THERE have been no fewer than 14 Irish winners at any of the last five Cheltenham Festivals but to say Irish trainers have done well there is a little inaccurate as that success has been mainly powered by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. Of the 81 Irish-trained winners since 2016, Mullins has had 31 with Elliott on 27, a combined 72% of the total, and if anything, this year’s altered programme sets up better for them.

Neither had won the novices’ handicap chase in its 16-year history (in fact it was only twice won by an Irish horse), whereas their chances in the new mares’ chase would seem obvious. No one is better with female horses than Mullins, and while Elliott is not at that level, three of his festival winners have been mares: Shattered Love, Fayonagh and Apple’s Jade.