Ruby Walsh: Winter shake-up pays off as Punchestown leads star-studded weekend

The reshaped late-November programme is already bearing fruit, with Punchestown, Navan and Fairyhouse combining to launch the National Hunt season in style.

Punchestown on Saturday seems set to rival Haydock and Ascot. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Change for the sake of change rarely yields the desired result because it lacks a specific, achievable target. However, changes made for a reason should be applauded when they work, and the alterations to the early winter season are working a treat.

Navan and Punchestown swapped dates and weekends 12 months ago to bolster this time of year, in an attempt to put races in the correct spot to maximise the number of times horses could run, and it looks like it is working.