change well into April so he is hoping for a repeat. Can be oft spotted muttering the mantra 'Walsh and Mullins, Walsh and Mullins', like some sort of prayer.