After an interesting day’s racing, the scores stand at Ireland 5-2 United Kingdom, with Irish trainer Willie Mullins having saddled a remarkable four winners in seven races. Faugheen won the Champion Hurdle under Ruby Walsh, who had earlier teamed up with Mullins to triumphed on Douvan in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle and Un De Sceaux in the Arkle Trophy.

A betting ring bloodbath was narrowly avoided when odds-on favourite Annie Power, also trained by Mullins and ridden by Walsh, fell at the last when well clear and looking every inch a winner in the Mares’ Hurdle, which Mullins won anyway courtesy of Glens Melody and Paul Townend.

Townend rode another winner in Irish Cavalier for trainer Rebecca Curtis in the Chaps Novice Handicap Chase, while the remaining two races were won by English trainer Neil Mullholland and his Irish counterpart Gordon Elliott. The Druids Nephew won the UBS Handicap Chase for Mulholland under Barry Geraghty, while Cause of Causes and Jamie Codd prevailed in the Toby Balding NH chase for Elliott.

On a more sombre note, we had one fatality: Theatre Queen has been destroyed after being injured in a crashing fall in the penultimate race.

1 Irish Cavalier (P Townend) 11-1
2 Thomas Crapper (C Poste) 6-1 Fav
3 Generous Ransom (D A Jacob) 8-1
4 Horizontal Speed (R Johnson) 12-1
20 ran
CSF: 73.51

Over the last and it’s Horizontal Speed from Irish Cavalier. Irish Cavalier wins for Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis under a fine ride from Paul Townend. Thomas Crapper was second, Generous Ransom was third and Horizontal Speed was fourth.

Four fences from home and Thomas Crapper is making progress through the field, but Horizontel Speed continues to lead. Horizontal Speed leads them over the third from home, followed by Little Jon and Thomas Crapper ...

It took two attempts to get them away and new rules meant that second time around they had to go from a standing start. Golden Hoof, owned by golf’s Lee Westwood, was a faller at the first. Two-and-a-half miles is the distance. Horizontal Speed makes the running about a length clear of Stellar Notion and Little Jon ...

Having planted herself at the start of the last race, Theatre Queen eventually got going and suffered a heavy fall. We’re told she’s now being treated in an equine ambulance.

I don’t know whether that’s because he’s any good, or because the money’s piling in on him because everybody at the course is hammered on booze and he has a funny name. My guess is the latter.

Contrary to what you may have heard, the man in whose honour this horse is named did not invent the flush-toilet, although he did dream up the ballcock, which is an integral part of the flush toilet. I like to think that, like Doc Brown and his flux capacitor on Back To The Future, Mr Crapper got the idea for the ballcock after slipping and banging his head on the toilet.

• Thomas Crapper 7-1
  
• Generous Ransom 8-1
  
• Keltus 7-1
  
• Bold Henry 10-1
  
• Stellar Notion 11-1
  
• Irish Cavalier 11-1
  
• Knock House 12-1
  
• Killala Quay 12-1
  
• Little Jon 12-1
  
• Cocktails At Dawn 16-1
  
• 20-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

Another of those tricky handicap things closes the card, which must please the bookies, as some punters will play up their winnings while others will chase their losses.

Generous Ransom is favourite after winning a race here in January that has proved a good Festival trial. Next in the betting is Thomas Crapper, who is sure to be overbet because some people still find his name hilarious. Tsk! Though he has plenty of quality and might appreciate this return to a drier surface. Bold Henry is Tony McCoy’s mount and won round here against 18 rivals in November. There have been a couple of blips since then but a retun to form would not surprise. Monkey Kingdom wears a hood for the first time and following such horses at the last Festival turned out to be a good system.

I tried to persuade myself that the hood would make the necessary improvement for him but I couldn’t quite get there. Leap Dearg has been winning lots in Ireland and it’s surprising to see him at double-figure odds. Keltus is rated by Paul Nicholls as one of his main handicap hopes of the week. “Physically, he is a much improved horse than when last seen out in November,” he said yesterday through his Betfair blog. Keltus has apparently been trained for this for three months.

Annie Power’s dramatic final-flight fall let in her Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Glens Melody to win the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Runner-up to her illustrious now retired stable companion Quevega 12 months earlier, Glens Melody (6-1) capitalised from the shock tumble of Annie Power, who appeared to have the race safely in the bag when she crashed out at the last.
Annie Power had stormed to the front under Ruby Walsh two from home and was still travelling easily when she misjudged the obstacle. Thankfully, both Annie Power and Walsh emerged seemingly none the worse. L’Unique was another faller, but also got up.
Annie Power’s demise resulted in a thrilling finish as Glens Melody, ridden by Paul Townend, just held off Polly Peachum (9-1) by a head with Bitofapuzzle (16-1) a neck away in third.

