England’s champion trainer is a proven expert when it comes to the subject and a staggering strikerate of 36% over the last fortnight suggests he’s hitting top form at just the right time with the Festival just around the corner.

One of four Grade Twos down for decision at Kempton today, the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle has previous form revealing an 11th hour contender for the Triumph Hurdle.

Will it all end in tears, just like Samcro?

It’s a case of quantity over quality in Britain this afternoon with the bulk of the ITV4 action coming from Musselburgh, where the feature race is the Queen’s Cup Stakes.

This afternoon's meeting at Fairyhouse has been abandoned because of a waterlogged track.

Extending Cheltenham to four days has seriously diluted what’s on offer and it is very much illustrated by this afternoon’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

With the Cheltenham Festival moving tantalisingly into view the fare in Britain this afternoon is understandably less than stellar.

Annacotty will attempt back-to-back victories in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 12.

Paul Nicholls has won a 10th National Hunt trainers' championship at Sandown following second place for Just A Par in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls extended his lead over Willie Mullins in a pulsating duel for the British trainers’ championship when enjoying a 54th birthday 20-1 four-timer at Wincanton yesterday.

Willie Mullins is confident Annie Power will not be beaten for a lack of pace when she bids to make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival in today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Victoria Pendleton faces the crucial moment in her Cheltenham Festival quest today as a decision on whether she will ride in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase will be announced at a press conference in London.

Rayvin Black is unlikely to be in action at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following his tremendous all-the-way victory in Saturday’s Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Paul Nicholls has warned punters not to leave Saphir Du Rheu out of calculations for the Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Officials at Chepstow are optimistic Saturday’s Coral Welsh Grand National will go ahead after being given the green light to move the feature event to a slot earlier in the afternoon.

Mouse Morris expects Alpha Des Obeaux to raise his game when he encounters better ground in the spring after filling the runner-up spot for the sixth time in eight starts at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins struck gold with his first ever runner at Taunton as Myska kept her unbeaten record intact in the Happy New Year From totepool Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.

In-form trainer Harry Fry sees Jolly’s Cracked It’s “love of Ascot” as a major positive ahead of his return to the track for the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle today.

Bookmakers were breathing a sigh of relief last night after a reported gamble on four horses trained by Sheena West and owned by Daniel Steele flopped.

Another week when we could only be inspired by the breadth of vision shown by sporting luminaries in the constant quest for improvement.

This looks like it’ll hurt in the morning.

Alison Delve will achieve a lifelong dream at the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow as part-owner of Coral Cup contender Shammick Boy.

I suppose I can say now that I have had a fair idea that I was going to pick Faugheen over Hurricane Fly for the Champion Hurdle for a while.

Trainer Shark Hanlon is leaning towards the Ryanair Chase with Hidden Cyclone following Cue Card’s defection.

Irving’s participation in next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham is in doubt.

Emma Lavelle will consider a tilt at the Weatherbys Champion Bumper for See The World following his extraordinary performance at Wincanton on Thursday.

Connections of Jezki were happy enough with his run behind Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown on Sunday despite losing out to his old adversary for a fifth time.

Pat Fahy has been forced to abandon plans to bring Morning Assembly back in time for the major spring Festivals.

Saturday’s galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham looks like being an informative affair after 12 entries were revealed.

Sprinter Sacre, the highest-rated chaser in training, spearheads six confirmations for the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Sire De Grugy is on course to return to action at Newbury next month ahead of his bid to retain his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown.

Willie Mullins thinks Faugheen (pictured) has made "extraordinary" progress ahead of his latest big-race assignment in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Friday

Sam Twiston-Davies believes The New One needs to win today’s StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham today to keep his Champion Hurdle dreams firmly alive.

The New One could face as many as nine rivals in the www.StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.