It took Willie Mullins nearly a quarter of a century between winning his first Cheltenham Festival race and claiming the showpiece Gold Cup. But GALOPIN DES CHAMPS looks primed to give the Master of Closutton his third win in five years when the Festival's biggest race goes to post at 3.30pm.

Twelve months ago the horse looked home and hosed in the Turners Novices' Chase, looking something very special until falling down the home straight. Since then he's done nothing wrong, three comprehensive victories delivered at an average winning margin of 13 lengths.

Paul Nicholls's Bravemansgame represents the best hope for the home team on paper but PROTEKTORAT (e/w), who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, was third last year and if you forgive him a poor run at Cheltenham on Trials Day - and look to a pre-Christmas win at Haydock instead - he has solid place claims again.

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It says a lot about the power of the Irish horses that they dominate the week's big juvenile clash, the JCB Triumph Hurdle (2.10pm) and Mullins boasts all four at the top of the market, including LOSSIEMOUTH , who should bounce back from a surprise narrow defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival, which ended her unbeaten record.

Nicky Henderson's FIRST STREET was a very narrow second to Irish Champion Hurdle winner State Man at last year's Cheltenham, so boasts Festival form and should also improve for a recent wind operation in the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm).

THREE CARD BRAG has the perfect profile for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50pm) with trainer Gordon Elliott expressing total confidence this relentless galloper has the stamina for a significant step up in distance.

The amateur's Gold Cup, the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (4.10pm), has been won four times by British Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls. Harry Derham experienced these wins as his uncle's assistant trainer and recently set up his own operation in Upper Lambourn.

BOB AND CO (e/w) may boast a less than spectacular Cheltenham record, one fall and one unseated rider, but the horse, who switched from Nicholls to Derham just a few weeks ago, looked very capable of winning this last year until an error. He also beat favourite Billaway at last year's Punchestown Festival, so no doubt about his ability.

Mullins will have wrapped the top trainers title for the tenth time before the Paddy Power Mares' Chase (4.50pm) so ALLEGORIE DE VASSY , unbeaten this season, will just be adding gloss to the scoreline.

And likely nearest rival Elliott could end in style with a race he always targets. The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm) is hardly the Festival's most prestigious prize but Elliott learned his trade under legendary trainer Pipe and has won this race twice previously.

Young jockey Ben Harvey, who opened his Festival account aboard 20/1 shot Seddon in Thursday's Magners Plate, gets the ride of his top hope IMAGINE.

Selections : 1.30pm : Lossiemouth, 2.10pm: First Street (e/w), 2.50pm: Three Card Brag, 3.30pm: Galopin Des Champs, Protektorat (e/w), 4 .10pm: Bob and Co, 4.50pm: Allegorie De Vassy, 5.30pm: Imagine