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

My main reason for going to Doncaster this afternoon is to ride Join Together in a three and a quarter mile handicap chase.

The preview nights have started in earnest and it’s a case of counting down the days to Cheltenham, after so long ticking off the weeks.

A compelling clash between two of Ireland’s most exciting jumpers is on the cards at Punchestown on Sunday with Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs among the entries for the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

Edward O’Grady’s Staying Article, who hadn’t jumped an obstacle in public since finishing a creditable third in a big handicap at Leopardstown in January, produced a fine display to land the Follow Us On Facebook Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

My first week back writing a regular column and it is a little disappointing that the rides I have aren’t a bit more attractive.

Sizing Europe is among a top-class entry of 15 for the PricewaterhouseCoopers Champion Chase at Gowran Park on Sunday.

The broken record just keeps on playing.

Doubles for jockeys Chris Hayes and Rory Cleary, a brace for Curragh trainer Jim Gorman and a hard-earned win for the Willie Mullins-trained hot-pot Blackstairmountain proved the highlights of last night’s flat action in Bellewstown, where ground condition turned soft after heavy showers before and during racing.

What’s on offer at Bellewstown this evening can be best described as grim, with five horrible handicaps and a claiming maiden forming the bulk of an eight-contest programme.

Tom Mullins followed in the footsteps of his father, Paddy, and his brothers, Willie and Tony, when enjoying a first success in the Galway Plate with Bob Lingo at Galway yesterday.

It was smashing to ride at Galway on Monday, having missed the previous two festivals.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins is anticipating a strong challenge on the feature races at Galway this week.

The Tommy Stack-trained Scream Blue Murder is set for a quick return to listed company following her facile, all-the-way victory in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden at rain-sodden Bellewstown last night.

I am especially looking forward to today, because, to my way of thinking, Quevega and Voler La Vedette is the clash of the week in the three mile Grade 1 hurdle.

Nicky Henderson is hoping Sprinter Sacre can succeed where stablemate Finian’s Rainbow failed in today's Racing Post Arkle Chase.

Ruby Walsh has an enviable book of rides at Cheltenham as he bids to add to his record tally of winners at the Festival.

Drying ground at Leopardstown greatly reduced the impact of the traditional after-racing gallops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

Bog Warrior justified cramped odds of 1-5 in the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas.

THE defections of Synchronised and Quito De La Roque have greatly enhanced my prospects of winning the Hennessy Gold Cup on Quel Esprit at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Blackstairmountain and Flemenstar are the two leading names among eight possible runners in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

WILLIE MULLINS set the opening stage of Leopardstown alight yesterday with a fine double, including Blackstairmountain in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase.

Willie Mullins was thanking his lucky stars after Blackstairmountain capped a treble-topping day for the County Carlow trainer by landing the feature race at Leopardstown.

Blackstairmountain collared Notus De La Tour close home to grab the spoils in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

RIDING Hinterland in the opening juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham is a good way to start the day and I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t win.

RUBY WALSH’S decision to opt for Clonmel ahead of the Peterborough Chase meeting in Huntingdon proved spot-on yesterday as the formerchampion completed a treble for Willie Mullins on juvenile hurdler Ut De Sivola and novice chasersBlackstairmountain and Allee Garde, his only three rides.

Blackstairmountain should outclass his 14 rivals on his fencing debut in today’s Clonmel Supporters Club beginners Chase in Clonmel.

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly to be in fine shape as he bids to stretch his unbeaten run in Grade Ones to six in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow.

BRILLIANT mare Voler La Vedette rallied in terrific style to snatch the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.

In just two starts, Dermot Weld's Unaccompanied has made a real name for herself over hurdles.

JOHN KIELY appears to have a found a suitable opportunity for Sweeps Hill in the M D O’Shea and Sons Hurdle at Killarney tonight.

THERE may be only four runners in tomorrow’s Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, but this does look a tricky little contest.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Golden Silver, a proven mud-lark, showed he is just as effective on a sound surface when landing the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

JADANLI provided Co Galway trainer Paul Gilligan and jockey Andrew Lynch with further big-race success when proving a 25/1 shocker in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Tommy Lyons on the lessons of Cheltenham

I HEADED for Cheltenham on Sunday night and then had a relaxing enough day yesterday.

COULDN’T believe the news regarding Solwhit on Monday.

DUNGUIB heads 34 horses left in at the confirmation stage for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

RITE Of Passage hardened as favourite for the Neptune Investments Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham after recording what his trainer Dermot Weld described as a “satisfactory” win in the Book Your Festival Tickets Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Big Zeb’s Champion Chase aspirations were realigned courtesy of a highly impressive performance at Punchestown.

I RIDE in all seven races at Cheltenham this afternoon and will certainly be disappointed if returning to Ireland tonight without a winner.

ANDREW MCNAMARA rode his first ever Festival winner at Ballybrit when driving 16-1 shot Ballyholland to beat the gamble of the race, Knock On The Head, by three lengths in the William Hill Galway Plate yesterday.