Ruby Walsh: Why is the Dublin Racing Festival so reliant on Willie Mullins?

Mullins accounted for 33 of the 66 horses left in the eight Grade One races, but that’s 32 of 64 because El Fabiolo and American Mike held double entries

SEEKING GOLD: Galopin Des Champs is the star attraction on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival and looks set to outclass his rivals in the Irish Gold Cup. Picture: Healy Racing

Where does one start? It should have been with the Nathaniel Lacy and Co Solicitors Novice Hurdle, the opening race this afternoon at Leopardstown, but can I skip straight past the 12-year disqualification handed to Ronan McNally on Tuesday by the IHRB referrals committee? I don't think so, but I have no intention of delving into the whole report either.

So, as I can understand the rulings and sentencing, the IHRB referrals committee found Ronan guilty of 10 of the 11 charges presented against him. Elaborate and carefully selected wordings were used to deliver each finding, but deceit is what it boils down to.