Well the end of the jumping season is almost upon us and the last of the major festivals is underway at Punchestown. Although, undoubtedly, fans of the Perth festival will probably beg to differ.
As the Irish invade the Cotswolds in March for the Cheltenham festival so, increasingly, the Brits come to Punchestown.
When I say the Brits come, it is both in terms of punters and equine stars, with most of the major stables represented.
The festival is also the opportunity to renew Cheltenham battles.
At the risk of being called a heretic, I have to confess I prefer Punchestown to Cheltenham.
Agreed the quality of racing at Cheltenham is better, however I find the atmosphere at Punchestown to be more relaxed, more of a party spirit.
At Cheltenham there is an Anglo / Irish rivalry and more often than not it is the Irish who raid the top prizes.
Today at Punchestown the Brit’s wanted to exact some revenge.
The first Grade 1 contest of the afternoon, the Champion Novices’ Hurdle did not have a UK challenger so the Irish were destined to get first blood. Although nine went to post the betting concerned three runners.
Jessica Harrington’s Bumper star Cork All Star, who has still to translate his bumper form to obstacles went off the 4/1 third favourite, with Cheltenham winner Fiveforthree, attempting to defend this seasons unbeaten record at 5/2 second favourite. With recent Fairyhouse winner Jered sent off the 6/4 favourite.
Fiveforthree set the early place before fading three out, whilst Cork All Stars proved his dislike for jumping by falling three out.
Salford City looked as though he could spring a surprise, sharing the lead with Fiveforthree and leading once the second favourite faded.
However Tony McCoy was stalking on the favourite and once unleashed before the final fence the race was effectively over with the favourite winning as he pleased by eight lengths. Salford City held on for second, with Fiveforthree holding on to third from Made In Taipan.
The second Grade 1 was the feature race of the day, the Kerrygold Champion Chase. There was a strong British challenge in the shape of Fair Along from the Hobbs yard and Paul Nicholls was double handed with Natal and Twist Magic.
Twist Magic was the well backed favourite with Schindlers Hunt looking to be the biggest Irish challenger.
The winner of the 2005 renewal of the race, Newmill was the early leader, but was headed by Gemini Lady by the fourth. With the Nicholls pair both happy to track the leaders.
Gemini Luck was looking to be a tough cookie to crack, and there were doubts as to which Twist Magic was going to turn up.
As they turned into the home straight it became clear it was the good Twist Magic who had turned up and Ruby Walsh took up the running. There was a minor scare at the last when the favourite almost buckled on landing, however he quickly recovered and lost very little momentum.
To add the icing on the cake from a British point of view, Natal ran on to give Paul Nicholls a 1-2 in the race.
Last years winner Mansony finished third.
So two top races down ad the international scores were level.
The third Grade 1 was the Ellier Developments Hanover Reach Champion Novice Chase.
Only five went to post and the betting was between Willy Mullins Pomme Tiepy, a faller at Cheltenham, shading favouritism from the sole British challenger, Air Force One, from Charlie Mann’s yard.
Air Force One set off like a jet and as they passed the judge for the first time he was 12 lengths ahead of the favourite with the rest of the field following in their wake..
By the end of the back straight it looked as though Pomme Tiepy was going to launch a challenge as he closed the gap to a couple of lengths, but Air Force One was just taking a breather and under a well judged Noel Fehily ride he opened the lead to win by a somewhat facile 13 lengths, with the favourite back in second and the best backed outsider, Ballycullen Boy, a further seven lengths back in third.
The highlight from the other races was the win of the well backed, Ted Walsh trained, Wedger Pardy in the cross country. Coming to the last it was a battle between the winner and another well backed runner, Money Point. The latter fell at the last, although it is questionable whether he would have troubled the winner had he stayed on his feet. As a result of the fall the winner ended up a 14 length winner.