“Last year she was robbed by Quevega having jumped the last in front and this year she got the rub of the green,” said Willie Mullins. “It’s unbelievable to have four winners in one day. I keep thinking this is not real and it won’t last forever, so I’m going to enjoy it now.”

1 Cause Of Causes (Mr J J Codd) 8-1
2 Broadway Buffalo (Ms K Walsh) 12-1
3 The Job Is Right (Mr Derek O’Connor) 10-1
17 ran

Also: 7-2 Fav Very Wood, 10-1 Perfect Gentleman 4th
CSF: 94.27
Tricast: 984.37

The Job Is Right leads over the last but is collared and passed by Cause Of Causes, who’s driven out to win his first race over fences for birthday boy owner JP McManus in the hands of Jamie Codd. Winning trainer: Gordon Elliott.

There’s just two fences left, because the last is dolled off. Perfect Gentleman and Doing Fine touch down together after the second last ...

Return Spring, Perfect Gentleman and Perfect Candidate lead as they move on towards the last fence at the far side of the course ...

Theatre Queen planted herself at the start, but her jockey has finally got her going, albeit a long way behind the rest of the field. At four miles, this race is a test of stamina for runners, riders and those of us charged with live blogging. I Need Gold makes the running from Return Spring and The Job Is Right ...

Need cheering up after seeing your hopes of buying a gold-plated mansion come crashing to earth at the final fence of the Mares Hurdle? Look no further.

• Very Wood 7-2
  
• Sego Success 9-2
  
• Cause of Causes 8-1
  
• The Job is Right 10-1
  
• Perfect Gentleman 10-1
  
• Doing Fine 12-1
  
• Thunder And Roses 14-1
  
• Cogry 14-1
  
• Broadway Buffalo 16-1
  
• Vivaldi Collonges 16-1
  
• 20-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

You’d hope they laid if off before the final leg of that accumulator to make sure they collected a tidy wedge regardless of the outcome of today’s race.

“I don’t know why she did it,” he says. “She was a bit far away, she hit the underside of the top bar and she came down. She was only doing half-speed, wasn’t she? That’s what happens in racing and we live to fight another day. That’s the main thing.”

A big-field four-mile race over these scary fences for amateur jockeys! Good luck to all involved for a safe return. In fairness, there are quite a few riders in this race who could make a living as a professional, including Patrick Mullins, son of Willie, winner of this race two years ago and aboard his father’s Perfect Gentleman this time.

This is a dramatic step up in distance for him but if he copes, he’ll go close. The Job Is Right was going to be second to Djakadam in a valuable handicap in January before unseating and that looks like strong form, given the winner is a Gold Cup candidate.

Very Wood beat him at Galway in October and is favourite for this, having been diverted from a better race at the last minute. He won a top-class novice hurdle over three miles at the last Festival. Sego Success comes from a yard with a good record in this race and seems to love a test of stamina.

1 Glens Melody (P Townend) 6-1
2 Polly Peachum (B J Geraghty) 9-1
3 Bitofapuzzle (N D Fehily) 16-1
15 ran
Also: 1-2 Fav Annie Power, 25-1 The Pirate’s Queen 4th

Non Runner: 15
Tote: win 7.20 places 1.60 1.70 3.00
Tote Exacta: 39.50
CSF: 57.91
Tricast: 830.81

It’s not the one we were expecting. GLens Melody wins for the Carlow trainer under a powerful drive from Paul Townend.

Annie Power looked home and hosed, but threw herself at the final hurdle, landed on her head and pitched Ruby Walsh out of the saddle. Walsh is fine and the horse looks OK too. She’s cantered off towards the stables.

Pulling clear at the last with the race at her mercy, Annie Power falls at the final flight of hurdles in a race won by Glens Melody from Polly Peachum in a photo.

They’ve three to jump and Carole’s Spirit leads with Annie Power in second or third moving nicely. Annie Power takes over at the second last and is chased up the hill by Glens Melody. ANNIE POWER FALLS AT THE LAST!!!

Bitofapuzzle and Carole’s Spirit make the running over the first couple of obstacles. Emily Gray, Centasia and Annie Power are next. “Annie Power looks pretty well switched off,” says Channel 4 commentator Simon Holt, pointing out that’s a good thing if you’ve backed it ...

