I don’t think it is any great exaggeration to describe Willie Mullins’ Djakadam as having developed into something of a professional loser.

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

We’re delighted with the way Djakadam has been working recently, and think he is in great order, writes Ruby Walsh.

It was tough, but we’re all still standing, and we must move on, writes Ruby Walsh.

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. 

After a quiet week, it’s a quiet return for me, with just one ride at this afternoon’s meeting in Cork. Chateau Conti is the one, and I’m hopeful he can make the trip south worthwhile.

Min boosted his reputation with a sparkling performance in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

The Christmas festivals are on the horizon but there’s plenty of good racing this weekend, and I’m really looking forward to riding Yorkhill on his chasing debut in the two-mile beginners’ race at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

The winning favourites which topped and tailed the card were not enough to prevent punters finishing a distant second behind the layers on day one of the Punchestown festival.

Let the madness of Grand National Day begin. Unfortunately for me, after my fall from Blood Cotil in the Topham I sustained a wrist injury and won’t be involved in the way I had hoped.

The Last Samuri can give trainer Kim Bailey a second success in the Aintree Grand National, 26 years after Mr Frisk set a course record with an emphatic display.

Owner Graham Wylie is looking forward to seeing Nichols Canyon step back up in trip in next month’s Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle.

All the talk of ‘Ricci Tuesday’ had been replaced by an intense focus on what was expected to be ‘JP Wednesday.’

Gordon Elliott has given No More Heroes a perfect preparation and the imposing seven-year- old is fancied to land the RSA Chase at Cheltenham today.

Before heading to Cheltenham, our racing correspondent eyes up the five horses every Festival conversation either begins or ends with.

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

Although plenty of punters who got their fingers burnt on Blazer in last weekend’s Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury, it is far too soon to write off the beaten favourite.

Point to point winner Road To Respect is yet to make the breakthrough after three runs on the racecourse, but Eoin Griffin’s five-year-old can right that wrong in the two-mile-six Cashel Maiden Hurdle this afternoon at Thurles.

Yanworth is firmly on course for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after Alan King resisted any temptation to enter his rising star in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Jockey Ruby Walsh feels Min is as short as 5-4 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle mainly because he represents the powerful combination of trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci.

The programme for the Cheltenham Festival is such, the first two days are those which will seal the fate of almost every punter, dictating whether or not it will be a profitable week.