WILLIE Mullins was very positive on Wednesday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? Fresh from six Grade 1 wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, he watched some of his leading hopes for Cheltenham walk around the yard, the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Final Demand, Kopek Des Bordes and State Man among them.

After the string headed out to the gallops, the champion trainer reflected: “I have to thank Leopardstown for how well everything looked in preparation for the meeting. The ground was good. The facilities were fantastic.