• Annie Power 4-7
  
• Glens Melody 6-1
  
• Polly Peachum 9-1
  
• Caroles Spirit 16-1
  
• Bitofapuzzle 20-1
  
• Lunique 16-1
  
• 25-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

... by clicking on this link. There but for the grace of god.

During an interview with former jockey John Francome and current jockey Lizzie Kellie on BBC 5 Live’s coverage of Cheltenham, John Inverdale prompted much tittering when he used the term “rose-cunted glasses” while discussing the days of yore in racing.

Francome: “You get wet, you’re mucking out, and it’s hard work... But through all of that it’s a way of life that most of them wouldn’t swap, a lot of people go off and do other things and then come back to it.”

Inverdale: “This is looking at it through rose-cunted ... rose-tinted glasses from the past ... apologies there for a slip of the tongue, but Lizzy your love of the sport just shines through”

Lizzy was unable to answer properly, for reasons you can probably guess.

A race won by Willie Mullins for the past six years with Quevega. She has now retired but will any other trainer get a look in? Of course not. The Irishman has the first two in the betting, led by Annie Power, who was such a superstar last season. She has been absent for 311 days, having had an injury in December, but Mullins hopes he has got her fit and who would doubt him? Still, Glens Melody also deserves plenty of respect, having given Quevega a fright last year and won handsomely last time. The rest all have quite a bit to prove, though Nicky Henderson’s Polly Peachum won her only race here and could be forgiven her flop when last seen, when something seemed amiss. She hasn’t been out since November, however.

Faugheen was imperious as he led home a Willie Mullins-trained one-two-three in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. The 4-5 shot made all the running in the hands of Ruby Walsh, finding plenty when asked to take his unbeaten tally over hurdles to eight.

Arctic Fire (20-1) chased him hard up the hill to take second place, with dual winner Hurricane Fly (8-1) a gallant third. “He’s not slow, no one else wanted to make it and I was going to go my fractions not theirs,” said Walsh.
“Willie is a genius and has a great team of staff around him. Faugheen is a wonderful horse. He has jumped better, he missed the second-last.

“It was a massive call not to ride Hurricane Fly. When you see what Hurricane Fly was doing at home, it was a big call to get off him. It was some training performance, to have the first two in the Supreme as well.”

Saddling his third winner of a dream day, Mullins said: “What a team effort. Ruby said he was going to make it and win it. This is beyond our wildest dreams. It’s just too good to be true.”

1 Faugheen (R Walsh) 4-5 Fav
2 Arctic Fire (D E Mullins) 20-1
3 Hurricane Fly (P Townend) 8-1
8 ran

Also: 6-1 Jezki 4th
Tote: win 1.80 places 1.10 3.10 1.80
Tote Exacta: 18.10
CSF: 21.14
Tricast: 86.65

Faugheen found an extra gear after the last and pulled clear of the field to make it three winners on the day for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins. If Annie Power wins the Mares Hurdle at 4pm, there’ll be mushroom clouds visible over betting shops all over the country. “Just Annie Power to go,” says Rishi Persaud to winning jockey Ruby Walsh. “Yep, Just Annie,” replies Ruby.

Faugheen leads over the second last, with a narrow lead over Jezki and The New One breathing down his neck. Around the final turn, Faugheen stretches his lead and jumps the last with a four or five length lead. Faugheen romps home to win the Champion Hurdle. Arctic Fire was second and Hurricane Fly was third to make it a one-two-three for Willie Mullins.

Faugheen leads over the fifth from home with a two-lkength lead from The New One, Jezki, Hurricane Fly and Vaniteux. About seven lengths separate the field.

“This is building up into the biggest punting day since Frankie Dettori’s magnificent seven at Royal Ascot,” says Jim McGrath on Channel 4 Racing. “If Faugheen wins this, what price will Annie Power go off [in the 4.00pm]?” Here’s hoping we get to find out.

The starter drops his flag, the tapes go up and Ruby Walsh and Faugheen set off in front, followed by The New One, Jezki and Vaniteux. Over the se3cond flight, Faugheen leads by a length from Jezki and The New One. There are six hurdles left to jump ...

The horses have left the parade ring and are cantering down to post. Faugheen remains the 5-6 favourite, with The New One 7-2. Defending champion Jezki is 11-2 and two-times Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly is 9-1. Somebody on course has just put £120,000 on Faugheen to win £100,000. The bookies need this horse to get beaten.

