The week before the Cheltenham Festival can always be tumultuous and eventful and so far that theory has come to fruition with a host of factors flaring up as the Greatest Show on Turf is now just six days away.
Here is a look at some of the big news stories of the week...
Daphne Du Clos to miss Cheltenham
Nicky Henderson had been talking up four-year-old filly Daphne Du Clos as the Seven Barrows handler was readying her for a tilt at the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Prestbury Park, for which she was a general 8/1 second-favourite for the two-mile Grade One.
However, the daughter of Spanish Moon now misses the festival after suffering a minor injury with Henderson tweeting "Daphne Du Clos has picked up a tiny problem which rules her out of Cheltenham Bumper. It's a terrible shame but she'll be back next year.
The talented filly had looked a horse to follow after finishing a head second on her British debut to exciting bumper prospect Cap Soleil and confirmed her promise with a authoritative three and a quarter-length victory at Newbury in a Listed event last time. She would have received around a strone from her male rivals, given she was a filly but will now sadly not line up at Cheltenham.
Tombstone goes for the Coral Cup
Gordon Elliott's Tombstone was set to be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle at a cost of £20,000 after beating former Champion Hurdle winner Jezki at Gowran Park last time in a Grade Three Red Mills Trial but will now switch down the handicap route after owners Gigginstown House Stud were pleased that the seven-year-old son of Robin Des Champs was given a handicap rating of 149 in Britain, a 1lb lower than his Irish rating, which made the attraction of plundering a big-race handicap too much to turn down for messrs Elliott and Gigginstown and Ryanair supremo Michael O'Leary.
Tombstone is now a general 6/1 shot for the Coral Cup over two and a half-miles, run on the Wednesday of the Festival, but is as short as 9/2 for the Grade Three handicap.
Vroum Vroum Mag heads for Mares' Hurdle
Before the news broke that Willie Mullins' Limini would be running in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle, Closutton handler Mullins confirmed that her stable companion Vroum Vroum Mag, would also run in the two-miles and four furlongs Grade One, a contest she won last year.
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Vroum Vroum Mag has run well this year without being spectacular and started the season with a defeat to Apple's Jade in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse before winning two events at Leopardstown and Doncaster the last twice, with the eight-year-old daughter of Voix Du Nord, scrambling home by a neck in the latter event.
Ricci's mare also went on a course of antibiotics after that last run at Town Moor. She is a genral 6/4 shot behind stable-mate Limini who now heads the betting for the Mares' Hurdle at 5/4.
Greatex likes La Bague Au Roi
Warren Greatrex tasted Festival success with Cole Harden in the 2015 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle and fancies La Bague Au Roi to run a massive race in the Grade Two Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle, run on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.
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A general 6/1 shot for that event, the six-year-old daughter of Doctor Dino has won her three starts over hurdles to date, which culminated in a decisive three and a quarter-length success in a Listed event at Newbury in November. She pleased Greatrex in a gallop at the same venue last week and is all set for the Festival.
Analysis by: Danny Archer