We look at the best of the Irish in today’s action at Cheltenham.

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.

Smoking Big Cigars earns the nap selection to land the Meath Handicap Hurdle on this afternoon’s card at Navan. The Sandra Hughes-trained gelding made his seasonal debut at Fairyhouse in November, and was sent off favourite to land a competitive handicap hurdle.

The progressive Prince Of Scars caused an upset when landing the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday under a beautifully judged ride from Davy Russell.

Dan Skelton is considering stepping Baradari into Grade One company at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Hurricane Fly is collecting the pension. Douvan is going chasing and Jezki is injured and out for the foreseeable future so it looks like it is going to be a drab hurdling season. Think again. There will be a thousand great stories through the winter and ten of them could be here.

Willie Mullins does not expect the step up to three miles to trouble Hurricane Fly as he tests his powers over the staying distance for the first time in today’s Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle.

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.

Although off the track since last July, Lines Of Battle might prove best in the listed Star Appeal 2-Y-0 Stakes in Dundalk tonight.