• Faugheen 5-6
  
• The New One 9-2
  
• Jezki 13-2
  
• Hurricane Fly 10-1
  
• Arctic Fire 20-1
  
• Vaniteux 33-1
  
• Kitten Rock 33-1
  
• 100-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

The Druids Nephew enhanced his claims for the Crabbie’s Grand National when striding out a ready winner of the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Brought into the 25-furlong contest on the final circuit after Annacotty had made the running with Azure Fly and Grand Jesture, The Druids Nephew (8-1) hit the front two out. Barry Geraghty kept the eight-year-old galloping strongly to score by three and three-quarter lengths from Grand Jesture (25-1) and give Neil Mulholland his first Festival winner.
Gallant Oscar was a length-and-a-half away in third, with Indian Castle fourth (16-1) and Pendra (9-1), ridden by Tony McCoy, fifth.
“He jumped nicely,” said Geraghty. “Every time I gave him a squeeze, he quickened. It’s only when you come here [Cheltenham] you realise what it means (to have a winner). Everyone wants to ride a winner so it’s good to have got one on the board.”

A quick recap, in case you missed it earlier: ‘Faugheen the machine’ is another too-hot-to-touch Willie Mullins favourite. Will this be the first time something finishes within three lengths of him? This is a step up in class but he looks up to it. Victory for the 11-year-old veteran Hurricane Fly would be popular, except with Ruby Walsh, who has quit his saddle for Faugheen’s.

The Fly is two from four in Champion Hurdles and has been winning this season but it would still count as a shock if he can land this again after seeming beaten on merit when fourth last year. First-time headgear and a change of jockey may have helped Jezki home in front last year but he has been consistently disappointing this winter. The New One, Britain’s only serious contender, was an unlucky third last year and could easily do better with a clear run. Kitten Rock could run above his odds unless he’s used as a pacemaker for Jezki.

1 The Druids Nephew (B J Geraghty) 8-1
2 Grand Jesture (J J Burke) 25-1
3 Gallant Oscar (B J Cooper) 9-1
4 Indian Castle (W Kennedy) 16-1
24 ran

Also: 6-1 Fav Ned Stark
CSF: 197.77

The Druid’s Nephew clears the last five lengths clear of Grand Jesture. The Druid’s Nephew wins pulling a cart for Barry Geraghty. Grand Jesture was second and there’s a photo for third. I think Indian Castle got third from Gallant Oscar.

After a circuit, Annacotty continues to lead them round, tracked by Grand Jesture. The field is separated by about 20 lengths and we’ve yet to see a faller. There are plenty still in with a chance as they go over the water jump ...

My “nap” of the day runs in this: Ned Stark, who I’ve had a bet on because he’s named after a character from Game of Thrones. No, really. That pretty much sums up how confident I am in my form-analysing abilities. They’ve a mite over three miles to run in this one and all are still standing as they go over the fourth fence, with Annacotty making the running under Gavin Sheehan ...

Un De Sceaux lived up to his billing as he duly landed the odds in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival. Ruby Walsh made all the running on the 4-6 favourite, trained by Willie Mullins, but he was ridden with a bit more restraint than had been expected.
Even so, Un De Sceaux had all his rivals at full stretch coming down the hill. God’s Own (33-1) tried to make a race of it but he could not compete on the run to the line and had to settle for being beaten six lengths in second place. Josses Hill (12-1) stayed on to take third spot, two lengths away.
The victory gave Mullins and Walsh a double in the first two races of the meeting after Douvan struck in the opener.
“He has got a turn of foot,” said Walsh. “I wasn’t going that hard and I knew that when I gave him a squeeze he would quicken up and he’s pinged the last. He didn’t come to the Festival last year, he went to France twice, and you can see it’s made a man of him. He’s not an easy horse and they have minded and nurtured him. They’ve done a great job. I rode Master Minded and Azertyiuop so going that speed is nothing new to me.”

• Ned Stark 8-1
  
• The Druid’s Nephew 8-1
  
• Pendra 8-1
  
• Gallant Oscar 9-1
  
• Barrakilla 10-1
  
• Gevrey Chambertin 12-1
  
• Mendip Express 14-1
  
• Black Thunder 16-1
  
• Theatre Guide 1601
  
• 20-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

The first of many supposed-to-be-unsolvable handicap puzzles at the Festival, this is a 24-runner race in which all horses carry differing weights according to their ability so that everyone has a theoretically even chance. Jonjo O’Neill has proved adept at getting his runners into this race with less weight than they ought to have, winning three times in the past six years, but his runners this time don’t excite.

