A Willie Mullins clean sweep in the Grade One Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, headed by Adriana Des Mottes, capped another big afternoon for Ireland's champion jumps trainer at Fairyhouse.

Last Tuesday night it was my pleasant duty to be part of a large Irish contingent who were invited to be guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The ex-French mare Adriana Des Mottes, who created a very favourable impression on her Irish debut, gets the nap in the Grade 2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

I spent Thursday night in London, at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, attending a testimonial dinner for Ronan O’Gara.

Bryan Cooper got off to a flyer as the new first jockey to Gigginstown House Stud when guiding Gordon Elliott’s Toner D’Oudairies to victory in the Racecourse Supporters’ Club Chase at Thurles yesterday.