There will be more to come later this evening but here’s the report so far.

And the betting guide for Wednesday.

And here’s what to look forward to tomorrow.

• 1.30 - Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, 2m 5f

• 2.10 - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, 3m 1/2f

• 2.50 - Coral Cup Hurdle (Handicap Hurdle Race), 2m 5f

• 3.30 - Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, 2m

• 4.10 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, 3m 5 1/2f

• 4.50 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, 2m

• 5.30 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race), 2m 1/2f

A good day for those called Mullins. And Townend. Not so good for Nicky Henderson, who at least showed off how much of a gent he is in speaking. A couple of his were pulled up in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender Jeriko Du Reponet and Champion Hurdle hope Iberico Lord.

“I’m thrilled for State Man and Willieand Joe and Marie (Donnelly, owners), I’ve got three runners for them (Donnellys) on Friday and they’re the best.

“We’ve had plenty of banter throughout the winter of how State Man and Constitution Hill are going to have a good battle and it wasn’t to be, which is a shame. There’s no point in speculating where Constitution Hill would have finished in front of Luccia, I think you can probably guess where he’s going to finish, but that’s for another day.

“Constitution Hill was ridden out with the others this morning, which was nice to see. His bloods are better, but we’ve got a long way to go. He’s not 100 per cent, but it’s a long way going down the road of improving dramatically.”

“Some of these horses probably aren’t running how they ought to, in which case he (Constitution Hill) is probably safer where he is. Everything you do at home tells you they’re all perfectly right, otherwise to be honest with you they wouldn’t be here.

“We’ll just have to play it quietly and take them as individuals. (The tests) say they’re all OK, but this ground has gone against quite a few of them, so we’ll have to regroup. I can think of two or three that won’t want to be running on that ground, but I need to talk to the owners first.”

Emmet Mullins, winning trainer, speaking to Racing TV: “Very happy. He’s a class animal and it was great to see him show his true colours. We’ve just got everything together at the right time.”

Cheltenham 5.30 result

• 1 Corbetts Cross (Mr Derek O’Connor) 15-8

• 2 Embassy Gardens (Mr P W Mullins) 7-4 Fav

• 3 Mr Vango (Miss Gina Andrews) 14-1
  7 ran
  Also: 20-1 Kilbeg King 4th

Another fatality: Ose Partir, involved in that pileup at the back of the field in the Boodles, has been lost to Sean & Bernardine Mulryan, his owners, who actually won the same race with Lark In The Mornin. They have the favourite, Embassy Gardens, in this last race. Again, the cruelty of National Hunt racing comes in such contrast with the joy and fun it brings, too.

It looks chilly and wet at HQ, but there’s no way that’s going to stop punters heading to Prestbury Park. Tomorrow, it’s Style Wednesday, rather than Ladies’ Day.

On this Style Wednesday, vintage clothes are encouraged and “slow fashion style awards” are awarded to the best dressed.

Robinson is not impressed. “For me, it’s still Ladies’ Day. We are trying to get our ladies to look as good as they can. I don’t think that’s the right day for secondhand fashion. We want everyone in their finery, not in secondhand clothes.”

The former Tory culture secretary Nadine Dorries was livid, describing it as “some sort of woke nod”.

5.30 Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup odds

• Embassy Gardens 7/4

• Corbetts Cross 13/5

• Apple Away 6/1

• Mr Vango 10/1

• Salvador Ziggy 12/1

• Kilbeg King 18/1

• Henrys Friend 22/1

• Odds via Oddschecker

5.30 MAUREEN MULLINS NATIONAL HUNT CHASE CHALLENGE CUP

Whatever else may have unfolded earlier in the day, Willie Mullins will obviously be very keen to see Embassy Gardens acquit himself well in a race named after the trainer’s late mother, who was a mainstay of both the Mullins family and their training operation for many decades before her death last month at the age of 94. He has shortened up in the betting this morning, moving to the head of the market at around 15-8 perhaps as a result of the rain, which will play to his strengths. The previous favourite, Corbetts Cross, still has a very obvious chance, however, and is just 5-2 to make up for a very unfortunate exit when still travelling well in a race at Fairyhouse last month. The mare Apple Away, who has run well in Grade Two company on her last two starts and seems sure to appreciate this step up in trip, is a contender too for the Lucinda Russell stable – one of very few British yards to have enjoyed much success at this meeting in recent season – while Salvador Ziggy, the runner-up in the Kerry National off a mark of 150 back in September, is a slightly under-the-rader alternative, having been given time to recover from a trip to the US for a valuable hurdle event at Far Hills in New Jersey.