Novices have done well recently, winning four times in seven years, and Ned Stark has done really well over fences this season, though he ran below his best on his only previous run here. Pendra, Tony McCoy’s mount, ran well to be third at last year’s Festival. He’s had a wind op since last seen and wears first-time cheekpieces, which might be good omens. Mendip Express probably has more to offer and won well on his previous run here, though his amateur jockey has a low win-rate over these fences. Gallant Oscar represents shrewd connections and could step up on what he’s shown.

If only they hadn’t given their pants to Nicklas Bendtner - it looks as if they might need a spare pair before the afternoon is out.

1 Un De Sceaux (R Walsh) 4-6 Fav
2 God’s Own (P J Brennan) 33-1
3 Josses Hill (B J Geraghty) 12-1
11 ran

Also: 7-1 Vibrato Valtat 4th
CSF: 35.86
Tricast: 160.54

Un De Sceaux digs deep as they approach the final fence and is booted five lengths clear under pressure from God’s Own. Un De Sceaux makes all the running to win the Arkle Chase by seven or eight lengths and make it two out of two for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins. Un De Sceaux wins the Arkle.

Un De Sceaux makes the running under Ruby Walsh early doors ahead of Sail By The Sea, with Sgt Reckless at the rear of the field as they approach the first open ditch. There’s plenty of daylight between Un De Sceaux and the rest of the field as they head down the back straight and come down the hill towards the third fence from home ...

They stand to lose millions (estimates suggest it’s over £100m) in pay-outs on accumulator bets if all four Willie Mullins hot-pots oblige today and Douvan was the one most of them were probably thinking would be most likely to get beaten. With Un De Sceaux (2.05), Faugheen (3.20) and Annie Power (4.00) all likely to go off as odds on favourites, there’ll be a few oddsmakers with very sweaty palms. Good.

• Un De Sceaux 4-6
  
• Vibrato Valtat 7-1
  
• Josses Hill 12-1
  
• Clarcam 16-1
  
• Three Kingdoms 16-1
  
• Sgt Reckless 16-1
  
• Smashing 20-1
  
• Court Minstrel 25-1
  
• 33-1 bar. Prices from Oddschecker
  

A quick recap, in case you missed it earlier: The most boom or bust horse of the week is the favourite here, Un De Sceaux, another Willie Mullins beast. He responds to the tape going up in the manner of a warhorse hearing a bugle. But, though his charge sometimes looks a tad reckless, he has always managed to sustain it to the end of a race, typically winning by a wide margin. What can go wrong?

Well, the only time he failed to win in 12 starts was when he fell at Thurles and, this being his first visit to Cheltenham and his toughest test yet, a fall cannot be ruled out, though it’s not much of a reason to bet against a talented horse. Paul Nicholls’ Vibrato Valtat also has stacks of quality and, one feels, unexposed potential. Hacking along behind a fiery pace might bring out the best in him and he could make a race of it. Nicky Henderson’s Josses Hill’s jumping needs to take a huge step forward but he could take a hand if it does.

1 Douvan (R Walsh) 2-1 Fav
2 Shaneshill (P Townend) 9-1
3 Sizing John (J J Burke) 25-1
12 ran

Also: 7-2 L’Ami Serge 4th
Tote: win 3.00 places 1.60 2.50 7.00
Tote Exacta: 18.10
CSF: 18.12
Tricast: 343.38

“I put the gun to his head too early,” he says, speaking metaphorically. “When he pricked his ears and jumped the last he had plenty left in the tank. It’s brilliant to be here. The ground is not quick, it’s dead, but you want it to be. This is a winter sport so you want to run on winter ground.”

Seedling comes a cropper at the fourth, unseating his jockey as Some Plan leads by a length and a half as they approach the third from home. With two to jump, Tell Us More takes it up with Douvan coming into it strongly on the wide outside. Douvan takes up the running as they approach the last flight of hurdles. Douvan wins the opener by three or four lengths from Shaneshill, with Sizing John in third.

They’re off, with Sizing John and Some Plan leading the way over the fierst hurdle. Favouirite Douvan takes up a place right in the centre, with L’Ami Serge on the inside as they go over the second. With six hurdles to go, Some Plan has a two-length lead under Paddy Brennan ...

The runners are riders are circling at the start, waiting to be sent on their way by official starter Robbie Supple, himself a former jockey.

This is all about Douvan, who’s the general 15-8 favourite to set the tone for what should hopefully be a belting afternoon for punters. There is, though, good money for stablemate Shaneshill, who dipped to a single-digit figure earlier in the day but is now 10-1 across the board.

