After the highs of Tuesday, I suffered the lows of racing when falling from Al Boum Photo in yesterday’s RSA Chase.

Last March Ireland won an extraordinary, and unprecedented, 19 races at the Cheltenham festival.

Willie Mullins has been second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup six times, writes Brendan O’Brien

The acute pangs for the Cotswolds began early yesterday. To unload the frustration, I tapped on my phone and screamed as loud as I could on Twitter. ‘I hate, hate anyone heading to Cheltenham today’.

Extending Cheltenham to four days has seriously diluted what’s on offer and it is very much illustrated by this afternoon’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

There are just three and a half weeks to go to the Cheltenham Festival and all the horses are in full work, writes Ruby Walsh. 

Just the two rides for me again this afternoon, and Limini looks to have the better chance of the two. She was probably a bit disappointing at Aintree, but was too keen for her own good and got found out at the end of the race.

It’s the final day of the Punchestown festival and, hence, the national hunt season, and Kayf Supreme can send punters out on a high by taking the Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.

Bookmakers were waving the white flag with one day of the Cheltenham Festival still to go after being given another pasting by punters.

It’s rarely mentioned now, but Ruby Walsh’s first ride at the Cheltenham Festival wasn’t exactly smooth.

The Cheltenham Festival and St Patrick’s Day don’t always coincide on the calendar, but the organisers know a good thing when they see one. So it is that the third day of this four-day bonanza is always designated as ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’.

It’s Thursday. The worst and weakest card of the festival. Eww. But that’s not all.

The three best mares we have seen since Dawn Run, with the exception of the 1994 Champion Hurdle winner, Flakey Dove, have all been trained by Willie Mullins, namely Annie Power, Quevega and Vroum Vroum Mag.

The exciting Limini gets the nap to take this afternoon’s mares’ novices’ hurdle for the dominant Willie Mullins-Ruby Walsh team.

Dual Irish champion Flat jockey Joseph O’Brien has decided not to ride at all this year and to concentrate on his new role as a trainer.

With the Cheltenham Festival now just a fortnight away, Willie Mullins talks through some of his formidable team for the showpiece meeting.

Prior to Fairyhouse last Saturday, Willie Mullins had what could be best described as three good things lined up for the Cheltenham Festival, Faugheen, Douvan and Un De Sceaux.

Racing at home is in Fairyhouse, but I’m off to Cheltenham this afternoon to ride Djakadam in his final racecourse outing before returning to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup.

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

Willie Mullins struck gold with his first ever runner at Taunton as Myska kept her unbeaten record intact in the Happy New Year From totepool Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.

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