Six Irish trainers had skin in the game when the cards were dealt at the start of the Gold Cup yesterday and few could have guessed then that Tony Martin would come up with the strongest of those hands.

There are moments when you are compelled to sit up and take note.

The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle - the feature race on day three of the Punchestown Festival - was a tale of one jockey who can practically do no wrong this season and another who can barely catch a break this week, writes Darren Norris.

It’s been less than a week since a 26ft statue of Pharoah Ramses II, or Ozymandias as the Greeks liked to call him, was rescued from its ignoble resting place beneath a suburban Cairo slum and surrounded by dirty, running water.

Cheltenham this afternoon is an absolute minefield and punters would do well to proceed with extreme caution.

It has been a turbulent week in Irish racing circles and, in the days dominated by the controversial process involved in the reappointment of Horse Racing Ireland CEO Brian Kavanagh, the news that two of the superpowers of National Hunt racing in Ireland have parted ways has kept the sport in the headlines.

Honours were just about even between Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls on the penultimate day of the battle for the National Hunt trainers’ championship yesterday.

Willie Mullins believes Douvan has enough experience to justify his billing and claim a second successive Cheltenham Festival success with victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

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

Mouse Morris believes both Rule The World and Folsom Blue are capable of making their presence felt in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park today.

Clonmel went ahead at the third attempt but without the two chases intended for the seven-race programme. 

Willie Mullins sends a small-but-select team to Clonmel this afternoon, and the Closutton trainer should return with two, if not three, winners from his three runners. Arguably the most interesting of the triumvirate is Yorkhill, who makes his hurdling debut in the finale.

Gordon Elliott has outlined his ambition to overcome the seemingly unstoppable Willie Mullins and become Ireland’s top National Hunt trainer.

After a game and well-deserved success in last night’s feature, the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap, the Jessica Harrington-trained Modem will bid to emulate Athy Spirit (1990) and Try A Brandy (1988) by adding Thursday’s Galway Hurdle to his spoils.

Postponed can get off the mark for the season by taking this afternoon’s Harwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot for Luca Cumani and jockey Adam Kirby.

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly in rude health ahead of the legendary hurdler’s return to his homeland for the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil in Paris tomorrow.

The Bibby Financial Services Ireland Gold Cup yesterday developed into the closely contested race the market suggested and, from the feature, the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack emerged a genuine contender for next season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Willie Mullins does not expect the step up to three miles to trouble Hurricane Fly as he tests his powers over the staying distance for the first time in today’s Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle.

Willie Mullins has raised the possibility of running two of his stable stars in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on Thursday week.

Right, you know the score. I’ve studied the formbook. I’ve topped up my online accounts, says Enda McEvoy.

Willie Mullins has admitted to feeling a mixture of dread and excitement as he prepares to unleash a scarcely believable army of equine talent on the Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins has warned that national hunt racing is “at a crossroads” unless prize-money for the top races is increased significantly.

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.

Willie Mullins reported a clean bill of health for all his Cheltenham runners at a media day yesterday although, as expected, there was no great light shed on potential targets for many of his prospects that have a number of potential engagements at present.

Having already rattled off a century of winners in record time, Willie Mullins has this season taken his domination of Irish National Hunt racing to another level.

A press-room colleague texted last weekend to say that Willie Mullins, if his horses remain fit and healthy, will win 15 races at the Cheltenham festival.

Danny Mullins has expressed his delight after being named retained jockey for emerging owner Barry Connell.

SUCH was the turmoil of mayhem, madness and general swirling of Banners and Bodhrans in the old place that afternoon that you’re forgiven if you can’t recall what had happened a couple of hours earlier.