The Racing Post sat down with four of racing's most successful trainers to find out a bit more about them.
Leading National Hunt trainers Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Joseph O'Brien and Olly Murphy will all be hoping for major winners at Cheltenham next week - but there is more to life outside the paddock.
We hear about their favourite foods, what they do in their down time, their celebrity crushes and their dream dinner party guests - not to mention their best non-racing tips for racing's biggest week in Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott
What would you eradicate from racing?
You won't like this answer - bad journalists.
Can you cook? What's your favourite meal
I can't cook at all, my favourite meal is steak.
Best holiday you've ever been on?
I like going to Portugal, I've been there a good few times. It's a nice place, I'm not one for going away for too long. A couple of days does me grand.
When you were growing up, who was your sporting icon?
Mick Lyons, he's a footballer in Ireland, GAA footballer.
All time favourite sporting moment?
For me, it's all about horse racing. I don't really follow many other sports. So I suppose winning the Grand National or the Gold Cup is my favourite sporting moment.
Tea or Coffee?
Tea.
Favourite Sport?
GAA football.
Favourite film?
The last film I watched, probably watched it 100 times is Green Mile.
What do you do after work?
I normally put my feet up and watch Home and Away.
Guilty Pleasure?
A guilty pleasure of mine is... I can't answer the truth or I will get in trouble! I like to enjoy myself outside of racing as well, you have to mix and balance it as well.
Celebrity Crush?
I don't know haven't a clue to be honest. Sandra Bullock, used to think she was lovely growing up.
Favourite chocolate bar?
Fruit and Nut.
Most famous person you've ever met?
Joseph O'Brien!
Give us a non-racing Cheltenham Festival tip?
Go down and have a look at the shops, they are very good. And definitely go into the Guinness Village for a pint, because I do every day before racing.
Three dream dinner party guests?
I am very lucky to have a lot of good friends, so it would literally be my best friends so I am happy with who they are.
Paul Nicholls
What would you eradicate from racing?
All this argument and hassle over prize money.
Three dream dinner party guests?
Sir Alex Ferguson, Ruby Walsh and I would like to have met Nelson Mandela.
Can you cook? What's your favourite meal
I can't cook and my favourite meal would be a traditional steak and chips.
Best holiday you've ever been on?
I've just had a fortnight in Barbados in January which was one of the best holidays I have ever had, with a lot of good people.
When you were growing up, who was your sporting icon?
Pass.
Favourite sporting moment?
When we had the one, two, three in the Gold Cup.
Tea or Coffee?
Tea, marginally.
Favourite Sport outside of racing?
Football.
Who is your team?
Manchester United.
Favourite film?
Love Actually.... sad!
How do you enjoy yourself after training?
Probably go to the local and have a couple of pints with my mates.
Guilty Pleasure?
Probably champagne.
Celebrity Crush?
Keira Knightley.
Favourite chocolate bar?
I used to love Mars bars but I try and avoid chocolate now!
Most famous person you've ever met?
The Queen!
Give us a non-racing Cheltenham Festival tip?
Just enjoy it, it's a special occasion.
Joseph O'Brien
What would you eradicate from racing?
More prize money would be good for everyone.
Can you cook? What's your favourite meal
I'm not a good cook at all, I can cook a steak that's about it. And that is my favourite meal!
Best holiday you've ever been on?
I've been lucky to go Barbados a few times. And I wouldn't change that place.
When you were growing up, who was your sporting icon?
Mick Kinane and Charlie Swan, the jockeys, Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen. They were the guys who I looked up to and they were my heroes.
All time favourite sporting moment?
Obviiusly when I won my first Derby that was a special day, that was I one I wouldn't mind doing again.
Tea or Coffee?
Coffee.
Favourite Sport?
Football.
Who is your team?
United.
Favourite film?
There's an Irish film called Man About Dog which is very funny.
What do you do after work?
Oh man, I wouldn't think I'd do much.
Guilty Pleasure?
I like just chilling out if I have an evening off. Netflix, the dog, me. What have I been watching at the moment? The Ted Bundy tapes actually - I just started it, I don't think I could finish it.
Celebrity Crush?
We had a day with Vogue Williams on the hill last week and she was lovely.
Favourite chocolate bar?
Picnic.
Most famous person you've ever met?
Gordon Elliott.
Give us a non-racing Cheltenham Festival tip?
Just enjoy the racing, take in the atmosphere and enjoy the racing.
Three dream dinner party guests?
Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Olly Murphy.
Olly Murphy
What would you eradicate from racing?
Laying horses. It brings a bad vibe to the game, I don't think it's a sport where you should be cheering on someone to lose.
Can you cook? What's your favourite meal
Yes I can cook, and a Chinese or sweet and sour chicken.
Best holiday you've ever been on?
Dubai.
When you were growing up, who was your sporting icon?
Christian Benteke playing for Aston Villa.
All time favourite sporting moment?
Any time Aston Villa beat Birmingham City.
Tea or Coffee?
Tea.
Favourite Sport?
Football, very boring.
Who is your team?
Aston Villa.
Favourite film?
Happy Gilmore.
What do you do after work?
Going down the local with a few mates.
Guilty Pleasure?
My mobile phone.
Celebrity Crush?
We had a day with Vogue Williams on the hill last week and she was lovely.
Favourite chocolate bar?
Kinder Bueno.
Most famous person you've ever met?
Pass.
Give us a non-racing Cheltenham Festival tip?
Get down to the Guinness Village for a drink.
Three dream dinner party guests?
Richard Phillips, Cristiano Ronaldo and Cameron Diaz. She's my celebrity crush.
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Credit: Paul Nicholls, Gordon Elliott, Joseph O'Brien and Olly Murphy were speaking to RacingPost.com
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