Champion pointer: Did anyone at Ballysteen on April 29th, 2012 think they were seeing a future Champion Hurdle favourite when Faugheen romped to an eight length victory? All going well, he will bid to go one better than Peddlers Cross, the closest a point-to-point winner came to winning in the Festival’s hurdle championship when second to Hurricane Fly in 2011.

Closutton trials: At this stage of the season it appears that Willie Mullins could hold a pre-Cheltenham trials day and people would certainly pay to come and watch.