After a sluggish start to the Festival, Willie Mullins’ team found stride late on Wednesday, upped the pace with a double on Thursday, and when Monkfish edged out compatriots Latest Exhibition and Fury Road in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, it was a third on the day and a sixth in total for the Closutton maestro.

Colm Greaves looks at what we’ll learn on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

When Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore left the tarmac on the Dublin to Birmingham flight last night, both did so feeling very differently to how they felt taking off on the corresponding flight 12 months earlier.

The Festival has a long and storied history of producing compelling duels and, with the 2020 renewal rich in promise, Darren Norris picks six battles not to miss.

Pat Kelly’s charge is enigmatic but, just like his media-shy trainer, utterly fascinating, writes Pat Keane.

Darren Norris selects eight takeaways from the Dublin Racing Festival with a view towards Cheltenham.

Talking horses with Darren Norris.

From Willie Mullins’ point of view, Allaho in the Beginners’ Chase and Jon Snow and The Big Getaway in the maiden hurdles are the key horses this weekend.

Yes, indeed, Footpad again buried punters — many of them — one more time when failing to deliver in a Grade 2 chase at Thurles last Sunday.

Envoi Allen maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish display in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle yesterday.

Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Al Boum Photo oozed class in making a winning reappearance in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore.

It’s surely a no-brainer to give the on-course bookmakers what they want and help keep them on life support for as long as possible.

The National Hunt season is getting into full swing and already a number of horses, four to be precise, have been identified that may well help to keep us cruising along.

Who would want to be a handicapper with a horse like Willie Mullins’ Micro Manage around?

There are few races of any significance which do not adorn Willie Mullins’ CV and, after yesterday’s Boylesports Irish Grand National, there is one less.

If you’re determined to win green this week, stick with this trio, says our top tipster Tommy Lyons

He was a long way removed from being the most impressive winner at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown last weekend, but there was something about Willie Mullins’ Klassical Dream that indicated you underestimate him going forward at your peril, writes Pat Keane

Willie Mullins has three potential runners as he bids to continue his dominance of the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

I can’t imagine the handicapper derived a whole lot of enjoyment watching the concluding stages of the €59,000 to the winner Connacht Hotel Handicap at Galway on Monday night, writes Pat Keane.

Henry De Bromhead’s Monalee can lead his rivals a merry dance in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

The country has almost ground to a halt, and so has racing, but being so close to the Cheltenham Festival it’s crucial that the horses continue to get their exercise.

Jessica Harrington has certainly stood the test of time, writes Pat Keane.

He is, quite simply, the most hyped horse since Golden Cygnet. It is just as well Gordon Elliott’s Samcro isn’t human, because, if he was, the weight of expectation might overwhelm him, writes Pat Keane.

It was on board Australia he claimed his first Derby winner and it was in the country of the same name on its grandest of racing days that Joseph O’Brien announced himself as a trainer to be admired and feared given his potential.

There are moments when you are compelled to sit up and take note.

It will be a surprise should the somewhat draconian penalties be allowed to stand, writes Pat Keane.

This game is a mixture of talent, bravery and luck and maybe Willie Mullins’ has just turned at the right time, writes Anthony Daly.

It’s a complicated situation, with many permutations, but the long and the short of it is I don’t know for certain where I’ll be riding today.