Nicky Henderson can upset Willie Mullins’ bid for a fourth consecutive victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, by taking the Festival opener with Buveur D’Air.

Quite extraordinary trainer poised to repeat last year’s feat

Un De Sceaux could bid to get back on track in the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday following the confirmation stage.

Gilgamboa provided another fairytale chapter in Tony McCoy’s retirement tour when capturing the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase in Fairyhouse yesterday.

I am happy to be riding Perfect Gentleman in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Monday. I think he has the right profile for the race and 10-10 is a lovely weight.

Alexander the Great was said to have wept because there were no more worlds for him to conquer, but don’t hold your breath for tears from Willie Mullins or Ruby Walsh just yet.

“The stats say they won’t all win,” said Ruby Walsh, in his Irish Examiner preview of his four mounts — all favourites — on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

The OLBG Mares’ Hurdle was the one that got away for Ruby Walsh, but not for trainer Willie Mullins or Midleton jockey Paul Townend, who, along with Glens Melody, was on hand to pick up the pieces when Annie Power and her partner departed at the final flight.

“The stats say they won’t all win,” said Ruby Walsh, in his Irish Examiner preview of his four mounts – all favourites — on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, but the meeting’s leading rider went agonisingly close to pulling off a famous four-timer which would have knocked the bookmakers for six.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets the 2015 Cheltenham Festival up and running, and the Willie Mullins-trained Shaneshill looks a value option against favourite and stable companion Douvan, writes Tommy Lyons.

The talk is over and the action about to get underway at the Cheltenham Festival, and I’m hoping for a great start to the meeting as I’m riding four horses, all of which are favourite, writes Ruby Walsh.

Annie Power bids to follow in the hallowed hoofprints of record-breaking former stablemate Quevega when she makes a belated return to action in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Unbeaten in three outings this season, Kitten Rock should book his ticket to the Stan James Champion Hurdle by landing the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle in Gowran Park today. 

Ruby’s Best Bets

Edward O’Grady’s Kitten Rock can beat Willie Mullins’ Glens Melody in the Grade 2 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

Annie Power tops a list of 48 entries for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle which will be run as a Grade One contest for the first time at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Harry Fry bids to continue his flying start to the year as Jolly’s Cracked It shoots for Grade One glory in Saturday’s 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown today.

Willie Mullins could fire a formidable twin assault on Ascot’s major Saturday prizes after Faugheen and Ballycasey were confirmed for the Coral Ascot Hurdle and the Amlin 1965 Chase.

Nicky Henderson pointed to the effects of a lengthy season taking its toll on Long Run as the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was well beaten in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil yesterday.

Six years, six wins, all in the same race.

Willie Mullins is confident Quevega has arrived at Cheltenham as good as ever ahead of her bid for an historic sixth consecutive victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle this afternoon.

Owner Barry Connell expects to find out which race The Tullow Tank will run in at Cheltenham after his next outing in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle on February 9 at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins is firing on many fronts this weekend, with runners at three tracks today, as well as at Navan tomorrow.

Well, I was all set to be off on my travels again today to ride three horses for Willie Mullins at Sandown, but the meeting was abandoned yesterday afternoon.

Cheltenham is a fair old way to travel for just one ride, but that’s the plan today.

Champagne Fever made a very impressive fencing debut in the Connexus Communications Beginners Chase at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins ended his Punchestown Festival on a high as he claimed the final two Grade Ones of the week to take his tally for the meeting to 13 winners.

Prince De Beauchene could not quite cap a red-letter day for record-breaking trainer Willie Mullins as he had to settle for second in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

I certainly don’t ride any certainties at Kempton today, but have reasonable prospects of getting among the winners all of the same.

Prince De Beauchene is fancied to emphasise that he is a major Aintree Grand National candidate by landing the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Sizing Europe warms for Cheltenham at Punchestown tomorrow and should enjoy little more than a good school on his way to landing the Grade 2 boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase.

Willie Mullins’ French recruit, Pont Alexandere, who looked a bit special when scoring on his Irish debut at Navan, was even more impressive in the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.

A week ago I said here that the only way Sanctuaire could beat Sprinter Sacre in the Victor Chandler at Ascot, which was postponed and subsequently rescheduled to Cheltenham this afternoon, was if Nicky Henderson’s headman forgot to load their horse into the box.

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

Dessie Hughes is hoping Magnanimity can gain a confidence-boosting success at Thurles a week on Thursday before stepping him back up in grade.

A smooth odds-on winner at Kilbeggan last time, Tasitiocht should continue Willie Mullins’ rich vein of form by following-up in tonight’s bumper in Cork, the August Bank Holiday Flat Race.

The most interesting horse on show in Ireland this weekend has to be the Tony Martin-trained Thomas Edison in the Buck Mooneys’ Maiden Hurdle at Bellewstown tonight.

Drive On Regardless, a horse who landed two bumpers earlier in his career but had lost his way somewhat subsequently, got back on the winning trail in the opening maiden hurdle at Tipperary last night.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Glens Melody is the nap choice to keep her unbeaten record intact in the Bumper at Tipperary tonight.

A first-and-last-race double for champion trainer Willie Mullins, thanks to Sin Palo and Tasitiocht, and both a winner and a two-day suspension for champion-jockey Davy Russell were the chief talking points in Kilbeggan yesterday.

Definite Class, a decent money-spinner over hurdles and fences, can enjoy a first success on the flat in the 1912-2012 Centenary Ladies Maiden at Tramore this afternoon.

Lucky William put up a fine display, under a typically powerful Barry Geraghty drive, to win the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown last night.