SELECTION: SALVADOR ZIGGY.

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Lark In The Mornin, speaking to Racing TV: “To have a winner here this week is very special. We had a conversation last night whether to run or not, luckily we decided to.”

JJ Slevin gave that a cracking ride for his cousin. That was a plot landed, off a rather healthy mark.

Cheltenham 4.50 result

• 1 Lark In The Mornin (J J Slevin) 9-1

• 2 Eagles Reign (T P Harney) 80-1

• 3 Ndaawi (J W Kennedy) 12-1

• 4 Harsh (C Stone-Walsh) 40-1
  22 ran
  Also: 10-3 Fav Milan Tino

On Lossiemouth, Willie Mullins wants to take Lossiemouth to the Champion Hurdle next year: “She was great - she’s a Champion Hurdle mare, we all think. Once again, Paul was very cool on her and she can improve another year on, when she’s a bit older. Running like that, in that ground, she’s got everything. We made the right decision (not to go for the Champion Hurdle this year). She didn’t get a grueller like if she’d been in the Champion Hurdle, she’s only five and getting a grueller in the Champion Hurdle is not what you want.”

4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle odds

• Milan Tino 4/1

• Liari 15/2

• Lark In The Mornin 10/1

• Batman Girac 12/1

• Eagle Fang 12/1

• Latin Verse 14/1

• Ndaawi 16/1

• Ose Partir 16/1

• Bright Legend 16/1

• Nara 16/1

• BAR 18/1 - 24 runners

• Odds from Oddschecker

CHELTENHAM 4.50 BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE

The first of the Festival hurdle handicaps, and as fiendish as they come, with 22 runners due to go to post and a pell-mell dash around Cheltenham in prospect. Frankly, you don’t need me to tell you that it’s a horribly tricky puzzle to unravel, and all the more so as four-year-olds can improve markedly from one race to the next, not least when they are being prepared with a tilt at this one in mind. Winners since 2017 have included an 80-1 chance, two more at 33-1 and another at 18-1 and it needs to be approached on the basis of almost certain disappointment, but that has not stopped punters latching on to Milan Tino, in the famous JP McManus colours and hailing from Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s yard in France. He has failed to notch a win in four attempts but ran well to finish third behind Sir Gino, the favourite for Friday’s Triumph Hurdle, on the New course here last time. A very long list of alternatives includes another maiden over hurdles in Joseph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin,and Gordon Elliott’s Ndaawi, a winner at Naas last time, while the Willie Mullins yard fields Batman Girac, fourth in a Grade Two last time. Other interesting types include William Durkan’s Eagle Fang – punters may recall Screaming Colours winning last year’s Midlands National for his small Irish stable – but this is going to be my attempt to put it out of the park, or into the first row of seats at least, on day one, via Syd Hosie’s Latin Verse. He has actually shortened significantly in the market since being priced up at 28-1 a couple of weeks ago, but still looks fair value at around 14-1 to back up an impressive success in a strongly-run race on his handicap debut at Ludlow in February.

SELECTION: LATIN VERSE

Cheltenham 4.10 result

• 1 Lossiemouth (P Townend) 8-13 Fav

• 2 Telmesomethinggirl (Rachael Blackmore) 22-1

• 3 Hispanic Moon (D J O’Keeffe) 40-1
  11 ran
  Also: 18-1 Lantry Lady 4th

Paul Townend speaks to ITV again: “She was very good, there was a question mark over her stamina. I had to settle her. But she was settled enough. It’s easy to ride when you’re on a good one. I know how privileged I am.”

Rich Ricci has given his views on Lossiemouth: ““This is the one we thought our best chance of the week so hopefully she does it. The camp is very confident. Let us see how she goes.”

