It’s one of biggest racing weeks of the year in the racing world with terrific domestic action at Galway as well as a stellar meeting at Goodwood. Here’s five things to keep in mind over the next six days.

Noel Meade has taken Road To Riches for a racecourse gallop at Fairyhouse as he builds up his work ahead of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6.

There are 14 top-class chasers remaining in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

Noel Meade is set to rely upon likely outsider Texas Jack in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase on Sunday after the trainer confirmed Road To Riches and Apache Stronghold will miss the Grade One.

Connections of Lord Windermere are confident the 2014 hero can put up a bold defence of his Gold Cup tittle at Prestbury Park today.

The featured Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup brings down the curtain on a remarkable week of racing and such is the momentum behind the Willie Mullins team, it’ll be no surprise if the meeting’s leading trainer lands his maiden success in this race with any of his three charges, writes Tommy Lyons.

Fortune has not always favoured Noel Meade at the Cheltenham Festival, but the seven-times champion Irish trainer is hoping Road To Riches can enjoy the rub of the green in this year’s Gold Cup.

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

Nicky Henderson is optimistic about the chances of Sprinter Sacre regaining the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Jonjo O’Neill believes ante-post favourite Shutthefrontdoor has been allotted a “fair weight” for this year’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree.

The Tullow Tank is set to be prepared for the Cheltenham Festival following a much improved effort at Leopardstown.

Owner Barry Connell believes Foxrock will not be out of place in tomorrow’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins expects Boston Bob to strip a bit fitter for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown tomorrow than he did for the Lexus Chase at the same venue over Christmas.

Paul Nicholls will step up the work of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Silviniaco Conti and Sam Winner in the coming days.

Tim Doyle has no intention of preparing stable star Mallowney for a trip to the Cheltenham Festival following his brilliant victory at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Jim Culloty blamed the ground for Lord Windermere’s below-par run in the Lexus Chase over Christmas and all roads still lead to a defence of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, for which 35 entries have been revealed.

Hurricane Fly has frightened away most of the opposition as only eight horses have been entered for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 25.

Fears that Willie Mullins would completely dominate the National Hunt campaign have proved largely unfounded.

Silviniaco Conti is likely to head straight for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Back in Leopardstown this afternoon for what will be a busy few days and I get started on Buiseness Sivola, for Willie Mullins, in the juvenile hurdle.

Ruby Walsh was delighted that Un De Sceaux put a fall on his chasing debut firmly behind him with an impressive victory at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson is “reasonably confident” that Bobs Worth will run in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

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.

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.

Davy Russell and Philip Enright are free to ride at the big Christmas festivals after the five-day bans they received for the ’whip borrowing’ incident at Clonmel on December 7 were reduced to two days on appeal.

Willie Mullins has given Un De Sceaux a surprise entry in the Swift First Time Right Novices’ Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Irish stars Gordon Lord Byron and Sole Power were out of luck in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, which was won by Aerovelocity at Sha Tin yesterday.

A crucial scan early next month is likely to determine when top-class chaser Flemenstar can make his return to competitive action.

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.

Gordon Lord Byron will be prepared for a trip to Hong Kong in December after a potential Breeders’ Cup mission failed to materialise.

Nicky Henderson believes Silviniaco Conti is the major obstacle in Bobs Worth’s defence of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup title today.

Bobs Worth is likely to have a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Sunday as Nicky Henderson puts the finishing touches to his preparation ahead of the defence of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.

My Tent Or Yours is likely to go down the racecourse gallop route in his preparation for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after trainer Nicky Henderson ruled out a trip to Wincanton.

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

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.

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

Paul Nolan has warned that Defy Logic in unlikely to run at Leopardstown over Christmas unless ground conditions ease at the Dublin track.