• Douvan 15-8
  
• Lami Serge 7-2
  
• Shaneshill 11-1
  
• Jolly Allan 11-1
  
• Qewy 16-1
  
• Tell Us More 16-1
  
• Seedling 22-1
  
• 25-1 bar Prices from Oddschecker

Greg Wood reckons favourite Douvan should not be backed in the first.

A quick recap in case you missed it earlier: One of several Festival races on their way to becoming a Willie Mullins benefit. The Irish champion trainer has won this for the past two years and fields this year’s hot favourite, Douvan. He’s a glorious-looking beast. One could speculate about whether he’ll have much turn of foot if such a thing should prove necessary but it may very well not. Nicky Henderson has battered the crossbar in this race, having trained the last four runners-up as well as two thirds in that time. His L’Ami Serge seems sure to go well but second place might have to do once more if the betting is right. Jollyallan, Tony McCoy’s conveyance, has had jumping issues and will need to sort them. Seedling seems unfairly overlooked at 20-1, given how well some of his form has worked out. Paul Nicholls, who doesn’t have a runner in the race, nominates Qewy as an alternative to the favourites.

Channel 4’s coverage of Day One has begun and unsurprisingly, they’ve led with the story of this being AP McCoy’s final festival. Clare Balding is on presenting duties with Ted Walsh alongside her offering some expert insights. The camera cuts to the weighing room, where his son Ruby is kitted out in the pink and green colours of mega-rich American owner Rich Ricci, drinking an unspecified beverage from a white mug.

Horse Racing Ireland has been staging its annual press conference at the start of the meeting, here are a few snippets.

Bryan Cooper on Road To Riches, his Gold Cup mount on Friday:
“He’s been very impressive this year, he won a Galway Plate and then a Lexus on ground he wasn’t mad about at all. Hopefully the rain will stay away and I’d love to wake up on Friday morning seeing the ground the way it is at the minute. Going left-handed will help him and there’s no real question mark about the trip, it’s just a case of how good the Irish form is and is he good enough? But I don’t think Silviniaco Conti is the horse he is around Kempton when he comes to Cheltenham. He just seems a bit different. It’s a wide-open race, but I wouldn’t swap mine for anything.”

Tony Martin on Rivage D’Or, who runs in tomorrow’s Cross-Country Chase. “He seems to enjoy the jumping and he’s definitely got a new spark to him since he started. He’s done a lot of schooling with Paul Carberry and he’s giving us all the right signs at the moment.”

Tony Martin on Edeymi (joint-favourite for the Pertemps Final, Thursday). “He was a bit unlucky when he was second in the Fred Winter [in 2012]. The key to him is the ground, that’s why we went to Musselburgh [last time out] and as soon as he got the ground he rattled off and came home very well. Also, he’s got a little older so the three miles shouldn’t be any bother to him, but the better the ground, the better he’ll be, and if the ground is good, he’ll definitely have a great chance.”

Just the one so far today. The Govaness has been withdrawn from the Mares Hurdle (4pm).

Another of those tricky handicap things closes the card, which must please the bookies, as some punters will play up their winnings while others will chase their losses. Generous Ransom is favourite after winning a race here in January that has proved a good Festival trial. Next in the betting is Thomas Crapper, who is sure to be overbet because some people still find his name hilarious. Tsk!

Though he has plenty of quality and might appreciate this return to a drier surface. Bold Henry is Tony McCoy’s mount and won round here against 18 rivals in November. There have been a couple of blips since then but a retun to form would not surprise. Monkey Kingdom wears a hood for the first time and following such horses at the last Festival turned out to be a good system.

I tried to persuade myself that the hood would make the necessary improvement for him but I couldn’t quite get there. Leap Dearg has been winning lots in Ireland and it’s surprising to see him at double-figure odds. Keltus is rated by Paul Nicholls as one of his main handicap hopes of the week. “Physically, he is a much improved horse than when last seen out in November,” he said yesterday through his Betfair blog. Keltus has apparently been trained for this for three months.

A big-field four-mile race over these scary fences for amateur jockeys! Good luck to all involved for a safe return. In fairness, there are quite a few riders in this race who could make a living as a professional, including Patrick Mullins, son of Willie, winner of this race two years ago and aboard his father’s Perfect Gentleman this time. This is a dramatic step up in distance for him but if he copes, he’ll go close.

The Job Is Right was going to be second to Djakadam in a valuable handicap in January before unseating and that looks like strong form, given the winner is a Gold Cup candidate. Very Wood beat him at Galway in October and is favourite for this, having been diverted from a better race at the last minute. He won a top-class novice hurdle over three miles at the last Festival. Sego Success comes from a yard with a good record in this race and seems to love a test of stamina.

