They are joined by a host of others who might otherwise have been heading to Aintree at the start of next month – including several British hopefuls, despite the fact horses are currently not permitted to travel from overseas to race in Ireland.

Willie Mullins finished Wednesday on a high note, likening Ferny Hollow’s win in the bumper to scoring a goal just before half-time. I take heart from this. The second half is about to begin and I’m still in the game.

The was a sense of foreboding around Cheltenham ahead of the opening race on day three of the Festival, those present waiting on news as to whether there would by a day four, writes Darren Norris

In victory, Put the Kettle On became the first mare to win the Arkle in 40 years, a notable achievement on the part of the 16-1 outsider.

A Plus Tard, Frodon and Min are three of 13 horses confirmed for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

I don’t understand the betting for today’s feature race, the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Funny sort of week. Great week for Willie and a brilliant week for Paul Townend, but it was a funny week for me.

We drew a blank yesterday but most of the horses ran very well, writes Ruby Walsh.

While most Irish eyes will be on the jumps finale at Punchestown today, this afternoon also sees this season’s British National Hunt campaign draw to a close at Sandown.

Pat Kelly has pulled off some jaw-dropping tricks at Cheltenham this last three years, but the man’s ability to slip into the shadows in the winner’s enclosure while thousands toasted his genius has to be right up there.

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan expects his star mare Baie Des Iles to give another good account of herself in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse today.

Enda Bolger led the tributes to JT McNamara after the former leading amateur rider died aged 41.

It’s rarely mentioned now, but Ruby Walsh’s first ride at the Cheltenham Festival wasn’t exactly smooth.

It’s Thursday. The worst and weakest card of the festival. Eww. But that’s not all.

The exciting Limini gets the nap to take this afternoon’s mares’ novices’ hurdle for the dominant Willie Mullins-Ruby Walsh team.

Won 10 times by the Irish since the turn of the century, the raiding party is headed by the highly regarded Min. 

Gary Moore has raised the possibility of Sire De Grugy wearing a pair of blinkers as he attempts to regain his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown next week.

The Tullow Tank is being prepared for next month’s Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse following a wasted journey to the Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have done us proud this week and it would be silly not to place our faith in them at Cheltenham today.

Cause Of Causes gave his owner JP McManus a special 64th birthday present when opening his account over fences in the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Selectivity and discipline are the key ingredients for any punter who harbours hopes of making a profit at Cheltenham this week, writes Pat Keane.

Theatre Queen is set to turn out quickly for next week’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following her remarkable effort in defeat at Doncaster on Saturday.

Ruby Walsh has promised that his head will rule his heart when it comes to making a decision on whether to ride Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday.

Dogora should get off the mark over fences - at the eighth attempt - in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase in Fairyhouse.

Ladbroke Hurdle winner Bayan is on target for the Prix Juigne at Auteuil on March 1 which would make him unlikely to take up his entry in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere and last year’s Aintree winner Pineau De Re star among 98 entries for the Crabbie’s Grand National on April 11.

Willie Mullins expects Annie Power to return to full training following the busy Christmas period after scans revealed her injuries were not as bad as first feared.

Gordon Elliott tells Caroline Whelan that he’s really looking forward to next week’s Galway Festival…

I doubt there is a racing fan that will want to miss the battle between Hurricane Fly and Jezki in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Paul Webber is ready to let Cantlow carry what could be top-weight in the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Answered could provide the solution to a cracking renewal of the Group 3 P W McGrath Memorial Stakes at Navan this afternoon.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son, Sam, have enjoyed unprecedented success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1m (€1.2m) renewal of the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Connections of Jezki are keen to let the dust settle after his Champion Hurdle triumph before deciding on plans for the remainder of the season.

Ted Walsh has just one bullet to fire at Cheltenham, Foxrock in today’s four-mile National Hunt Chase.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m (€1.2m) Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

Super Duty and Hadrian’s Approach return to Newbury today for a very different event to their previous encounter at the Berkshire course.

Richard Johnson has been booked by the Grand National-winning team of Sue and Harvey Smith for Hennessy Gold Cup contender Cloudy Too.

Willie Mullins has had a tremendously successful Punchestown Festival and holds strong claims in a number of races this afternoon, but the champion trainer will have one eye on Sandown this afternoon when Away We Go takes in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Today is all about one of my favourite horses, Hurricane Fly, in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle.

Spent a good few hours last Saturday morning studying the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.