The absence of Vautour takes some of the intrigue from the Gold Cup, but it remains a very competitive race, in which Don Cossack can regain his place as the highest rated chaser in these islands by landing the week’s feature for Gordon Elliott, Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown House Stud.

As history suggests, it takes a mare of outstanding quality to win the Champion Hurdle.

Thirty years ago, a stubborn mare piloted by a veteran jockey and trained by a quiet genius produced the most iconic, spine-tingling moment in Cheltenham Festival history

Jonjo O’Neill feels it would be “silly” not to at least give More Of That the option of running in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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.

Hurricane Fly produced another scintillating display in the hands of Ruby Walsh to claim the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown for the fourth successive year.

Belmont House was formerly the home of Dawn Run’s owner, writes Tommy Barker

LEOPARDSTOWN Racecourse yesterday announced a new five-year deal which will see the 100% Irish owned BHP Insurances Ltd company sponsor the Irish Champion Hurdle until 2015.

PADDY MULLINS, one of the greatest trainers this country has ever produced, died yesterday aged 91.

JONJO O’NEILL and Frankie Dettori led the tributes following the death of legendary Irish trainer Paddy Mullins who passed away peacefully, aged 91, at 7am yesterday morning.

Jonjo O’Neill and Frankie Dettori led the tributes following the death of legendary Irish trainer Paddy Mullins.

Legendary Irish horse trainer Paddy Mullins has died, aged 91.

“I'M going back to school tonight”, quipped 16-years-old Patrick Mullins, after he had partnered Diego Garcia to a smooth victory in the Denny Havasnack Race at Tralee yesterday.

THE four day Tramore Racing Festival, which runs from tomorrow evening through to Sunday, is expected once more to deliver another major boost to the thriving racing scene in the south-east.

Trainer Colm Murphy was left with the pleasing dilemma of whether to have another go at the Champion Hurdle or switch to fences with the gutsy Brave Inca as the Punchestown Festival drew to a close yesterday.

Asian Maze evoked momories of the legendary Dawn Run for trainer Tom Mullins when routing the opposition for an impressive success in the Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown today.

PADDY MULLINS, trainer of the legendary mare Dawn Run, announced his retirement at Thurles on Saturday.

Paddy Mullins, trainer of the legendary mare Dawn Run, announced his retirement at Thurles today.

THE funeral of trainer Kenty Riordan, who died unexpectedly at his home in Rathcormac, Co Cork on Sunday, took place yesterday at Castlelyons cemetery following a requiem mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rathcormac.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is expecting a great run from Keen Leader when he takes on Best Mate in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup next week.

Wayward Lad, arguably the best chaser never to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been put down at the age of 28.

Veteran trainer Paddy Mullins weaved his magic with ex-invalid Vintage Tipple, the filly who panics when she leaves home, to land a memorable Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh yesterday.

BY any standards a quite incredible story.Vintage Tipple’s amazing success in yesterday’s Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh was simply stranger than fiction.

Ireland has produced some brilliant and some highly-popular National Hunt horses down the years, with Arkle and Dawn Run perhaps the two who fit most readily into both categories.

Jonjo O’Neill has always been a man to look out for on his journeys south to Cheltenham.