The Cheltenham Festival gets under way on Tuesday week and Irish-trained horses are again front and centre for many of the signature races.

As ever, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are chief contributors, and the pair have two of the main charges in the Gold Cup market – Al Boum Photo and Delta Work, respectively.

The former famously gave his Carlow trainer a first win in the Gold Cup last season and speaking at a press morning from his Closutton base last week, Mullins believes the eight-year-old has a fantastic chance again this season.

“Statistically it’s hard for horses to come back after a Gold Cup but he has already come back and won,” Mullins said.

“He has had a good preparation and I’m not sure this year’s race is as good as last year’s. With normal improvement given his age, he has a fantastic chance.”

Elliott announced at his press morning that Mark Walsh will get the ride on Delta Work, following Jack Kennedy’s leg injury, which came just half an hour after the Kerry rider rode the seven-year-old to win the Irish Gold Cup.

The Cheltenham equivalent has an open look about it this season and the British team has the likes of Santini, Lostintranslation and King George winner Clan Des Obeaux set to line up.

The race of the week could easily be the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the Wednesday, as it features reigning champion Altior taking on the up-and-coming contenders Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi.

The latter is trained by Mullins, who is bidding for a first win in this race and to complete a Cheltenham grand slam so to speak, having won the feature contests on the other three days.

The Champion Hurdle is similar to the Gold Cup with an open feel. The favourite is a mare, Nicky Henderson’s Epatante, but it would all change if Irish mares Benie Des Dieux and/or Honeysuckle are allowed to take their chance. At the moment, the pair are likely to head to the Mares Hurdle on the same opening day card.

Paisley Park is going to be a hot favourite for the day three feature, the Stayers’ Hurdle, and should make it back-to-back wins in the three-mile contest.

At the time of writing, Irish trainers have the favourites for 13 of the 28 races. Gordon Elliott’s Envoi Allen has assumed the tag of Irish banker. The unbeaten six-year-old takes his chance in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle which is the first race on the Wednesday.