Thankfully, things got off to a pleasantly surprisingly good start today with Appreciate It handsomely lived up to his billing as the Irish banker while Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore made history in the Champion Hurdle, But, not for the first time, the Meath racing fraternity made their mark on the day’s business.

It was especially pleasing to see Cullentra in the news for all the right reasons courtesy of Black Tears in the Mare’s Hurdle and, to some extent at least, Galvin in the National Hunt Chase. On a personal level, special mention must be afforded to the occasion of Noel Meade’s sixth Festival success via Jeff Kidder at a staggering 80/1!