BIG-RACE winners at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years for trainers such as Paul Hennessy, Martin Brassil, Peter Fahey, Paul Nolan, Ted Walsh and Eugene O’Sullivan show that it isn’t just Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott who fly the flag for Ireland at Prestbury Park.

At least six Irish trainers will bid to record their first success at this year’s four-day meeting.

Andrew Slattery

Sir Allen (4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Tuesday - 11/1)

Fingers crossed, he looks to be going there in great form. He worked the other day on the grass at the Curragh with Danny Mullins. It’ll be exciting to see how he gets on in the Boodles because I think he’ll love the strong pace they usually go in that race and he stays well. He has a high-cruising speed and should probably be rated a fair bit higher than he is on the flat [68] because he missed the kick on a few of his starts in that code.

I’m hoping that the topweight doesn’t come out of the Boodles because I’d love to keep his weight down as much as possible. He’s a very straightforward type. We’re just hoping that we can get him there in one piece between now and then, we’ll relax once the horse arrives there in good form.

He’ll be our first runner at Cheltenham and hopefully he’s going over with a nice chance. His owners [the Eight Star Syndicate] had great fun with a smart flat horse called Dinkum Diamond a few years ago and I think they’re loving the journey with Sir Allen now. We’re just hoping for a bit of luck over there and that the horse can do his own talking.

Churchstonewarrior (5.30 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase, Tuesday - 7/1)

I’m very happy with how he’s been since winning on his last start in the Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan. He seems in great form. I think he’s progressing away and improving all the time. We’re looking forward to running him in the National Hunt Chase.

I suppose stepping up to three miles and six furlongs is an unknown with him, whether he’ll see out the longer trip, but we’ll let him take his chance at it and find out. He hit the line well over three miles and you’d hope he’s the type of horse who will be able to cope with it. He stays and gallops. He’s never been on a boat before but is a straightforward, chilled type.

James Hannon will take the ride. He probably knows him better than anyone as he’s done all the schooling on him since his early days. I think he’s the type of horse who a rider needs to know, so I’m pleased to have James riding him at Cheltenham.

It’s great to be heading to Cheltenham with one who hopefully has a live chance. We’re all enjoying it. When it comes to this game, it’s a hard way to make a living but it’s a great way to live. You have to make the good ones count when you haven’t too many horses.

Captain Conby (2.50 Coral Cup, Wednesday - 14/1)

Everything is going to plan with him so hopefully it’s all systems go for the Coral Cup. He’s got a nice weight [of 11st] and I think this is the race for him. I wouldn’t say that he doesn’t stay three miles, but two miles and five furlongs around Cheltenham could be the perfect trip for him. It’s a race that should really suit him.

His form is rock-solid and I thought he was a bit unlucky not to win at Punchestown when he got locked up [before finishing second] on his last start on New Year’s Eve. Having said that, maybe that was all for luck as he could have more weight on his back going there if he won last time. I think he’s got a real, proper chance.

Singing Banjo (4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Wednesday - 33/1)

It’s very much the plan to head there and we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on. The ground has been on the good side and we wouldn’t be upset if it stayed that way. He still has plenty of enthusiasm for his age and just loves the cross country races, especially Punchestown.

It’s obviously not easy getting ready to take on the likes of Delta Work and Galvin, who are much higher rated as chasers, but there was only a short-head between our horse and Delta Work earlier this season at Punchestown off level weights.

It’s great to be going to Cheltenham with a horse like him. We’ve got seven horses here, between point-to-pointers and others for the track, so we’re delighted to have the chance to look forward to a big meeting like this.

Hurricane Darwin (4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Wednesday - 25/1)

I’m an ever-the-optimist type of person but I do think he goes there with a very good chance. His preparation for the race has been excellent. Unfortunately he had a little bleed on his second last start at Punchestown over the banks but apparently that’s something he used to do at times in the past. We gave him a real good freshen up afterwards and went back to scratch with him, and I think he’s in great nick at the moment.

We knew when he was heading to Gowran for a handicap chase last time that he’d need the run so we were delighted with what he showed us when finishing second. It’s amazing the enthusiasm he retains for a 13-year-old. He just loves the game and is in the best form that I’ve ever had him in - even some of the staff wouldn’t be able to ride him, being so well in himself.

We’re loving the build-up to Cheltenham because we’re going there with no pressure on us. It’s obviously a competitive race but I’d be confident we would have beaten Delta Work at Punchestown in November if he hadn’t bled. Hopefully he runs a big race.

Magnor Glory (2.10 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, Friday - 25/1)

He seems to be in great form ahead of the County Hurdle so hopefully he gets in. He hasn’t run since he won at Listowel last September and is in training since mid-January. We thought about giving him a run beforehand but he might just be a bit better when fresh so we’re happy to go straight there.

The owners [Barry Walsh and Joseph Sheahan] are excited to be heading there and I don’t think we’re without a chance. Michael O’Sullivan won on him last time and it’s great that we’ll have him aboard again at Cheltenham. He’s been having a great season and hopefully his claim will be a help again.