Market Movers from Oddspedia

• Gala Marceau – 25/1 to 10/1

• Love Envoi – 12/1 to 11/1

CHELTENHAM 4.10 MARES’ HURDLE PREVIEW

Another odds-on favourite from the Willie Mullins stable here in Lossiemouth, last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner, though the exact price she sets off at probably depends on how her yard fares earlier on the card. In the (unlikely but not *that* unlikely) event that she is bidding to complete a five-timer for her trainer, the only hope for the bookmaking fraternity is that her stamina will not hold out on the rain-softened ground, as this will be her first start beyond 17 furlongs, but there is little sign of significant concern from the Mullins camp and even if she falters on the hill, her stable companion Ashroe Diamond is the runner most likely to chase her down.

SELECTION: LOSSIEMOUTH

4.10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle odds

• Lossiemouth 4/5

• Ashroe Diamond 17/2

• Love Envoi 10/1

• Gala Marceau 11/1

• Lantry Lady 16/1

• Maries Rock 16/1

• Echoes In Rain 18/1

• Telmesomethinggirl 22/1

• You Wear It Well 25/1

• Hispanic Moon 40/1

• Theatre Glory 100/1

• Odds from Oddschecker

Another celebration from the mullet and Ray-ban stylist that is Rich Ricci with Gaelic Warrior. We’re bound to hear from him soon enough if Lossiemouth comes in on the Mares’ Hurdle.

How’s your luck today? There’s always tomorrow, with Greg Wood’s betting guide.

Cheltenham 3.30 result

• 1 State Man (P Townend) 2-5 Fav

• 2 Irish Point (J W Kennedy) 9-2

• 3 Luccia (James Bowen) 33-1
  8 ran
  Also: 22-1 Zarak The Brave 4th

Willie Mullins on Constitution Hill and his new Champion Hurdler: “To win a Champion Hurdler, you gotta turn up. And we turned up.”

Also to ITV Sport from the now 96-timer at the festival: “Paul rode him so well - I didn’t dream he would be fifth or sixth jumping the fourth-last but he rode him with supreme confidence. He probably thought the ground would take it out of the horses in front of him. When you’re riding with confidence, you can do that.”

No Constitution Hill, no problem for Paul Townend, who takes his first Champion Hurdle, Willie Mullins’ fifth: “He’s a very simple horse to ride. He deserves his day in the sun. It was the one I was missing here. Back in my younger days I had an association with Hurricane Fly so it’s nice.”

3.30 Champion Hurdle

More nerves as they edge to the finish. All eyes on State Man, Not So Sleepy living up to his name. They take a turn and trot to the finish. They go off with State Man at the lead, ridden along. The pace is high despite the ground. Zarak The Brave – purported pacemaker – is sat at the back. Nemean Lion is among a pair of leaders with Not So Sleepy. Irish Point lurks with intent. Not a great deal of movement as the decision-making begins for the final few furlongs.

3.30 Champion Hurdle odds

• State Man 2/5

• Irish Point 5/1

• Iberico Lord 12/1

• Nemean Lion 14/1

• Zarak The Brave 28/1

• Luccia 40/1

• Not So Sleepy 40/1

• Colonel Mustard 60/1

• Odds via Oddschecker

Market Movers via Oddspedia

• State Man - 1/3 to 4/11

• Nemean Lion – 25/1 to 11/1

Bad, desperate news on Highland Hunter, who suffered a fatality for the Fergal O’Brien team in the Ultima. There’s no other way to look on such events as the dark side of a sport that otherwise brings so much joy, and fun, especially from the O’Brien stable, one of the most relatable and fun around.

CHELTENHAM 3.30 CHAMPION HURDLE PREVIEW

Without last year’s winner, Constitution Hill, in the field to defend his crown, this year’s renewal of the timber championship was always likely to feel a bit like turning up for a West End show to find that the headline star has a sore throat and their understudy is filling in. State Man, though, has a level of form that would make him a very worthy favourite in most years, and his only defeat over hurdles when completing came at the hands – or hooves – of Constitution Hill in this race last season. Testing ground could complicate things somewhat for the favourite, though, and while he has a few pounds in hand of the field on Timeform ratings, there are some stout stayers in opposition who will surely set out to make this a real test. Irish Point is foremost among them, having been rerouted to this race from the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday, when he would have been one of the market leaders, while Iberico Lord, who was supplemented by Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill’s trainer, when his stable star was ruled out, could also attract some support. He won the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time out and is very much in the early stages of his hurdling career with just nine runs in the book, but is making his Grade One debut here and does have plenty to find with both State Man and Irish Point on ratings.