A race won by Willie Mullins for the past six years with Quevega. She has now retired but will any other trainer get a look in? Of course not. The Irishman has the first two in the betting, led by Annie Power, who was such a superstar last season. She has been absent for 311 days, having had an injury in December, but Mullins hopes he has got her fit and who would doubt him?

Still, Glens Melody also deserves plenty of respect, having given Quevega a fright last year and won handsomely last time. The rest all have quite a bit to prove, though Nicky Henderson’s Polly Peachum won her only race here and could be forgiven her flop when last seen, when something seemed amiss. She hasn’t been out since November, however.

‘Faugheen the machine’ is another too-hot-to-touch Willie Mullins favourite. Will this be the first time something finishes within three lengths of him? This is a step up in class but he looks up to it. Victory for the 11-year-old veteran Hurricane Fly would be popular, except with Ruby Walsh, who has quit his saddle for Faugheen’s.

The Fly is two from four in Champion Hurdles and has been winning this season but it would still count as a shock if he can land this again after seeming beaten on merit when fourth last year. First-time headgear and a change of jockey may have helped Jezki home in front last year but he has been consistently disappointing this winter. The New One, Britain’s only serious contender, was an unlucky third last year and could easily do better with a clear run. Kitten Rock could run above his odds unless he’s used as a pacemaker for Jezki.

The first of many supposed-to-be-unsolvable handicap puzzles at the Festival, this is a 24-runner race in which all horses carry differing weights according to their ability so that everyone has a theoretically even chance. Jonjo O’Neill has proved adept at getting his runners into this race with less weight than they ought to have, winning three times in the past six years, but his runners this time don’t excite.

Novices have done well recently, winning four times in seven years, and Ned Stark has done really well over fences this season, though he ran below his best on his only previous run here. Pendra, Tony McCoy’s mount, ran well to be third at last year’s Festival. He’s had a wind op since last seen and wears first-time cheekpieces, which might be good omens. Mendip Express probably has more to offer and won well on his previous run here, though his amateur jockey has a low win-rate over these fences. Gallant Oscar represents shrewd connections and could step up on what he’s shown.

“He’s a great competitor and a fantastic personality. The crowd loves it when he doesn’t seem that pissed but then tries to leave the bar via an imaginary door.”

Earlier this season O’ Hanlon, who stands 13 hands high when upright, sustained a serious injury to his drinking arm when he repeatedly punched a road sign following a mid-week session at Doncaster ...

Racing Post editor, Crystal Palace fan and all round good egg Bruce Millington is currently being interviewed on Racing UK,. looking resplendent in a tweed jacket, blue pullover, white check shirt and smartly knotted blue and white spotted tie.

It’s as you were regarding the Cheltenham terrain, with the going still good to soft, good in places after a dry night. The sun will shine all day, with temperatures at some stage likely to soar to double figures. Phew, what a scorcher.

The most boom or bust horse of the week is the favourite here, Un De Sceaux, another Willie Mullins beast. He responds to the tape going up in the manner of a warhorse hearing a bugle. But, though his charge sometimes looks a tad reckless, he has always managed to sustain it to the end of a race, typically winning by a wide margin. What can go wrong? Well, the only time he failed to win in 12 starts was when he fell at Thurles and, this being his first visit to Cheltenham and his toughest test yet, a fall cannot be ruled out, though it’s not much of a reason to bet against a talented horse. Paul Nicholls’ Vibrato Valtat also has stacks of quality and, one feels, unexposed potential. Hacking along behind a fiery pace might bring out the best in him and he could make a race of it. Nicky Henderson’s Josses Hill’s jumping needs to take a huge step forward but he could take a hand if it does.

One of several Festival races on their way to becoming a Willie Mullins benefit. The Irish champion trainer has won this for the past two years and fields this year’s hot favourite, Douvan. He’s a glorious-looking beast. One could speculate about whether he’ll have much turn of foot if such a thing should prove necessary but it may very well not.

Nicky Henderson has battered the crossbar in this race, having trained the last four runners-up as well as two thirds in that time. His L’Ami Serge seems sure to go well but second place might have to do once more if the betting is right. Jollyallan, Tony McCoy’s conveyance, has had jumping issues and will need to sort them. Seedling seems unfairly overlooked at 20-1, given how well some of his form has worked out. Paul Nicholls, who doesn’t have a runner in the race, nominates Qewy as an alternative to the favourites.

