Declan Lavery has had his 10-day riding ban quashed following an appeal heard by an independent disciplinary panel at the headquarters of the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday.

With the rain that fell yesterday afternoon and all that is expected today, Sams Profile can reverse recent form over Battleoverdoyen when they renew rivalry in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The day starts well. (Spoiler alert: it will not continue in this vein.)

If you’re determined to win green this week, stick with this trio, says our top tipster Tommy Lyons

The Unibet Champion Hurdle, the headline act on the opening day of the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, pits a hat-trick-seeking champion against a superstar mare as well as a mare with superstar potential

Tiger Roll is fast becoming one of the most popular racehorses in the land. While being bred for the flat and winning an Aintree Grand National is not unique – the last multiple victor of the Liverpool feature more than 40 years ago, Red Rum was a dead-heat winner on his debut over five furlongs – but the versatility and sheer breadth of achievement of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old takes some beating.

For years the hardest place in the world to tip a winner was Cheltenham. For years the hardest place in the world to back a winner was Cheltenham.

The finale to the National Hunt season could hardly start on a better note, with three fantastic Grade Ones on the seven-race card on the first day of the Punchestown Festival.

Paul Nicholls believes Vicente has a “massive chance” of becoming the first horse in over a century to win three consecutive renewals of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr today.

Cheltenham Race Course, Wednesday, March 13th 2002

Enda Bolger led the tributes to JT McNamara after the former leading amateur rider died aged 41.

The three best mares we have seen since Dawn Run, with the exception of the 1994 Champion Hurdle winner, Flakey Dove, have all been trained by Willie Mullins, namely Annie Power, Quevega and Vroum Vroum Mag.

Minella Rocco showed stamina in abundance to run out a gutsy winner of the 146th Year Of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup over four miles and 25 fences at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson can upset Willie Mullins’ bid for a fourth consecutive victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, by taking the Festival opener with Buveur D’Air.

1. Will Min be Merciless?

With the Cheltenham Festival now just a fortnight away, Willie Mullins talks through some of his formidable team for the showpiece meeting.

Willie Mullins captured both Grade 2 novice chases, in dramatic style, in Navan yesterday scoring with outsiders Sambremont and Measureofmydreams, as part of an 82.5/1 treble, completed by Blow By Blow in the bumper.

YES: Slick jumping and endless stamina can see Mullins hope home and hosed, argues Darren Norris

Leading RSA Chase contender More Of That is to sidestep the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday with regular rider Barry Geraghty on duty in Ireland.

Gordon Elliott is to give No More Heroes a speculative entry in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Gordon Elliott is to give No More Heroes a speculative entry in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Prize money at the Cheltenham Festival in March will exceed £4m for the first time.

Not too many trainers can be chasing Cheltenham festival glory 41 years after enjoying their initial success at the meeting.

Colin Bowe was thrilled to saddle his first winner at Cheltenham as Shantou Flyer lunged late to land the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices’ Chase yesterday.

Bowe was thrilled to saddle his first winner at Cheltenham as Shantou Flyer lunged late to win.

The Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigo has a rock-solid each-way chance in today’s Boylesports Irish Grand National.

The Tullow Tank is being prepared for next month’s Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse following a wasted journey to the Cheltenham Festival.

Grand Jesture and Gallant Oscar, second and third respectively behind The Druids Nephew at Cheltenham last week, have been installed as 10-1 joint-favourites with the sponsors for the €275,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National after the weights were announced for the Fairyhouse feature on April 6.

The Package rolled back the years to win for the first time at the Cheltenham Festival and give Jamie Codd a second success of the week in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup yesterday.

Vautour was most impressive in the 2014 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and, despite his blip at Leopardstown in December, remains really exciting. The quicker conditions should prompt improvement, and recent reports are positive.

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