Just like last year, the Irish are streets ahead RACING DIARY

THE Irish takeover begins in 45 days was the message plastered at the finishing line by notoriously cheeky bookmaker Paddy Power at yesterday’s Cheltenham Festival Trials day. You could be forgiven for thinking the invasion had already begun. In the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle everyone was following the tune from The Pied Piper.

He danced and laughed at his opposition by travelling all over the field and winning as he liked on the bridle by nine lengths.

Trainer Gordon Elliott even insisted that stablemate Fil D’Or is the best of his four-year-olds. Those two and Willie Mullins’ Vauban are the three clear leading candidates for first race at Cheltenham on the Friday.

The Irish look streets clear in the juvenile division.

Chantry House won the Cotswold Chase for Nicky Henderson in gritty fashion but made plenty of errors and looked uncomfortable in the process.

The Irish market principles in the Gold Cup market of A Plus Tard, Galvin, Minella Indo, Al Boum Photo and King George winner Tornado Flyer would not have been quaking in their stables.

Yesterday’s results only seemed to harden Ireland’s grip on the Gold Cup. Irish smiles were not just restricted to Cheltenham, however.

At Doncaster, John McConnell’s Mahler Mission plundered the Grade Two Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle.

You’d imagine the bigger Irish yards will have better horses for Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival.

Ireland won 23 of the 28 races last year and that dominance could be repeated.