Graeme Rodway on why 'it's a year too late' for Lossiemouth - plus Lee Mottershead flags a notable course tweak for next week

Willie Mullins: among trainers making declarations on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

It is almost here now! In just a few hours we will know the confirmed runners and riders for day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Keep an eye on the Racing Post blog throughout the morning for all of the news and insight.

We already know that Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle. You can read the full story below.

• Willie Mullins' star mare Lossiemouth to run in the Champion Hurdle on day one of Cheltenham 

My first question to you is simple: has Willie Mullins made the right decision in sending Lossiemouth to the Champion Hurdle?

Send in your thoughts via liveblog@racingpost.com. 

Unibet Champion Hurdle

The confirmation of Lossiemouth's appearance is beginning to have an impact. Ladbrokes have shortened her to 9-4 (from 11-40 with The New Lion out to 2-1 (from 15-8). 

It will be fascinating to see if that support is sustained throughout the day, perhaps she will once again become Champion Hurdle favourite?

The price of Poniros has drifted quite a bit in the last few days after it emerged Lossiemouth could run here. The news means he will likely no longer be ridden by Mullins's first-choice jockey Paul Townend.

Ladbrokes
2-1 The New Lion, 9-4 Lossiemouth, 9-2 Brighterdaysahead, 6-1 Golden Ace, 14-1 Poniros, 18-1 Alexei,  20-1 Tutti Quanti

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

Wodhooh was priced at odds-on with bookmakers taking no chances as to whether Lossiemouth would or would not show up. She has shortened from 4-5 to 4-6 with her main opponent seemingly not turning up.

The interesting move is for the Mullins-trained Jade De Grugy who is 3-1 (from 4s). She will now be the confirmed Closutton number one and Paul Townend will presumably ride her.

William Hill
4-6 Wodhooh, 3 Jade De Grugy, 6 Feet Of A Dancer, 8 Take No Chances, 12 Murcia, 20 Dream On Baby, 25 Jetara

Cheltenham: going is good to soft on the Old courseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

We have a going change at Cheltenham.

The Old course, in use on Tuesday and Wednesday, is now good to soft all over. On Saturday, it was good in places but that has been removed from the description on Sunday morning after 3mm of rain overnight.

There is some drizzle in the forecast to finish the week but that will be the only rain before the Cheltenham Festival gets underway. Some rain is forecast on Tuesday night.

Lossiemouth: set to tackle the Unibet Champion Hurdle on TuesdayCredit: www.carolinenorris.ie

I've not even had my morning coffee yet, but plenty of readers are getting in touch regarding Lossiemouth's expected run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Robin Miller has emailed in to say it's "now or never", while Kevin Buckle is also bullish of her chances in Tuesday's feature.

"I don’t know why it took so long, she’ll win by 3 lengths," he says.

She has yet to be declared by Willie Mullins, but the top operator always leaves these things until closer to the 10am deadline. 

Connections will have until 10am to declare their horses for day one of the Cheltenham Festival, but let's look at what's happening so far.

Warm Supreme Novices' Hurdle fancy Old Park Star has been declared for the Grade 1 opener, while Talk The Talk and El Cairos are also amongst the intended runners. 

Supreme Novices' Hurdle confirmed runners (as of 9.20am)

• Baron Noir
• Eachtotheirown
• El Cairos
• Koktail Brut
• Mydaddypaddy
• Old Park Star
• Sageborough
• Talk The Talk

Lulamba: declared for the ArkleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Willie Mullins must be finishing off his breakfast before declaring his day one runners, with Kopek Des Bordes yet to get the green light. 

Do not fear, though, we still have 30 minutes!

Singer Arkle Chase confirmed runners (as of 9.25am)

• Hansard
• Jax Junior
• Lulamba
• Steel Ally

How did that happen?: Lorcan Williams is dazed and delighted after Golden Ace's chaotic triumph 12 months agoCredit: Getty Images

We have five in the Unibet Champion Hurdle (so far), the feature on day one of the greatest jumps meeting on earth.

They are:

• Alexei
• The New Lion
• Tutti Quanti
• Brighterdaysahead
• Golden Ace

Iroko will run in the Ultima, with Jonjo O'Neill Jr onboardCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Iroko and Jagwar have both been declared for the Ultima Handicap Chase. 

That might be expected, but it's interesting that Jonjo O'Neill jr is on Iroko. As I write, Jagwar is without a rider. 

Before you ask, Harry Cobden is already up on Quebecois!

The Willie Mullins computer must be up and running!

