I would really love to win the race, not just for me, but for Willie Mullins, writes Ruby Walsh

Leading French jockey Jacques Ricou will arrive in Ireland for the first time later this week after signing up for a winter stint riding out for Willie Mullins.

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs made a successful return to action after 691 days on the sidelines, when delivered with a well-timed challenge to land the Listed Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase yesterday afternoon at Thurles.

The Cheltenham Bumper winner for 2017 may well have been sorted yesterday when a half-brother to the versatile Publican and the winning mare, Misspublican, was knocked down to Harold Kirk at Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sales for a world record for a national hunt three-year-old store of €320,000.

When the 2014 Cheltenham Festival was done and dusted, and everyone else’s thoughts had migrated towards the approaching due ands of Aintree and Punchestown, Willie Mullins’ mind lingered for a mite longer on Prestbury Park.

Top Notch represents a good value bet in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, writes Tommy Lyons.

Boston Bob and On His Own are both in line to represent Willie Mullins in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown as the champion trainer bids to win one of the Festive period’s biggest prizes for the first time.

Last Monday the Racing Post produced a pullout detailing the ammunition currently residing at Willie Mullins’ Co Carlow base.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins believes he has his strongest ever team with which to go to war with this season – a statement which will no doubt fill his contemporaries with dread.

Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours has been ruled out for the season after suffering a tendon injury.

Hurricane Fly is on target to try for a sixth successive win at the Punchestown Festival and could face stablemate Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle, which he has won for the last four seasons, on May 2.

Paul Nicholls is fancied to land a fifth Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon with the progressive Silviniaco Conti.

Every race counts for Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls in the many meetings they have had this season, but the one of greatest importance will unfold in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown is a great starting point for anyone attempting to identify possible Cheltenham festival winners.

Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs will miss the remainder of the current campaign after sustaining a tendon injury.

Davy Russell was yesterday fired as the number one rider to Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.

Bobs Worth bounced back from a disappointing seasonal reappearance to land the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Bobs Worth, is a welcome visitor to Leopardstown this afternoon for the Grade 1 Lexus Chase.

Part-owner Malcolm Kimmins feels Bobs Worth faces a “big ask” as the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero looks to get his season back on track in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown today.

Officials at Leopardstown will monitor weather conditions heading into the second day of the Christmas meeting with high winds and heavy rain forecast.

Big Buck’s took an important step ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action with a gallop before racing at Exeter yesterday.

The Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase proved a major anti-climax in Punchestown yesterday as the Willie Mullins-trained Arvika Ligeonniere coasted to an effortless nine lengths win over 2011 winner Rubi Light.

On a day when the John Berry-trained Cootamundra proved a shock winner of the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase, enthusiasts in Navan witnessed impressive victories by exciting novices and potential stars Apache Stronghold, Moyle Park and Ballycasey.

Willie Mullins plans to “keep things simple” with Hurricane Fly, with the dual Champion Hurdle hero likely to make his seasonal return in next month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Davy Russell retained his title as champion jump jockey in Ireland with his third century and a hatful of winners for many trainers.

Willie Mullins topped his own record as two Grade One victories on the final day helped him take his Punchestown Festival tally to 13 winners for the week.

Hurricane Fly joined Kauto Star as a 16-times Grade 1 winner when cruising to victory for Ruby Walsh in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last evening.

Willie Mullins Cheltenham Gold Cup dream is alive and kicking, following the game success of Sir Des Champs in the Bet Online With The Tote.com Gold Cup at Punchestown last night.

Donald McCain is unlikely to send Overturn for the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

Willie Mullins has confirmed his big guns on course for the Punchestown Festival later this month.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has revealed Long Run will be given an entry in the Grand National next year.

Long Run is set to make his first visit to Ireland for the tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on April 24.

Racing was the real winner, as Bobs Worth’s limitless stamina kicked in to land a decisive success in what was a fantastic Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham yesterday.

Barry Geraghty had retreated indoors cradling a hot cuppa and reflecting on his Gold Cup success on board Bob’s Worth when another reminder of National Hunt’s innate danger played itself out a few feet to his left.

Bobs Worth provided Nicky Henderson with a second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in three years under Barry Geraghty.

Bobs Worth, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Barry Geraghty, won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.