CHELTENHAM Preview Nights tend to be full of strong views, certainties that can’t be beaten, lays that can’t win, and that is half the fun – not many in attendance will want to hear from the spreadsheet bore that makes a 6/1 shot 5.84 on his numbers and thus a bet.

That few of these bold predictions come to pass is neither here nor there as most will have forgotten the opinions given by the time the Martin Pipe comes around and hopefully that will be the same with my bold shout for next week: that Willie Mullins will win all four of the Grade 1 novice hurdles, the Triumph included, allowing that it is not technically a novice race.