'It's almost pointless anything else turning up' - Nicky Henderson on a new star

Ireland beat Britain 23-5 in the Prestbury Cup last year. Will the British close the gap and if so, how?

Nicky Henderson, Britain's winningmost trainer at the festival Definitely – because we’ll have six winners! It was embarrassing, but I don’t subscribe to the theory we need a Dublin Racing Festival, although it would be nice. We could do with more trials, but then you get smaller fields. I can’t believe it’ll be that bad again and it wasn’t that long ago [2015] I was collecting the Prestbury Cup for Britain.

Katie Walsh, three-time winner at the festival Day one will set the tone for the week. The British have Constitution Hill and Jonbon to look forward to in the Supreme, Edwardstone in the Arkle and a number of other chances on the day, so it will be important they get off to a good start. Last year was a phenomenal year for the Irish and, while I do think the British challenge is stronger this year, I can’t see the gap being closed too much. I’m predicting another Irish domination with maybe six or seven winners for the home team.

Noel Fehily, Champion Hurdle winner The Irish will still dominate, but I think the British will close the gap a bit, especially as there are a few nice novice chasers this side of the water. They include L’Homme Presse, who bolted up at Sandown in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase recently and Edwardstone, who also impressed at Warwick. They can help narrow that gap.