The ground wasn’t as slow as I thought it would be yesterday and it had an impact on all my rides, writes Ruby Walsh. 

There were so many good performances at Cheltenham this week it is hard to know where to start.

Gigginstown House Stud have begun finalising running plans for next week’s Cheltenham Festival and have confirmed crack novice Don Poli (pictured) an intended runner in Wednesday’s RSA Chase.

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

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.

Shay Barry is looking forward to a trip to the Cheltenham Festival with Bentelimar following his fine performance at Punchestown.

Tony Martin’s Cheltenham Festival hero Savello is set to make his seasonal reappearance over the Festive period.

Aldrewood is weighted to land the Grade 3 Star Best For Racing Coverage Chase in Punchestown.

Kid Cassidy (11st 10lb), second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in 2013 and the only horse to have lowered the colours of Sire De Grugy last season, heads the weights for next week’s thetote.com Galway Plate.

Shay Barry, who ended a long and successful riding career last year, registered his first training success when Cracked Rear View landed the bumper in Sligo last night, the www.coimtysligoraces.com Pro-Am Flat Race.

I have had over a week now to come to terms with the injury I suffered on the last day of the Cheltenham festival and am just making the best of things at the moment.

Charles Byrnes is looking forward to running Trifolium and Arnaud at the Cheltenham Festival following their fine efforts at the weekend.

Mossey Joe is likely to be targeted at the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for new trainer Enda Bolger after he was snapped up by leading owner Barry Connell.

Stephen Clements, a Cheltenham festival-winning jockey, enjoyed his biggest success in this country when driving Tony Martin’s Edeymi to victory in the Connacht Hotel Handicap at the first stage of Galway last night.

Colin Tizzard's veteran Oiseau De Nuit (20-1) provided young jockey Brendan Powell with an Aintree winner to follow up his Cheltenham success in the matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase.

I must start this week by telling you about my first ever trip to Japan last weekend.

Yesterday was a nearly day, as Jetson and Bostons Angel both ran their hearts out to be third and fourth.

Alderwood could well go back down the handicap route at this season’s Cheltenham Festival after making it third time lucky over fences at Navan on Sunday.

There was a fairytale 33-1 success for the connections of Lion Na Bearnai in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

To wrap up an outstanding final day for owner JP McManus and four-day meeting for Nicky Henderson, Bellvano took the closing Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, named after the winning trainer’s late father.

Big Buck’s put more than a smile on my face with a great performance in the World Hurdle yesterday.

THOSE who fancy Boston Bob at Cheltenham will be encouraged by the performance of Lyreen Legend in winning yesterday’s Grade 2 boylesports.com Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

Paul Nicholls says the coughing which affected around a dozen horses at his Somerset stables remains under control.

Sprinter Sacre steps out of novice company for the first time in the rescheduled Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury tomorrow.

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Mark Bradburne has decided to call time on his career in the saddle.

Young Tom Bellamy looks to have the world at his feet after producing a stylish ride on Swing Bill in the Irish Times Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Sanctuaire showed he had become the latest member of the Paul Nicholls team to have benefited from a breathing operation when bouncing back to his best in the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr today.

FERDY Murphy will send De Boitron and Riguez Dancer on the long journey down from North Yorkshire to Cheltenham for today’s and tomorrow’s meetings.

Ferdy Murphy will send De Boitron and Riguez Dancer on the long journey down from North Yorkshire to Cheltenham for Wednesday and Thursday’s meetings.

The Gold Cup is the most coveted prize in national hunt racing and being at Cheltenham on Gold Cup day is an unforgettable experience.

WHEN at Sandown last Saturday, I decided to give Willie Mullins a ring in an effort to firm up some plans for Cheltenham.

Owner David Sewell could have as many as three runners at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Shoreacres is being primed for a crack at the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham following his emphatic win at Taunton two weeks ago.

DIAMOND HARRY has been ruled out of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Brendan Powell has given Shoreacres a clean bill of health after his recent win and is thinking of a possible appearance at the Punchestown Festival.

What A Friend suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of his stable companion Noland in the Aon Chase at Newbury today.

Oscars Well is likely to head up a strong team for trainer Jessica Harrington at the Cheltenham Festival.

CHELTENHAM is a magical place and I am really looking forward to seven rides there this afternoon for Paul Nicholls.

After quite a civilised Festival in terms of Betfair activity, there were some significant winners and losers on Friday's Cheltenham card.

WELL, Master Minded certainly fluffed his lines yesterday and was never going to win the Champion Chase.

PAUL Nicholls believes Poquelin has every chance of reversing Paddy Power Gold Cup form with Irish raider Tranquil Sea as the pair clash again in the Ryanair Chase.