There are plenty still holding out hope that Faugheen will reproduce his machine days once more in today’s Champion Hurdle, despite his most recent lacklustre efforts at Leopardstown.

There was a huge crowd at Cork Racecourse for a bumper, eight-race programme on Easter Sunday, and the feature race, the Vincent O’Brien Centenary Chase, went, in great style, to Val De Ferbet.

Presidential hopefuls Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal tonight urged their supporters to make a final push before voters go the polls on Sunday.