We know there has been something of a cloud hanging over the Ballydoyle horses for a while now, with Aidan O’Brien reporting that the bug was “the worst we’ve had.’’

In the past 18 months, Jessica Harrington celebrated numerous firsts: A first Irish Gold Cup victory, first Cheltenham Gold Cup success, first Irish Grand National, and became the most successful lady trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.

There are plenty still holding out hope that Faugheen will reproduce his machine days once more in today’s Champion Hurdle, despite his most recent lacklustre efforts at Leopardstown.

Sandymount Duke, from the in-form yard of Jessica Harrington, looks the best bet on tonight’s card in Kilbeggan.

Aughnacurraveel, trained by Thomas Cummins at Clashmore, Co Waterford, produced a fine display to land the Club Limerick Chase at Limerick yesterday.

Last Tuesday night it was my pleasant duty to be part of a large Irish contingent who were invited to be guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The Eoin Doyle-trained Mazuri Cowboy proved a shock and fortunate winner of a dramatic Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

Willie Mullins filled the first three places in the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase in Limerick yesterday as 2/5 favourite Felix Yonger was turned over by stable-companion The Paparrazi Kid, with Balnaslow in third place.

The Mullins brothers, Tony and Willie, and cousins, Danny and Emmet, were on the mark with Sam Da Vinci and Dr.Schultz respectively at yesterday’s Bank Holiday meeting in Downpatriclk.

Tarla notched her second win over fences when making all to justify 4/6 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Chase in Limerick yesterday.

With ground conditions extremely testing at yesterday’s Doneraile Hunt point-to-point meeting at Dromahane, it was a case of the best wine being left until last as the Mark Spillane-trained Lanespark cemented his position as one of the best front-runners, participating in points, at present by recording a pillar-to-post success in the closing novice riders’ open.

It really is the calm before the storm for me this weekend.

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

Trainer Willie Mullins believes Sir Des Champs’ love of Cheltenham will stand him in good stead when he runs in the Betfred Gold Cup next month.

Prince De Beauchene made a successful return to action and proved himself on course for the Aintree Grand National when coasting to a smooth success in the Woodlands House Hotel Hurdle in Limerick yesterday.

The Tom Taaffe-trained Argocat captured the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase, feature of the St. Stephen’s Day action in Limerick yesterday.

When Poungach fell at the first fence at Chepstow last month, I got such a surprise you could have knocked me over with a feather.

Classy mare Blazing Tempo registered her ninth career success and sparked a double for champion trainer Willie Mullins and owner Susannah Ricci when justifying even-money favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Hurdle at Kilbeggan’s final meeting of 2012 last evening.

The Kevin Prendergast-trained two-year-old filly Spinacre and Willie Mullins’ mare Tarla proved the stars of yesterday’s action in Roscommon.

Dysart Dancer, far from one hundred per cent in the morning, stripped fit and well to land the 2012 Tramore Races Centenary Year Maiden Hurdle at the seaside venue yesterday.

I will arrive at Cheltenham today confident there’s a strong possibility of getting among the winners, especially with Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and Quevega in the Mares’ Hurdle.

MAGGIE CONNOLLY, a mare who clearly hasn’t been easy to train, can land the nap in the Festival Any Day Flexi Ticket Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

I was due to be at Sandown today, but that went west yesterday morning, so have to settle for just one ride at Fairyhouse, Maggie Connolly.

HURRICANE FLY came through a racecourse gallop at Leopardstown yesterday, partnered by Emmet Mullins, with flying colours and is right on schedule for Cheltenham.

AT the Punchestown festival in May, Apt Approach was in front when falling at the final fence in a valuable handicap chase eventually won by Scotsirish.

SIR DES CHAMPS proved a fortunate odds-on winner of the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase in Limerick yesterday.

Sir Des Champs looked a fortunate winner of the Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick after Knockfierna crashed out at the second-last.

Golden Silver capitalised on the last-fence fall of Osirixamix to claim the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase at Cork.

WITH conditions in his favour, Joncol will be expected to become the first horse since Native Upmanship to win a second John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

A FIVE-TIME winner on the flat, Leah Claire belatedly opened her account over hurdles when turning over odds-on favourite Ceol Rua in the Saltees Island Mares Novice Hurdle in Wexford yesterday.

WHEN Willie Mullins talks about Hurricane Fly he uses words and constructs his sentences in the manner you would expect from a nervous curator cradling a rare and precious artefact rather than a trainer of horses.

TRAINING honours on the final day of a successful Fairyhouse Easter Festival (crowds were up 20% over the three days) yesterday went to Willie Mullins, who completed a double in graded hurdles with Twinlight and Lambro.

JOHN QUEALLY’S Memories Of Milan justified strong market support, under Tim Carroll, in the Powerstown Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel last evening.

THE trip is on the short side for her, the ground may be a shade quick and she has let us down on two occasions, but Killultagh Queen is still the nap choice to land the Mares’ Beginners Chase at Clonmel this evening.

RUBY Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of ante-post favourite The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Ruby Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of ante-post favourite The Midnight Club in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Sir Des Champs put up an unbelievable performance to pluck the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle from out of the clouds.

THE progressive Noel Meade trained Realt Dubh dug deep to land the Frank Ward Solicitors’ Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Gagewell Flyer ran out an impressive winner of the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas in what was a mixed renewal of the Grade Two event for Willie Mullins.

SUPERCEDE continued Gordon Elliott’s tremendous run of success when coasting to an effortless win under Paul Carberry in the Loughnagore Handicap Chase in Kilbeggan last night.

Irish jockey Emmet Mullins could miss the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a suspected fractured rib at Naas on Wednesday.

WESTERN LEADER stamped himself as one of the most exciting young horses in the country with a breathtaking display to land the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.