A slayer of bookies, scourge of the authorities, media darling, friend of the common man. Harry Findlay settled down at 55? Hardly. “Everybody says I’m an odds-on idiot. I used to let people think I was an idiot. But not anymore. Not anymore.”

After the festive feast of the last week this afternoon’s fare in Britain is less than compelling. That said, the main race of the day, the Betfred “Goals Galore” Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury looks a pretty classy affair.

Current crop are a smart bunch, but not by any means a brilliant one. Yes, says Tommy Lyons

Assistant trainer Sara Bradstock has dropped a major hint that Coneygree’s next assignment will be the William Hill King George VI Chase on December 26.

Erlkonig benefited from a patient and well-executed ride from Danny Mullins when causing a 16-1 upset in the Bunkers Bar and Restaurant Killorglin Handicap Hurdle on day three at Killarney.

An epidemic of misguided revisionism seems to be unbalancing some normally straight thinking folk lately.

Clermont Auvergne 27 Northampton Saints 5: Nick Abendanon hopes his stellar evening against Northampton has offered England additional reason to soften their stance on selecting overseas-based players.

Coneygree has become the highest-rated novice chaser over any distance this century following his sensational performance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Colm Greaves looks at the Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle, Noel Meade’s prospects and novice chasers.

The days of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s, Master Minded and Ruby Walsh are long gone for Paul Nicholls, writes Pat Keane.

Fortune has not always favoured Noel Meade at the Cheltenham Festival, but the seven-times champion Irish trainer is hoping Road To Riches can enjoy the rub of the green in this year’s Gold Cup.

It is the question I have been bombarded with for months now: Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle?

Ruby Walsh has promised that his head will rule his heart when it comes to making a decision on whether to ride Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday.

Ruby Walsh has promised that his head will rule his heart when it comes to making a decision on whether to ride Hurricane Fly or Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 10.

Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere is on course to have his final outing before the defence of his Cheltenham crown in Sunday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, where he will face eight possible rivals.

Reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere is one of the star names among 29 entries for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Antepost Hennessy Gold Cup favourite Djakadam is now a general 4-1 for Saturday’s race after 23 were left in after the forfeit stage yesterday.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son, Sam, have enjoyed unprecedented success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1m (€1.2m) renewal of the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Nicky Henderson believes Silviniaco Conti is the major obstacle in Bobs Worth’s defence of his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup title today.

Paul Nicholls is fancied to land a fifth Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon with the progressive Silviniaco Conti.

Every race counts for Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls in the many meetings they have had this season, but the one of greatest importance will unfold in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I hope Gowran Park today survives an inspection, because the exciting Un de Sceaux looks a penalty kick in a Grade 2 hurdle.

Sprinter Sacre was dramatically pulled up halfway through his comeback outing in yesterday afternoon’s williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton with what veterinary advice diagnosed to be an irregular heartbeat.

Paul Nicholls has already collected the William Hill King George VI Chase more times than any trainer in history and he believes Silviniaco Conti and Al Ferof hold equally good chances of providing his eighth winner at Kempton on Thursday.

I’m off on my travels again today to ride two horses for Willie Mullins at Newbury, including Prince De Beauchene in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Owner Paul Barber has revealed Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman has spent the last five months in a veterinary hospital fighting for his life after contracting a potentially fatal infection.

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

On Saturday I travelled over to see Paul Nicholls at his Ditcheat base to have the final conversation on a subject we’ve been discussing for several weeks.

Bookmakers believe punters will go angling for Seabass to put Katie Walsh into the record books as the first female jockey to win the John Smith’s Grand National.

Fourteen successes for Ireland at the Cheltenham festival but the real winners — at least going forward — were surely Punchestown.

Barry Geraghty had retreated indoors cradling a hot cuppa and reflecting on his Gold Cup success on board Bob’s Worth when another reminder of National Hunt’s innate danger played itself out a few feet to his left.

Bobs Worth gets the vote to land what looks a high-class Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup today.

Sir Des Champs will line up in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup with a new jockey after Davy Russell was ruled out with a punctured lung.

Mark Twain once wrote that it is the difference of opinion that makes horse races and none generate as much conjecture and argument as the 27 that are run over four days here at Cheltenham every March.

Imperial Commander could be targeted at the John Smith’s Grand National in April after being ruled out of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Cheltenham is very much on the minds of connections of both Hurricane Fly and Taquin De Seuil as Grade One victories on Saturday put them firmly in the championship mix.

It was fantastic to win a third Lexus at Leopardstown yesterday on Tidal Bay, to go with previous victories on Rince Ri and Denman.