DAY four of the Punchestown Festival and it’s all about Faugheen, yet another long odds-on shot for a Grade 1 race.

Prior to this year’s Punchestown Festival, a lot of the bookmakers knew their fate. The paradox of Ireland having one of the strongest brigades of horses in recent history meant that the overseas challenge in the Grade 1 races was always going to be minimal, meaning the Kildare racecourse would offer as nothing more than a victory lap for the big named runners.