OVERSEEING a string of 18 horses at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning, a number some trainers would call a yard full, but just part of Willie Mullins' team for Cheltenham, the champion Irish jump trainer commented at 10am: "I arrived yesterday but I haven't walked the course yet but the weather looks fantastic and the track is going to dry out, which will suit some of mine but not others.

"But, as long as the ground is safe, I am very happy.

"Our horses have all arrived in great shape and they look very relaxed so far. We have a good few of them over but the rest are still to come.

"They all seem very relaxed on the course this morning. Normally, they are a bit wound up on the first morning but we have had none of that this year and they are all good.

"They have all travelled well; the first horses came in on Saturday and they have been coming in ever since and we will keep our fingers crossed for the rest of the week. As long as Cheltenham has room to take them, we will keep sending them.

"We have had no late withdrawals and all the horses are running at this point and hopefully it will stay that way."

13 RUNNERS ON DAY ONE

The Willie Mullins string has some of the biggest talking horses of the 2016 festival and one of his most anticipated runners kicks off the excitement in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30pm) tomorrow, when Min, along with Bellshill and Petit Mouchoir, attempts to continue the dominance of Ireland's champion National Hunt trainer in the race, with Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014) and Douvan (2015) successful in the last three runnings of the Grade 1 opener.

The Susannah Ricci-owned Annie Power, who was supplemented last week at the cost of £20,000 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle (3.30pm), was one of the stars out on the course this morning: "She was great this morning, I'm very pleased with her."

The ground going into the festival is currently soft, good to soft in places, with further updates due later tonight.

Mullins added: "The ground seems to be drying out, but they tell me it is still soft."

DE BROMHEAD LOOKS FORWARD TO DAY ONE

With runners in five of the seven races tomorrow (Tuesday), Champion Day, will be a busy one for Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Allowing Sizing John to have a pick of grass on the course today ahead of his run in the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy (2.10pm), de Bromhead said: "We have a team of 11 for the festival this year.

"We travelled six of them over on Saturday, and five more are coming in today. I'm happy with all of them so far - I just hope they all give a good account of themselves."

Sizing John, who finished third behind Douvan in last year's Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is around 7/1 for the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy over two miles. The novice chaser has won twice this season and was second, again to Douvan, on his latest run in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 26.

"He has travelled over well and seems in good form," said de Bromhead.

Perhaps the most exciting of de Bromhead's runners on the first day is Identity Thief, who is priced at 13/2 by the sponsor for the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Kayf Tara won the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November and was second to Nichols Canyon on his most recent outing, the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle, at Leopardstown on December 29.

De Bromhead's other runners on Champion Day include Supasundae (12/1 with Sky Bet) in the opening race, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Shanahan's Turn goes for the the Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50pm), while Domesday Book runs in the Close Brothers Handicap Chase (5.30pm).

De Bromhead said: "I haven't walked all the way round the track yet, but I have been up and down a few times and it looks in good condition.

"I hope it will dry up a bit more yet."