This, from an old pal of mine in Ireland, is essential reading for anyone planning on placing a bet today. It’s Declan Lynch on the terrible poignancy of the festival, the infinite capacity for hope that endures in the hearts of men. It certainly made me chuckle when I read it a couple of days ago.

The Press Association are reporting he is not among the entries for the RSA Chase on Wednesday. It will be fascinating to see how this highly promising novice goes against a field of hardy campaigners on Friday.

There cannot have been a finer opening morning at Cheltenham for many years, and the contrast with two years ago, when the temperature did not climb beyond zero until about two hours before the first race, could not be more complete. The last of the morning mist is slowly disappearing from the top of Cleeve Hill, and the smoke is clearing too after the early exchanges in the betting markets on what could prove to be one of the most memorable cards for many years for both punters and bookmakers alike.

Ladbrokes went 3-1 about Douvan, the favourite for the opening Supreme Novice Hurdle and the first of Willie Mullins’s four hot favourites, for 15 minutes from 9am, and 9-4 is now the best price around. What no-one can be sure about, though, is what the bookies in the ring will make of it all, because the Festival is one of the few meetings all year with a market strong enough to stand up for itself.

The ring bookmakers here are well-resourced and do not have the long-term liabilities of the off-course firms, who have been taking money for the Mullins hotpots for months. Nor are they laying all four in thousands of Yankee and Lucky 15 bets. That gives the ring some freedom to take on the favourites, and Douvan in particular looks like the obvious one to lay. If Douvan goes in, the ring might then chase the losses by pushing out Un De Sceaux, in the Arkle, and Faugheen, the Champion Hurdle favourite. Then again, they could do that anyway if Douvan is beaten, to try to play up their winnings.

There has not been a day with such obvious potential to shift millions of pounds from bookmakers to punters since the internet opened up Britain’s bookmaking industry to the world, and also helped to turn many of the biggest firms’ sports traders into risk-averse bean-counters. They are very nervous, no doubt about it, but like bookmakers throughout history, they still have the odds on their side. “We just need one of them to get beaten,” David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said a little while ago. “Just one is all it takes, but we are very much hoping that it won’t come down to Annie Power [in the Mares’ Hurdle].”

It promises to be a fascinating and memorable day in the markets, and all the attention is naturally on the four Mullins-trained favourites. A couple more that have attracted money, though, are Barrakilla in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase, and the splendidly-named Thomas Crapper in the last. The going is good-to-soft and good in places, and the famous roar that greets the start of the meeting is due to be rattling the windows of the press room at 1.30.

Arzal has been ruled out of the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday, reports the Press Association.

The Harry Whittington-trained five-year-old suffered a knock when making a mistake early on in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday. “He won’t be running on Friday,” said Whittington. “He picked up a problem at the second hurdle and that was why he ran a disappointing race.”

Welcome to the festival of festivals. The Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the traditional opening race roar as the tapes go up for the first race at 1.30pm and we will have everything you need to pick your way through the betting minefield.

Greg Wood, Chris Cook and Owen Gibson are on track and will be reporting live from the course with going news, betting moves and all the latest tit bits. Barry Glendenning will be at the controls for our live race-by-race blog.

The first day is all about Tony McCoy – beginning his last Festival in the saddle – and trainer Willie Mullins, who has assembled the most formidable team of horses in modern-day Cheltenham history. The bookmakers are talking about anything between a £100m and £200m bloodbath if his “fearsome four” favourites all win. Chief among Mullins’ troops are Faugheen “the Machine” in the Champion Hurdle and the brilliant tearaway Un De Sceaux in the Arkle Chase. Don’t miss one minute of the action with us.

In the meantime, you’re probably wanting details of our tipping competition. Here’s Chris Cook:

The William Hill Cheltenham Festival tipping competition

You could win a £50 bet from William Hill by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional stakes of £1 at starting price on each tip. Non-runners count as losers.

Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm.

There are seven races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here , will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tiebreak purposes.

If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Festival.

Today’s races (and our tips)

1.30 Supreme Novice Hurdle
L’Ami Serge 7-2

2.05 Arkle Trophy
Un De Sceaux 8-11

2.40 UBS Handicap Chase
The Druids Nephew 11-1

3.20 Champion Hurdle
Faugheen 5-4

4.00 Mares Hurdle
Glens Melody 6-1

4.40 Toby Balding National Hunt Chase (amateur riders)
Sego Success 11-2

5.15 Chaps Novice Handicap Chase
Keltus 12-1