Willie Mullins enjoyed a clean sweep of the Grade 1 events on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, but some second-string representatives were called upon to help deliver the treble in front of a record opening-day crowd of 20,214.

Things didn’t all go to plan yesterday but you won’t complain with two winners nonetheless. I picked the wrong one big time in the Champion Chase and my hope that Champagne Fever might reproduce his best form proved unfounded. It was 50-50 with Felix Yonger and it didn’t surprise me that he stuck it out so well in the end.

Felix Yonger might upstage triple Grade 1 winner Flemenstar on his return to action in today’s Grade 2 Webster Cup in Navan.

The flat season gets under way tomorrow and there will be plenty focus on the public gallops that many of the Ballydoyle hopefuls will be doing after racing at the Curragh.

Felix Yonger should successfully revert to hurdling in the Ballsbridge Hurdle in Leopardstown today.