SELECTION: IRISH POINT

Veteran trainer Kim Bailey wins this race for the first time in 25 years. He lost Trelawne at the start but is happy to report his other horse is “sound”. “David’s ridden a fantastic race. It’s huge for the yard. We believe in the horse.”

The owner of Chianti Classico was Sir Francis Brooke, who also happens to be chairman of Ascot Racecouse.

Highland Hunter, who was to the fore, went down on the chase to the finish under Paddy Brennan. Let’s hope for good news. Trelawne got back up.

Cheltenham 2.50 result

• 1 Chianti Classico (David Bass) 6-1

• 2 Twig (Beau Morgan) 28-1

• 3 Meetingofthewaters (M P Walsh) 6-1

• 4 Famous Bridge (Sean Quinlan) 25-1
  21 ran
  Also: 9-2 Fav The Goffer

David Bass, the winning jockey: “The rain come this morning and I thought I was on the wrong one. What a lovely horse. There’s a big race in Liverpool I’d like to ride in next year. The ground is bad but he’s done it well. He’s got a touch of class.”

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase

It’s a big field – 22 runners – that takes to the course. Again, edgy at the start. They’re being asked to calm down. They go off first time. Trelawne goes at the first. And that looks nasty. It may mean the race is redirected. Monbeg Genius is among those making mistakes. Eklat de Rire is leading under Rachael Blackmore. The Goffer makes a mistake. Trelawne is up, good news, so they will be able to jump the last. Highland Hunter is to the fore with 11 to jump. Victorrino, the Venetia horse, is some way back as they go past the stands.

There’s been a going change.

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase odds

• The Goffer 11/2

• Trelawne 6/1

• Chianti Classico 15/2

• Meetingofthewaters 9/1

• Stumptown 11/1

• Weveallbeencaught 11/1

• Victtorino 16/1

• Monbeg Genius 16/1

• Eklat De Rire 18/1

• Famous Bridge 20/1

• BAR 25/1 - 22 runners from Oddschecker

Market movers from Oddspedia

• Trelawne – 7/1 to 11/2

• The Goffer – 5/1 to 9/2

CHELTENHAM 2.50 ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE

For the first time this week, let’s sound the Stat Klaxon for one of the more unlikely Festival Facts. Willie Mullins has won 95 races at this meeting, more than any other trainer in history, and that total also includes 11 handicaps. But not one of those victories was a handicap chase, leaving a weird gap on his Cheltenham Festival cv which Meetingofthewaters will attempt to close here. The seven-year-old was installed as favourite when the weights were published a fortnight ago, but is quite easy to back today, having drifted out to 7-1 in the face of money for Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer, who finished fourth in one of the strongest ever renewals of this handicap 12 months ago and is 2lb lower in the ratings this time around. Just ahead of him in third last year was Monbeg Genius, in the colours of Doug Barrowman and Baroness Michelle Mone, who was not included in the freezing order applied to £75m of his owners’ assets back in December and is therefore free to take a tilt at the £70k first prize today. Stumptown, a winner at the New Year’s Day meeting here, is another interesting runner, but this is a race that has proved highly resistant to Irish stables, even as they have steadily swamped their British counterparts in recent years. With that in mind, I’m quite keen on the chances of Kim Bailey’s two runners, Chianti Classico and Trelawne, and while David Bass, the stable’s main jockey, is aboard the former, it’s hard to argue with Harry Cobden as a deputy aboard the latter, whose progressive profile and prominent running style look well suited to this test.

SELECTION: TRELAWNE

Some controversy over Quilixios and Rachael Blackmore, who clearly thought that was a false start. It wasn’t, and Matata, who ran a cracker for Sam Twiston-Davies, and Gaelic Warrior were long gone by the time she got her mount underway.

