Jezki’s meritorious defeat of old adversary Hurricane Fly in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, thrilling in its execution, proved a temporary interruption to the Willie Mullins Punchestown Show as the champion trainer completed a near 3,274-1 five-timer on the undercard on day three of the festival.

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. 

It was the perfect conclusion to an imperfect campaign.

It is Round Four for the season in Ireland between Hurricane Fly and Jezki but it is a battle with a difference this time, taking place over three miles in the World Hurdle (5.30). 

Jessica Harrington stood relieved and thrilled in equal measure in the Liverpool sunshine yesterday after Jezki brought a frustrating run of results to an end with victory in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle.

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

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

It’s here! And I’m losing already.

"I made money nearly every day last year," John Francome begins before delivering the punchline with precision timing.

Paul Townend is under no illusions about the task facing Hurricane Fly ahead of his bid to regain the Stan James Champion Hurdle for a second time at Cheltenham tomorrow.

It is the question I have been bombarded with for months now: Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle?

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.

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 on March 10.

Ruby Walsh feels his younger weighroom colleagues are too intimidated to slag him off when he has a bad day.

At Leopardstown last Sunday Bishops Road beat Heathfield by a head in a modest handicap chase.

Charlie Swan expects Ruby Walsh to desert Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, despite his historic fifth victory in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

What is left to say about the extraordinary Hurricane Fly, one off the greatest National Hunt horses of all time?

Willie Mullins admits conditions at Leopardstown are "probably not ideal" for Hurricane Fly as he goes in search of a record fifth victory in tomorrow’s BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle.

I’m off on my travels again today, heading to Doncaster for just one ride, Analifet, in a Grade 2 hurdle for mares, says Ruby Walsh.

Jezki remains on course for another clash with great rival Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle back at Leopardstown on January 25.

There’s a real hint of the Christmas blues about Irish racing this weekend, with small fields essentially the order of the day at both Cork this afternoon and Naas tomorrow.

The remarkable Hurricane Fly got the better of a thrilling duel with Jezki in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Hurricane Fly and Jezki face off for the sixth time at Leopardstown today in a fascinating clash for the Ryanair Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls tightened his stranglehold on the William Hill King George VI Chase when 15-8 favourite Silviniaco Conti provided him with a record ninth success in the St Stephen’ s Day feature at Kempton.

Faugheen was a hugely impressive winner of the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton to strengthen his grip on the Champion Hurdle market.

A quality field of 15, including the last two winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, remain in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Mark Walsh has been lined up to ride Jezki in Sunday’s StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in the event Barry Geraghty is unavailable.

Ruby Walsh is confident Hurricane Fly’s advancing years were not to blame for his disappointing effort in last week’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Proud owner Andy Stewart insists Big Buck’s remains at the top of his game at the age of 11 and expects him to fight all the way in an attempt to regain his stayers’ crown at Cheltenham.

Jockey Ruby Walsh felt Hurricane Fly lacked his renowned finishing kick in his failed defence of the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki, fourth of four behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown, turned the form right around when storming to victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

And so the great day has dawned.

One of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar gets under way today as thousands of punters descend on Cheltenham for Gold Cup week.

Stan James Champion Hurdle

Leading owner Andy Stewart has welcomed the news Annie Power will take on Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Our Conor left Dessie Hughes more than satisfied as he went through his paces in the now-traditional after-racing Cheltenham gallops at Leopardstown yesterday.

Ruby Walsh is confident Hurricane Fly will finally “show England what he’s shown Ireland” at Cheltenham next month and win a third Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins has sounded a cautious note about a potential Stan James Champion Hurdle bid for the exciting Un De Sceaux.

Leading owner Rich Ricci trusts Willie Mullins to make the right call over which race the much debated Annie Power should contest at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Willie Mullins concedes Hurricane Fly faces a “hell of a test” in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Hurricane Fly will have to put a late scare behind him when he bids to claim an historic fourth successive victory in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Dessie Hughes insists Our Conor “couldn’t be better” ahead of his second crack at Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 26.

Well, those who were of the opinion that most of the top horses in the country were housed in the one place, at Willie Mullins’, discovered it wasn’t quite as simple as that over the four days of the Leopardstown Christmas festival Mullins had a reasonably good meeting, winning six of the 28 races, but his dominance was nowhere near as pronounced as some might have anticipated.

Trainer Jessica Harrington has confirmed Jezki will tackle the brilliant Hurricane Fly for a second time in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 26.