Ruby Walsh: Finally, National Hunt racing takes the centre stage

Lunchtime starts with cold air, soft ground, heavy coats, woolly hats, gloves, atmosphere and big-name horses.

NATIONAL HUNT SEASON: Champion Trainer Willie Mullins pictured with his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs for his media morning ahead of the new National Hunt season. Pic: Healy Racing

Fireworks may have lit up the skies on Tuesday night for Halloween, but the fireworks that interest me most are about to light up our afternoons.

Everyone has their own take on when the National Hunt season properly gets into gear after taking a back seat for the summer months. Some will say Chepstow in early October, and the Munster National meeting in Limerick, while others will have chosen last weekend in their own minds as Flooring Porter romped up the Cheltenham hill to make a successful chasing debut.