UNDER STARTER’S ORDERS...

JOHNSON’S STILL SWEET ON HIS GOLDEN OLDIE

Champion jockey Richard Johnson ended a two-year wait for a Festival winner when Flying Tiger won the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. He’s chasing Gold Cup glory today with Native River — 17 years after winning the race on Looks Like Trouble. The sprightly 25-year-old gelding, trained by Johnson’s future father-inlaw Noel Chance, is still going strong on his Herefordshire farm. Johnson took him out hunting over Christmas. PATRIOT GAME FOR ELLMARIE Irish trainer Ellmarie Holden only got her licence last year and trains just a handful of horses in County Kilkenny, but she will saddle her first Festival runner with Ex Patriot in the Triumph Hurdle. The gelding is ridden by Rachael Blackmore who, along with Holden, is in form. They teamed up to win the Leinster National at Naas on Sunday with 12/1 shot Abolitionist.

RYANAIR BOSS REINS IT IN

In-form Ruby Walsh believes Djakadam is the horse to beat in today’s Gold Cup. ‘He’s in good order, he’s the strongest piece of form in the race and if he brings that to the table, he’ll take all the beating,’ said Walsh, a dual winner on Kauto Star (2007 and ’09). Outlander finished ahead of Djakadam in the Lexus Chase but owner Michael O’Leary isn’t optimistic of a third Gold Cup in his silks to follow War Of Attrition (2006) and Don Cossack (2016). ‘I think he’s probably in Division Two. He has a chance but he needs everything to go for him,’ said O’Leary.

MULLINS WON’T RUSH DOUVAN

THE outcome of a MRI scan on Douvan will be known today but even if the prognosis is positive, Willie Mullins has ruled out a snap return for his star chaser who trailed in seventh in the Champion Chase. ‘We think it’s something in his hind quarters. It doesn’t appear too serious but I imagine that’s it for the rest of the season,’ said Mullins.

KATE OUT TO PROVE SHE’S THE MASTER

Augusta Kate, seventh in last year’s Champion Bumper, is back as a leading contender for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with his entourage of celebrity owners. The Willie Mullins-trained mare runs for the Masters Syndicate which includes golfer Lee Westwood, former England striker Alan Shearer and British TV favourites Ant and Dec.