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.

You know how it goes at this stage.

Jockey Noel Fehily believes a spin over hurdles was just what the doctor ordered for Silviniaco Conti ahead of his bid to win the Betfair Chase for a third time at Haydock on Saturday.

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly in rude health ahead of the legendary hurdler’s return to his homeland for the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil in Paris tomorrow.

There’s plenty to be learned from the races, and here are three nuggets Tuesday’s Cheltenham fixtures taught us.

Leading owner John Hales is already dreaming of a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup tilt with Aux Ptits Soins after the French import starred in a treble for Paul Nicholls by landing the Coral Cup.

Tony McCoy enjoyed a winner on what is almost certain to be his final visit to Fakenham when steering Artifice Sivola to a facile success in the King’s Lynn Handicap Chase yesterday.

Gordon Elliott reports Don Cossack to be “bouncing” ahead of his bid to cap a fantastic season in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Ruby Walsh is more worried about Djakadam having had only three runs over fences rather than the fact that he is only a five-year-old going into Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Colin Tizzard is hopeful history can repeat itself as Cue Card aims to retain his crown in what promises to be another thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock today.

Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls proved the star turns at Cheltenham on Saturday as the relatively new partnership enjoyed a red-letter day in their association with a high-profile double.

A hat-trick for Tom Scudamore stole the show from Tony McCoy at Newton Abbot yesterday as the champion jockey’s wait to reach Martin Pipe’s phenomenal record goes on.

Thirty-nine jockeys were found in breach of a rule relating to the controversial start of this year’s Crabbie’s Grand National – but were given no more than a caution at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing yesterday.

Mark Walsh will partner Colbert Station if Tony McCoy opts to ride Double Seven in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

Tony McCoy is currently favouring Double Seven as his mount in Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree.

A Festival that began so well ended on a bad note yesterday when Abbyssial sent me spinning to the turf in the Triumph Hurdle.

David Pipe's Dynaste, who pulled muscles when flopping behind Silviniaco Conti in the King George at Kempton at Christmas, was back on song in the Ryanair Chase.

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

Wyck Hill gamely held off Smoking Aces to win the Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle on Saturday and provide owner JP McManus with a notable one-two.

Tom Scudamore feels a more generous pace in Saturday’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot could finally get the best out of the wayward Grands Crus.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed Daryl Jacob will partner Al Ferof in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day with Noel Fehily set to continue his association aboard Silviniaco Conti.

A thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock tomorrow looks in store after eight runners were declared yesterday.

Tony McCoy has ruled out any notion of retirement when he reaches 4,000 career wins over jumps.

Tony McCoy admitted he found it tough to choose the Ted Walsh-trained Colbert Station over Sunnyhillboy in tomorrows John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Quinz has been ruled out of the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday following an unsatisfactory scope.

David Pipe has still not decided whether to run his unbeaten novice chaser Dynaste in the RSA Chase or the Jewson Novices’ Chase at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

All plans for Grands Crus are currently “on hold”, according to David Pipe.

Ruby Walsh left Taunton with a double yesterday, courtesy of two young hopefuls from the Paul Nicholls academy, after trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Aidan Coleman had heaped pain on the bookmakers by providing three of the seven winning favourites.

Kauto Star has now been reduced to a ceremonial role in the William Hill King George VI Chase, but his first appearance at Kempton in retirement yesterday coincided with the most gripping finish since the era before the five-timer winner as his old foe Long Run claimed a dramatic second victory.

I’m hoping to win the King George at Kempton on Wednesday aboard Kauto Stone, but the more I’ve looked at the race the more convinced I’ve become that Long Run is going to be hard to beat.

Tom Scudamore is hoping to emulate his father by winning today’s Paddy Power Gold Cup on David Pipe’s Grands Crus as the pair clash with fairytale horse Hunt Ball.

Alan King enjoyed a successful return home as he saddled Raya Star to land the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr today.

Tony McCoy admits he is as much in the dark as everyone else regarding how Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised will take to Aintree’s giant fences in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth stayed on best up the famous Cheltenham hill to claim the RSA Chase in the hands of Barry Geraghty.