We look at the best of the Irish in today’s action at Cheltenham.

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.

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.

Narrow winner of the race in Cork last year, the Willie Mullins-trained Felix Yonger gained his second Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase success when the rescheduled Grade 2 event proved the feature of yesterday’s eight-race card in Navan.

Done and dusted with the Cheltenham Festival for another year but what a week it has been! Barring Annie Power tipping up at the last in the mares’ hurdle, it has been fantastic. 

It has rained overnight. This I construe as good news for Djakadam, my Gold Cup fancy. 

It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham but I won’t be disappointed if the forecast rain arrived overnight and continues through the morning as it will suit my mount, Djakadam, writes Ruby Walsh.

It’s Punchestown for me over the next two days, with the battle between Hurricane Fly and Jezki in tomorrow’s Morgiana Hurdle likely to prove the big talking point of the weekend.

Patrick Mullins has let his heart rule his head in his decision to partner Black Hercules in today’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15) at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham this afternoon shapes like a minefield, with seven wide-open races.

Someone once defined a pessimist as an informed optimist, and here’s a scribbler who can readily identify with such a description on the lead-in to Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins made history at Gowran Park yesterday when joining the legendary Tom Dreaper as the only trainer to win the Goffs’ Thyestes Handicap Chase for a fifth time.

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.