Might Park, Kopek Des Bordes and Lossiemouth have all been declared for their respective races.

The New Lion has been declared for the Champion Hurdle (4.00) and Ladbrokes are offering new customers 33-1 for his trainer Dan Skelton to train a winner at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Can Dan Skelton land a first Champion Hurdle win with The New Lion?Credit: Edward Whitaker

All NINE are declared in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, and declarations can't be reversed after 9.30am. 

Unibet Champion Hurdle confirmed runners

• Alexei 
• Anzadam
• Poniros
• The New Lion
• Tutti Quanti
• Workahead
• Brighterdaysahead
• Golden Ace
• Lossiemouth

Kopek Des Bordes: will run in the Arkle on TuesdayCredit: www.carolinenorris.ie

We have a field of SEVEN for the Singer Arkle Chase, with the battle between Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes ON!

Singer Arkle Chase confirmed runners 

• Hansard
• Jax Junior
• Kopek Des Bordes
• Lulamba
• Mambonumberfive
• Steel Ally
• Kargese

Mighty Park: declared for the SupremeCredit: Patrick McCann

The wide-open Supreme field has been confirmed, with 12 runners heading to post in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle confirmed runners

• Baron Noir 
• Eachtotheirown
• El Cairos
• Koktail Brut
• Leader d’Allier
• Mighty Park
• Mydaddypaddy
• Old Park Star
• Sageborough
• Sober Glory
• Talk The Talk
• Too Bossy For Us

The full field for the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is as follows:

• Bertutea
• Barbizon
• Madness D’Elle
• Harwa
• Dignam
• The Mighty Celt
• Winston Junior
• Manlanga
• Saratoga
• Glen To Glen
• Mustang Du Berlais
• Pourquoi Pas Papa
• Hardy Stuff
• Ammes
• Macktoad
• Ole Ole
• Quinta Do Lago
• Paddockwood
• Klycot
• Bibe Mus
• Bandjo
• Mino Des Mottes
• Munsif (first reserve)
• Lord (second reserve)
  

The final Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase field is as follows:

• Dee Capo
  
• Down Memory Lane
• No Questions Asked
• Jungle Boogie
• Boombawn
• Downmexicoway
• O’Moore Park
• Guard Your Dreams
• Madara
• Booster Bob
• Peaky Boy
• Will The Wise
• Riskintheground
• Midnight It Is
• Zurich
• Jipcot 
• McLaurey
• Theatre Native
• Western Zephyr
• Grandeur D’Ame
• Embittered
• Moon D’Orange
• Yes Indeed
  

The National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase declarations are as follows:

• Wade Out
• Pic Roc
• King Of Answers
• One Big Bang
• Kurasso Blue
• Will Do
• Guard The Moon
• Grand Geste
• Backmersackme
• Holloway Queen
• Iceberg Theory
• Newton Tornado
• First Confession
• Union Station
• Walking On Air
• Silver Thorn
• Holokea
  

The Ultima Handicap Chase final field is as follows:

• Iroko
• Handstands
• Resplendent Grey
• Jagwar
• Blaze The Way
• Leave Of Absence
• Johnnywho
• Konfusion
• Search For Glory
• Stolen Silver
• Imperial Saint
• Blow Your Wad
• Hyland
• Myretown
• The Doyen Chief
• Quebecois
• The Short Go
• Patter Merchant
• Filanderer
• Knight Of Allen
• Margaret's Legacy 
• Eyed

Now we have the final fields for all SEVEN races on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, it is time for you to get in touch with any thoughts ahead of Tuesday.

Email: liveblog@racingpost.com

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Irish Panther: heading to the Queen Mother Champion Chase on WednesdayCredit: www.carolinenorris.ie

Smart Irish novice chaser Irish Panther misses the Arkle and will run in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase, after what Eddie Harty called "a lot of thought and a lot of prevarication."

The joint-trainer said on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday: "He's the age that should be going for the Champion Chase, his jumping is good enough – if it's not good enough for the Champion, it's not good enough for the Arkle.

"The Champion would be either the braver or the more stupid call, time will tell which. Realistically, when I looked at the declarations at 9.40am, all the ones you'd expect to be in were in it, so we decided to roll the dice and go on Wednesday instead. 

"If you look at the times of his races, they've been very quick, they've been faster than the senior Grades 1s on the same day or the same course, on the same ground. The clock doesn't lie. That's telling you he's fast enough."

Harty added: "Whether he's fast enough consistently through a two-mile Champion Chase, we won't know until 4pm on Wednesday."