Hurricane Fly and Solwhit pride of Punchestown

GIVEN that we are in the deepest recession since the foundation of the state, you would have to describe Punchestown last week as reasonably successful.

I know betting was way down, over €3.5m with the bookmakers and nearly €1.5m on the tote, but that was only to be expected.

One bookmaker put it delightfully for me late in the week, as he continued to smile in the face of mounting adversity.