Cheltenham countdown: Unheralded Yanworth is suddenly a major player at festival

Perhaps last weekend’s results across the Irish Sea should have served as a reminder that the search for a Cheltenham banker does not have to circle around Willie Mullins’ stable.

Much – probably too much – has been made of Mullins’ dominance of Irish racing and, depending on your point of view, how good or bad it is for the sport.

But, in a rare weekend of reverses with his challengers in Britain, there was a firm reminder to complacent punters that the home team will put up stern resistance in six weeks’ time.