Cheltenham 2.10 result

• 1 Gaelic Warrior (P Townend) 2-1 Fav

• 2 Found A Fifty (J W Kennedy) 13-2

• 3 Il Etait Temps (D E Mullins) 7-2
  10 ran
  Also: 22-1 Matata 4th

A masterclass from Townend, who kept the horse out of trouble and then gunned the engine that Gaelic Warrior possesses. “He was keen but better, it’s as good a ride as I have got off him. Stamina came into play and we know he stays. Just point him the right way. It’s a pressure week, the monkey’s off the back.”

Bad news for Gaelic Warrior backers is the horse getting warm in the paddock. He didn’t like the hood, and suddenly the odds are lengthening. Paul Townend looks a bit worried as they mill around at the start.

Henry de Bromhead, winning trainer of the Supreme with Slade Star, spoke to the BBC: “It’s amazing. It is the first time we have won this race. Rachael gave him a super ride and I am delighted. I thought he would be better on nicer ground but he has always been a pacey horse. It is great to get one on the board as he is one of our big hopes this week.”

That Blackmore win raised money for a special cause, donated by Betfair for every one of her wins. She’s got a live on in the next with Quilixios.

2.10 Arkle Chase odds

• Gaelic Warrior 5/2

• Il Etait Temps 4/1

• Hunters Yarn 15/2

• Quilixios 8/1

• Found A Fifty 8/1

• JPR One 14/1

• My Mate Mozzie 16/1

• Master Chewy 16/1

• Matata 25/1

• Authorised Speed 100/1

• Odds via Oddspedia

Market mover

• Il Etait Temps 11/2 to 7/2

CHELTENHAM 2.10 ARKLE CHASE PREVIEW

Another sizable posse from the Mullins stable here, including a warm 2-1 favourite in Gaelic Warrior who leaves me very cold. He has a decent record at this meeting, having finished second in both the Boodles in 2022 and the two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle last year, but his latest run behind his very useful stable companion Fact To File – he was miles adrift when unseating at the last – is hardly what you’d want to see in a Festival favourite. He is not quite top of the Timeform ratings, either – he is 1lb behind another Mullins runner, Hunters Yarn, while Il Etait Temps, the winner of the Irish equivalent of this race at Leopardstown in February, also arrives with better recent form. Quilixios, the Triumph Hurdle winner four years ago, is another with definite claims having looked to be reaching something close to his hurdles form over the biggest obstacles when successful at Naas in January, while Found A Fifty, who was only run out of it late by Il Etait Temps at Leopardstown, also deserves close consideration. The British challenge, meanwhile, is led by Joe Tizzard’s JPR One, who was only one unfortunate slip away from an impressive course-and-distance win in November, although he did finish only third when upped to Grade One company for the first time in December. My money, for what it’s worth, will be riding with Hunters Yarn, who bounced back from a fall on his chasing debut in December to record a highly impressive success at Fairyhouse in January, form that gives him a real chance to outrun his price of around 7-1 if he can overcome his relative inexperience.

SELECTION: HUNTERS YARN.

What does that all mean? The Mullins quadpot is already sunk and those wondering about Seven Barrows form may be concerned about what happened to Jeriko Du Reponet. De Bromhead and Blackmore – a golden couple at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham 1.30 result

• 1 Slade Steel (Rachael Blackmore) 7-2

• 2 Mystical Power (M P Walsh) 10-3

• 3 Firefox (J W Kennedy) 11-2
  11 ran
  Also: 11-4 Fav Tullyhill, 16-1 Asian Master 4th

Rachael Blackmore speaks: “I didn’t want to be in front jumping the last but he took me there and battled hard. I love this place, it’s amazing to be coming here and riding these kinds of horses.”

It was won at the last, and Slade Steel was asked for a big one. Mystical Power lost his speed as they climbed to the finish, having jumped in front.

