Plenty of Festival competition this year for magician Mullins

AS weeks in racing go, nothing matches the four days of the Cheltenham Festival, which starts on Tuesday.

- By JAMES BURN

Willie Mullins and jockey Mark Walsh celebrate after Fact To File won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last year

(Picture: David Davies/PA)

Sure, the biggest day is probably the Grand National, but that’s really only one afternoon, while a global audience does tune in for Royal Ascot, although pomp and pageantry go hand in hand with that. Cheltenham is rawer; it's pints of Guinness, Lucky 15s, Irish bankers and a place where memories are made like no other.

Another draw this year is the fact Willie Mullins does not appear set to dominate as has been the case recently. Mullins is a magician - the most successful trainer at the meeting - so he'll add to his 113 winners, but there's an added layer of excitement and intrigue because it might not be a benefit gig for him.

What are the other key themes, then?