IT’S way too early to be talking about Cheltenham, isn’t it? To be imagining targets and anticipating the first flag fall, with the November meeting just gone and half the ante-post favourites still to appear. Shure I’ve not begun the Christmas shopping yet!

But then with every seasonal debutant that puts up an easy win, the latest prices for the Festival hit your email inbox, and you are sucked in.

And the last week gave us much to mull over, even if it was all just a first unveiling of the potential in the big yards. Banbridge and Jonbon impressed and the Gordon Elliott novice chasers were also centre stage. The Elliott yard is in fine form, a constant stream of young horses are appearing.

You have to think it’s a huge year for Elliott. The last five years are bookmarked by the highs of coming so close to being Irish champion trainer – running Willie Mullins down to the second last day of the season at Punchestown in 2018 - to the depths of the six-month suspension in 2021.

Last year’s Cheltenham was a bit underwhelming with two winners to Willie’s 10, even though it was a transition year to get back on track after the impact of the six months on the sidelines and the loss of star horses and big owners.

And Willie doesn’t leave any breathing space.

Elliott ended last season with €3,666,220 in prize money to Willie Mullins €5,883,515.

Big money

The big-money owners are back, huge sums of money have been laid out, every second bumper runner seems to have a six-figure price tag.

Recent winners Hollow Games - £255,000, American Mike, £195,000, Halka du Tabert 260,000gns, Cool Survivor £175,000, add up to a tasty total.

And still to appear are Croke Park (£400,000) Land Rover Bumper winner Absolute Notions (£370,000), out today, Stellar Story (£310,000) and last week they were joined by Working Away at £330,000 from the most recent Cheltenham sale.

And of course there were big-money purchases going into the Mullins and de Bromhead yards too.

However, the omens were good from last weekend.

Joining the previous Cheltenham winner Chemical Energy and Down Royal winner Mighty Potter, were Three Stripe Life and Hollow Games making winning debuts over fences. The first named is only five and the other three are six-year-olds so they are moving to fences early. There were nine winners for the yard since last Saturday.

But the Mullins bandwagon has not been cranked up to full speed yet.

The last few weeks of stable tours in the Racing Post recorded Henry de Bromhead as having 100 horses in the yard and 35 staff, Willie Mullins with 180 horses and 65 staff, and Elliott’s tour left it at a comment that there were still more young horses coming in.

In the Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting, Willie Mullins has the favourite or joint-favourite for all four novice chases, with the exception of Jonbon in the Arkle.

Of the four Grade 1 novice hurdles – Willie Mullins has three favourites with Facile Vega heading both the two- and two-and-a-half-mile contests. Of the six feature ‘championship races (includes Mares’ Hurdle) – Willie has four favourites. Gordon Elliott currently only has American Mike heading the Albert Bartlett markets. It will be fascinating to see how the two square up leading up to Christmas when more of the Mullins big names appear.