1.30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

• Tullyhill 3/1

• Mystical Power 7/2

• Slade Steel 9/2

• Firefox 15/2

• Jeriko Du Reponet 10/1

• Mistergif 14/1

• Asian Master 20/1

• Tellherthename 25/1

• Favour And Fortune 33/1

• Supersundae 100/1

• Kings Hill 200/1

• Odds via Oddspedia

Market movers:

• Tullyhill – from 11/4 to 5/2

• Slade Stell – from 5/1 to 7/2

It’s all about Willie Mullins this week, though this is the first year he won’t have his mother, Maureen, around.

Today’s last race, the novice chase for amateur jockeys, has been renamed in her honour.

Everyone in our organisation has that ambition to be at the top,” he says. “If some area is not going well it’s hopped on immediately and put right. We’re always looking for new ways and we tinker and change and hold our breath. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It runs right through the yard, to the grooms and riders, and I love them buying into it.

Preview: CHELTENHAM 1.30 SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

A race that could well set the tone for the afternoon, as Willie Mullins sends out the first of an army of favourites this week in Tullyhill, with backup from the unbeaten Mystical Power, who is one the most impressively-bred horses ever to set foot on Prestbury Park. His sire was the late Galileo, who is generally agreed to have been the greatest Flat stallion of the last 50 years at least, while his dam, Annie Power, won the Champion Hurdle. Mystical Power is unbeaten in three starts, while Tullyhill has won twice since finishing second on his first start over timber, and either could end up going off as favourite (Tullyhill is currently shading it at 3-1, with Mystical Power at 7-2). They are, to some extent, the B team, however, as Mullins’s Ballyburn would have been a red-hot favourite for this had he not been re-routed to the opening race tomorrow, over an extra half-mile, and as it happens, Slade Steel, who was seven lengths behind Ballyburn in a Grade One at Leopardstown last month. That form puts Henry de Bromhead’s runner very close to the market leaders – he is 1lb clear at the top of Timeform’s ratings, in fact – and I reckon he could get Rachael Blackmore off to a perfect start at the meeting. Gordon Elliott’s Firefox, who actually beat Ballyburn in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, is the other leading member of an extremely strong Irish team, while anyone looking for a British-trained winner will probably start with Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet, who is unbeaten in three including a Grade Two at Doncaster last time. He has yet to post anything close to the level of form that the market leaders can boast, however, and there are also those nagging concerns about the overall wellbeing of the Henderson string – four of his last 10 runners have been pulled up.

SELECTION: SLADE STEEL.

Here’s today’s schedule of races.

• 13:30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m 1/2f

• 14:10 - My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, 2m

• 14:50 - Ultima Handicap Chase, 3m 1f

• 15:30 - Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m 1/2f

• 16:10 - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f

• 16:50 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m 1/2f

• 17:30 - Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Chase, amateur jockeys), 3m 6f

A reminder of the first day last year, maybe some pointers to this year in there.

• Marine Nationale, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

• El Fabiolo, Sporting Life Arkle

• Corach Rambler, Ultima Handicap Chase

• Constitution Hill, Unibet Champion Hurdle

• Honeysuckle, Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

• Jazzy Matty, Boodles Juvenile Hurdle

• Gaillard Du Mesnil, Wellchild National Hunt Chase

Breakfast is probably a no-go. For lunch, I try to have a sandwich then have something like a pasta-based dinner, nothing too heavy. I try to drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks. Chocolate and fizzy drinks are my guilty pleasures. It’s difficult not to, but I try not to snack as it doesn’t suit me at all.

Sadly, the weather may not have helped the chances of a late show-up at the festival. Today, at least. The first year back after Covid was bedlam, the second far emptier. Usually go Champion Chase day, this year going to the Gold Cup, but you have to wonder whether Cheltenham’s dominance of the rest of the UK scene – Ireland has its Dublin Festival and also Punchestown – has eventually hurt the blue-riband event itself.

Of course, the post-Covid years have not been easy on the pocket, either, where in March 2022 there was a lot of saved-up cash and pent-up frustration to exert. There may, though as favs are usually beloved at Prestbury Park, be something of a Max Verstappen/Manchester City effect going on with the Mullins team.

More on that heavy ground. Bottomless?

John Brewin here, rather glad I am not at HQ today. The weather looks, well, unpromising. And could have a big say in what happens today.

Here’s Greg’s betting guide for the first day.