Ruby Walsh: The good, the bad and the ugly of a blockbuster Christmas for racing 

Limerick, Tramore, and Fairyhouse joined Leopardstown in seeing an increase in their crowds, and with all the doom and gloom that often surrounds the narrative of this sport, it was brilliant to see people voting with their feet.

Wodhooh and Jack Kennedy win for owners The Sundowners Partnership and trainer Gordon Elliott. Pic: Healy Racing

I am not sure how many movies appeared on the TV screen in this house over the festive period, but Indiana Jones seemed to be on every time I walked in. If it wasn’t The Last Crusade or The Temple Of Doom, it was the Crystal Skull, and when they rolled to a conclusion, another version of Die Hard appeared.

Still, there was no Groundhog Day feeling about it as the afternoon's racing threw up new results, new winners, and entertainment for the throngs who ventured to all the meetings over racing's Christmas, from St Stephen's Day to New Year's Day.