If Ireland wins one of the five main chases at Cheltenham it will be an achievement

TWO years ago Irish steeplechasing was on a massive high, after War Of Attrition, Hedgehunter and Forget The Past had filled the first three places in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

To make the picture appear even better, Newmill produced a career-best effort to land the two mile Champion Chase.

Fast-forward to the lead-in to another Prestbury Park extravaganza, however, and it is hard to believe how far our standards have slipped.