It’s frightening to think the illegal presence of some animal in a market in the province of Hubei, in a city most of us had never previously heard of and few will ever visit could have such a profound and deadly impact on the world.

By the time the starter calls the field to order for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, just before 3.30pm on Friday, March 13, we may well have downgraded that old conundrum — how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? — to a first-round four-marker.

Sometimes you have to go through hard times to truly appreciate good ones. Just ask Jack Kennedy.

It can’t have just been me who appreciated Lionel Messi that little bit more on Wednesday evening.

Stable companions Footpad and Un De Sceaux are among 12 horses declared for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Owner Philip Reynolds is “counting down the days” to the Cheltenham Festival as he eyes Magners Gold Cup glory with Presenting Percy.

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

One race, one game, one day can only ever add to the information bank. It is never definitive.

Last season's Randox Health Grand National hero Tiger Roll is set to lead a formidable team into battle for Gordon Elliott as the trainer eyes a third victory in the Aintree showpiece next spring.

Former Gold Cup third Road To Riches could return to Cheltenham this autumn after changing hands at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Willie Mullins confirmed last night that Footpad is likely to head for Aintree after being taken out out of the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

Nothing we saw at Cheltenham came close to matching the final-fence drama of this Cork point-to-point race.

Coming so quickly on the heels of the conquest of Cheltenham by Irish raiders, Saturday’s magnificent Grand Slam at Twickenham created the kind of feel-good atmosphere that the Government’s Special Communications Unit can only dream about.

Six Irish trainers had skin in the game when the cards were dealt at the start of the Gold Cup yesterday and few could have guessed then that Tony Martin would come up with the strongest of those hands.

If there is a more compelling sportsperson out there right now than Ruby Walsh, then they’ve yet to go mainstream, writes Brendan O’Brien

There are plenty still holding out hope that Faugheen will reproduce his machine days once more in today’s Champion Hurdle, despite his most recent lacklustre efforts at Leopardstown.

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

Last year's winner Sizing John and ante-post favourite Might Bite feature among 38 entries for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Willoughby Court will bid to extend his unbeaten record over fences to three in the Betbright Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham today, writes Colin Wilson

Ruby Walsh talks to Irish Examiner Racing Correspondent Tommy Lyons about his prospects tomorrow at Cheltenham.

Lost amid the fanfare of the Jockey Club’s recent £45m (€51.6m) facelift of Prestbury Park, with its 6,500-capacity grandstand, new members’ facilities and improved bars, was a fresh expanse of artificial grass about the size of a tennis court just to the left of the jockeys’ weighing room.

It’s been less than a week since a 26ft statue of Pharoah Ramses II, or Ozymandias as the Greeks liked to call him, was rescued from its ignoble resting place beneath a suburban Cairo slum and surrounded by dirty, running water.

Top jockey Barry Geraghty has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a collapsed lung and six broken ribs in a fall at Kempton Park yesterday.

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack will miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a tendon injury.

Bryan Cooper is keen to “have a go” at Thistlecrack with reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Don Cossack.

After the festive feast of the last week this afternoon’s fare in Britain is less than compelling. That said, the main race of the day, the Betfred “Goals Galore” Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury looks a pretty classy affair.

The long-absent Jezki will not make his reappearance at Punchestown today and will instead be targeted at the Irish Champion Hurdle on January 29.

From Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power to Arc heroine Found, it’s been a 12 months of evocative moments and unforgettable memories, both in National Hunt and on the Flat. Here are 16 of the best from 2016 from Darren Norris.

Douvan is the star name among 12 entries for the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.

A potential mouthwatering clash between Identity Thief and Altior is a possibility in Sunday’s Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial at Cheltenham.

Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour has been put down after breaking his leg in a freak accident.