BETS are on for a great evening at a Vale village pub as it welcomes a horse trainer, jockey, bookmaker and historic silks as a preview for this year's Cheltenham Festival.

The Fleece in Bretforton is saddling up on Sunday, March 8, at 7pm, and welcoming racing experts as part of a fundraising event for The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust and the Injured Jockey's Fund.

Famous faces in the world of horse racing including Phil Smith, head of handicapping at the British Horseracing Authority, Dan Skelton, upcoming young trainer, Sam Twiston-Davis, stable jockey for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, Andy Smith, bookmaker and Richard Phillips, popular local trainer and raconteur, will be dishing out advice to guests.

The evening will have particular interest for Sue Sollis, founder of The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust.

She said: "I have inherited my great grandfathers racing silks and spurs, dating back to around 1890. His name was Frederick Weston Talbot, he used to work with horses, was a jockey then a coachman in Kensington and rode for Lord Rosebury.

"As well as my delight that The Fleece is supporting the charity, I am delighted to be able to speak to these experts and hopefully throw some light on the story behind my great grandfather’s silks, because from the historical research I have done, the colours differ to those of Lord Rosebury.

"It will be a great preview to this year’s Cheltenham."

Nigel Smith, landlord of The Fleece, added: "We are known here for our love of the Cheltenham Festival, and every year we like to mark the occasion in style.

"These experts will bring added interest as we prepare for the Festival. I’ll be interested too to learn more about the story behind Sue’s silks."

Tickets for the Cheltenham Festival preview cost £10 each and can be bought from thefleeceinn.co.uk.