NEXT week, we will have a Cheltenham Festival like no other, behind closed doors and with one of the main human protagonists conspicuously absent.

In other respects, it looks like being every bit as good as ever, or possibly even better, especially for Ireland.

My top-rated horse exceeds the average rating of a winner in the past five years in 12 of the 18 non-handicaps, with eight of those top-rated being Irish-trained. Many of the more interesting horses in the handicaps are Irish-trained also.

Honeysuckle (166, plus a 7lb mares’ allowance) is in pole position for the Champion Hurdle on the opening day, but with a home team of last year’s winner Epatante (165 plus that seven), Goshen (164) and Silver Streak (163) snapping at her heels.

Shishkin (169) and late absentee Energumene (168) were my highest-rated horses on Tuesday. Concertista (154), and Appreciate It (153) have the best figures in their respective races, though the last-named is some way below the 161 usual winning standard for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Chacun Pour Soi (177, and my highest-rated jumper in training) is in splendid isolation at the top of the ratings for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, ahead of defending champion Politologue on 168.

Strong Monkfish

Monkfish (165) must take all the beating in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase

, while both Kilcruit (144) and Sir Gerhard (143) are up to usual Champion Bumper-winning calibre.

The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle could be stronger, but Bob Olinger (151) is just three below the usual standard required.

Paisley Park (163) dominates the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday. Fakir D’Oudairies (166) and Allaho (163) are the two I have backed ante-post for a Ryanair Chase in which 163-rated Min seems likely to attempt to defend his title.

Envoi Allen (157) is good, but not yet great, and British-trained Shan Blue (154) should be well suited by circumstances.

None of the entries in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle has yet attained the usual 145 winning standard, but Ireland has a strong hand with the likes of Royal Kahala (138), Roseys Hollow (137), Gauloise (135) and Hook Up (134).

Gold Cup

Native River (173) may seem an unlikely winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday – he is the “wrong” age and his trainer has been woefully out of form – but his Cotswold Chase win at Sandown last month stacks up remarkably well on times.

Al Boum Photo (172) is a solid favourite but may have to run even better than previously to make it a famous hat-trick of wins.

A Plus Tard (171), Kemboy (170), Santini (170), Frodon (169), Royale Pagaille (168) and Champ (165, with potential still) are just a few of the others with claims.

Zanahiyr (155) and Quilixios (150) are ahead of local hopes Tritonic (147) and Adagio (144) in the Triumph Hurdle, Ashdale Bob (145) is marginally top on my figures in a so-far substandard Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Bob And Co (146) just edges it in the hunter chase and Elimay (158) is comfortably best over Colreevy and Happy Diva (both 153) in the newly instituted mares’ chase.

Handicaps

I have not looked at the handicaps in detail yet – a deliberate attempt to come at them on the day without too many preconceptions – but the likes of Escaria Ten (150, also a credible contender for the National Hunt Chase), Riviere D’Etel (139), Imperial Alcazar (147), Demachine (145) and Blue Lord (144) look the right sorts and are all feasibly treated at this stage.