Well there has been rain overnight and the going is Good to Yielding, Good in places.
The weather now is sunny but with a strong breeze and everyone is looking forward to the big race at 4:15, where Beef or Salmon has his swansong.
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A typical large field Irish hurdle race started proceedings on the second day. Also typically it was impossible to call the winner until the final stages.
Here Comes Sally took up the running coming into the home straight. Alabama Banjo looked to be the principle challenger but made a mess of the last, blowing any chance and only finishing fourth. Favourite Northern Alliance came with a late challenge but did not have enough to beat the winner, who held on by 1 length, with Son Of Oscar taking third.
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Only 23 in the second race where Silverhand was the favourite, despite trainer Noel Mead having some reservations.
Listen to the trainer because he was right, Silverhand was beaten and beaten by a well backed runner in the shape of Solwhit, trained by Charles Byrnes, having only his third run. Siege Of Ennis came from absolutely nowhere for a running on third.
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Yet another hurdle for the third, only 14 runners though - a small field by Punchestown standards. No less an open race though. Gallient was the big British challenger defending his unbeaten record but it was clear from some way out he was not going to win - he clearly did not travel.
At the business end it was a tight finish and Jessica Harrington's Get Attitude showed he had attitude by hanging on in a battling finish with the 25/1 outsider Home Hunter by a neck. The favourite Shakervitz finished third.
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The big race was Beef Or Salmon's swansong and the good news is he got round safely but never looked like being in contention, finishing sixth of the nine runners. Last years winner and Gold Cup third Neptune Collonges gave the Brits another Grade 1 winner at the festival bringing the score to 3-1 to the visitors in the Grade 1's. Neptune Collonges took up the running initially but was headed by Hi Cloy for a while.
Coming out of the back straight he headed a group of four including Grand National third Snowy Morning and Mossbank. Ruby Walsh looked to have no worries as he set off for home and ended up an easy winner. With Snowy Morning taking second and Mossbank third. The winning distances were 7 lengths and 17 lengths.
The winner was very well backed, eventually goijng off odds on after being available at 13/8 this morning.
Kicking King was pulled up in the race, like Beef Or Salmon he never looked to be in contention.
There are reports here at the course that Mossbank was kicked at the start by Snowy Morning and has returned with a nasty gash. If true it begs the question, why was he allowed to start? It also makes his third place all the more impressive.
Although the winner was well backed the biggest cheer of the afternoon was for the local hero Beef Or Salmon, who is still here in the parade ring receiving the acclamation of his many supporters.
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls was very happy with the winners performance.
"It was a brilliant performance. He was entitled to win on his Gold Cup form and I think he's a better horse than last year.
"I think it was a better race than last year, too. No disrespect to Kingscliff, but you've got a Grand National third as well as Mossbank, who ran a good race behind Denman at Christmas and was second at Cheltenham.
"It was a good race and he's definitely an improved horse. He'll be up there mixing it with them all again next year."
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Race six was another chase, this time with a result in the bookies favour. The well backed favourite Ballyagran was never in contention, whilst the original favourite and UK challenger, Oedipe was in contention for most of the race, ultimately fading a disappointing run.
Honours went to the Notable D'Estruval who came with a rattling turn of speed after the last to deny Bishop's Bridge by 1 1/2 lengths.
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The Paddy Power Bumper was the second Grade 1 of the afternoon, the sort of race the locals love and tend to farm. Three British challengers, two from Carl Llewellyn and one, Front Of House, from Nicky Henderson.
The first and second in the Cheltenham bumper Cousin Vinny and Corskeagh Royale headed the betting, although Cousin Vinny was an alarming drifter.
It turned out to a notable, indeed unique, double as Cousin Vinny won the race with consumate ease and what looked to be a very generous 9/2.
Endless Intrigue took second place at 5/1 and the running on Academy Sir Harry denied joint favourite Corskeagh Royale third place.
The score is now 3-2 to the Brits in the Grade 1's and this afternoon we have witnessed two very classy Grade 1 winners.
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An interesting start to the final race as the well backed favourite Lenery made it no further than the second - eliciting a groan from the crowd that could probably have been heard three miles away in Naas.
It was Ruby Walsh riding the Willy Mullins trained Freds Benefit who took the honours with long time leader Lukie Victor taking second place with outsider Rien A Perdre taking third.