There was a sad postscript after the race for Bolger.

Aside from Footpad’s crystal-clear claims in the Ryanair Novice Chase, today’s card looks quite difficult for punters.

Yesterday morning the racing world woke to the sad news that John Thomas McNamara had passed away. The 41-year-old former leading amateur, who suffered a horrific fall from Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival of 2013, lost the one battle he could never win.

Risk Of Thunder, owned by actor Sean Connery and credited with stimulating interest in cross-country races in Ireland, has died at the age of 27.

Jezki’s meritorious defeat of old adversary Hurricane Fly in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, thrilling in its execution, proved a temporary interruption to the Willie Mullins Punchestown Show as the champion trainer completed a near 3,274-1 five-timer on the undercard on day three of the festival.

It was the perfect conclusion to an imperfect campaign.

It is Round Four for the season in Ireland between Hurricane Fly and Jezki but it is a battle with a difference this time, taking place over three miles in the World Hurdle (5.30). 

It’s five years since trainer Enda Bolger last saddled the winner of the La Touche Cup but Quantitativeeasing can right that particular wrong in this afternoon’s renewal at Punchestown.

Tom George was thrilled to enjoy a welcome change of luck at the Punchestown Festival as God’s Own caused a huge surprise in the Ryanair Novice Chase in the hands of the irrepressible Barry Geraghty.

Peter Maher is eyeing Punchestown Festival compensation for Big Shu after his stable star’s early exit from the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

We've had a wonderful week at Punchestown, with Jezki's victory in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle the obvious highlight, but it was also fantastic for Madam Bovary to win yesterday’s opening race.

Enda Bolger has not won Cheltenham’s cross-country race since 2009, but aims to put that right today.

Enda Bolger has not won Cheltenham’s cross-country race since 2009, but aims to put that right today.

Enda Bolger believes the increasing quality of the cross-country sphere is making Cheltenham’s Glenfarclas Chase more difficult to win year on year.

Willie Mullins is highly likely to stick to a tried and tested route with Quevega next year after the incredible mare landed her third Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown.

The multi-talented Quevega produced a dazzling display to slam Voler La Vedette in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Series World Hurdle at Punchestown last evening.

This afternoon's meeting at Punchestown goes ahead following an 8am inspection, although two chases have been called off.

I am especially looking forward to today, because, to my way of thinking, Quevega and Voler La Vedette is the clash of the week in the three mile Grade 1 hurdle.

RUBY WALSH pulled rank on his baby sister, Katie, at Punchestown last night when brilliant mare Quevega beat Mourad in the Grade 1 ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle.

CAPTAIN CHRIS is the nap choice to land the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown this evening.

PADDY MULLINS, one of the greatest trainers this country has ever produced, died yesterday aged 91.

JONJO O’NEILL and Frankie Dettori led the tributes following the death of legendary Irish trainer Paddy Mullins who passed away peacefully, aged 91, at 7am yesterday morning.

Cross-country grand master Garde Champetre is to make his traditional reappearance in the Vendee Hurdle at Thurles on October 21 before chasing further Cheltenham glory.

Perennial bridesmaid Barizan enjoyed his day in the sun as he gained a deserved Grade One triumph in the Airshow 100 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown today.

La Touche Cup runner-up Freneys Well went one better in the Irish Field Chase at Punchestown.

QUEVEGA emerged as a realistic Stayers’ Hurdle challenger to the champion, Big Buck’s, when totally outclassing the opposition in yesterday’s Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown.

Ted and Katie Walsh have combined to take the Ernst & Young Handicap Chase at Punchestown with 25-1 chance Battlefront running out a wide-margin winner.

In many ways it is a complete anachronism in modern racing terms, but the La Touche Cup, run over Punchestown’s legendary ‘banks course’, is a uniquely Irish event which demands a combination of the disparate arts of steeplechasing and hunting from the combatants in this single eventful race.

Former Champion Chase hero Moscow Flyer got the biggest cheer of the day when bounding to victory on his return to the racecourse in the 18th running of the Diageo Ireland Punchestown Charity Sweepstakes today.

Lord Killucan got punters off to a flying start on day three of the Punchestown Festival with success in the KFM Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup.

Silver Birch is set for a well-earned summer break after his John Smith’s Grand National victory.

GORDON ELLIOTT, who has never trained a winner in his native Ireland and has held a licence only for about a year, was on cloud nine yesterday following the success of Silver Birch in Saturday’s Aintree Grand National.

Ferdy Murphy is hoping Joes Edge makes the cut in the John Smith’s Grand National after getting up in the shadow of the post to win the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham Festival winner Native Jack is on course to bid for a £50,000 (€73,000) bonus in next month’s La Touche Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

British runners gave the Irish a taste of their own medicine at Punchestown today as Ferdy Murphy's Carlys Quest sprung a 25-1 shock in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle.

PUNCHESTOWN are hoping to attract the Irish trio of big-race Cheltenham winners at their Festival meeting next month.

Punchestown are hoping to attract the Irish trio of big-race Cheltenham winners at their Festival meeting next month, including Kicking King.

WILLIE MULLINS has confirmed that Hedgehunter will head for the John Smith’s Grand National without another run.

A €50,000 bonus will be up for grabs if any horse can win both the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham and the La Touche Cup at Punchestown the following month.

ON a day when the news broke that Tony McCoy is to take over as first jockey to Jonjo O’Neill, the Castletownroche-born trainer celebrated by saddling two Grade One winners at Punchestown with Rhinestone Cowboy and Cherub.

Spot Thedifference won for the first time in almost three years when taking the Quins Of Baltinglasss Chase (for the La Touche Cup) over four and a quarter miles at Punchestown.

Andrewjames, formerly trained in England by Paul Nicholls and Mark Pitman, sprang a 33-1 surprise in the Kildare Hunt Club Chase over the banks course at the Punchestown Festival opened today.

KILLARNEY has enjoyed two decent days racing, but the fare on offer this afternoon really is poor.