A staggering £35,000 (€41,624) a second will be gambled in Cheltenham this week as tens of thousands of Irish punters make the annual racing pilgrimage across the Irish Sea.

The reaction of both the bookmakers and sections of the press to the recent success of Long Run at Newbury, at least to my way of thinking, was a little surprising.

Cousin Vinny defied a 22-month absence, caused by a tendon injury, when justifying odds-on favouritism in the opening Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Today Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Cousin Vinny made a winning return from almost two years on the sidelines in the Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Today Hurdle at Punchestown.

THE post-race reaction following Hurricane Fly’s victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle was fascinating.

Oscars Well, Bostons Angel and Roberto Goldback have all settled in well at Cheltenham which is a relief, as you’d hate to get this far and for something to go wrong.

THE leading contenders have stood their ground for the sportinbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next Wednesday.

BOOKMAKERS Paddy Power are hoping lightning can strike for a third time by offering a money-back special if Cue Card wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Bookmakers Paddy Power are hoping lightning can strike for a third time by offering a money-back special if Cue Card wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Brendan Powell has given Shoreacres a clean bill of health after his recent win and is thinking of a possible appearance at the Punchestown Festival.

EXCITING Mikael D’Haguenet might overshadow the other Grade 1 stars on show at Fairyhouse tomorrow by making a successful start over Irish fences in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.

FAME AND GLORY, a costly failure on his seasonal debut at the Curragh last month, should have little trouble returning to the winner’s enclosure in the Group 3 High Chaparral EBF Mooresbridge Stakes, back at headquarters this afternoon.

IN-FORM trainer Willie Mullins has a powerful three-strong hand in the ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown today.

AS far as I’m concerned there is only one plus to me not riding today, and that’s the fact I don’t have to choose between Willie Mullins’ three runners in the World Series Hurdle.

PUNCHESTOWN so far this week has been nothing short of a minefield for punters and today promises more of the same.

TAKE a chance on Cooldine turning-over Denman in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown this evening.

Cousin Vinny finally recorded his first win of the season with a battling display in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.

Check out our tips from today’s horse races across Ireland and the UK.

A RIGHT bit of fun organising to get to Haydock for my solitary ride this afternoon. (My sister and agent) Jennifer was wondering why she was struggling to get me into Manchester until it dawned that there’s a pretty important Premier League game at Old Trafford at lunchtime (I’ll take the draw for United by the way, more than happy with a point).

“MONEY, horse racing and women, three things the boys just can’t figure out.”

Bookmaker Paddy Power has launched an eyecatching special ahead of the Cheltenham Festival by announcing they will return all losing bets in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle if the red-hot favourite Dunguib wins.

Cousin Vinny will revert to timber when he bids for a second triumph at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

THE most interesting contest at Fairyhouse today is the P2P In The Irish Racing Post On Wednesday Novice Chase, which brings together a number of useful types.

I have decided to ride Kauto Star, in preference to Denman, in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

THE public relations merchants for the ante-post firms have been on overdrive this week, letting us know about the sustained gamble on Cooldine for Sunday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

SOLWHIT, a top-priced 6-1 with most firms yesterday for the Champion Hurdle, can live his Cheltenham prospects a major boost by landing the Tohiba-sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Last year’s winner Big Buck’s features among 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland.

FINALLY, we look set to see some action, with Naas the focus of attention this afternoon.

FOLLOWING a break of some two weeks, it will be smashing to get back into the swing of things at Kempton this afternoon.

FOLLOWING a break of some two weeks, it will be smashing to get back into the swing of things at Kempton this afternoon.

INSTEAD of teaming up with the likes of Big Buck’s, Pepe Simo and Big Fella Thanks at Ascot today, I will be spending the afternoon at home.

Shinrock Paddy confirmed himself an exciting prospect with a runaway win in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle at Navan for Paul Nolan and Alain Cawley.

SMOKING ACES is the nap choice in the fairyhouseracecourse.ie Rated Hurdle at the Co. Meath track this afternoon.

THE last three Saturdays have been terrific, with Kauto Star, Denman and Twist Magic, and the plan at Cheltenham today is to keep the run going.

Henry de Bromhead reports Sizing Europe to be fighting fit ahead of his bid to maintain an unbeaten record over fences in the inforthenight.ie Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown on December 26.

Willie Mullins plans to send a strong team for the Grade One races, sponsored by Bar One Racing, at the two-day meeting at Fairyhouse on November 28 and 29.

ON Monday morning a large number of the press corps made their way to Co. Carlow for a 10.30am rendezvous with Willie Mullins.

CHINA Rock should make a successful chasing debut in the Gowran Park Racing Club 2010 Beginners Chase at Gowran Park today.

Ruby Walsh stole the show at Sligo today with a 154.5-1 four-timer.

THE million dollar question at Listowel today is can I win my fourth Kerry National?

DAVY RUSSELL, on his first day back since suffering a hand injury at the Punchestown Festival, landed the three mile handicap hurdle at Cork last night on Tony Martin’s Royal County Star, the first of three winners on the night.

GIVEN that we are in the deepest recession since the foundation of the state, you would have to describe Punchestown last week as reasonably successful.

THE rapidly improving Solwhit got the better of Punjabi at the end of a pulsating Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last evening.