Here’s the rain, umbrellas up. Wait, it’s stopped, sunglasses on. It’s freezing, get a coffee. No, no, make that an ice cream

It was the proverbial four seasons in one day at Punchestown on Tuesday. Despite the accurate weather forecast for ‘unsettled’ conditions, a record crowd turned out for day one of the Festival and, by and large, they dressed sensibly. Woolly hats and warm coats were everywhere. Yes, the sun did break through but the temperatures stayed low with a breeze.

Down in the shopping village you could get bags and books, arts and crafts, handmade hats, bespoke hats, even “killer” hats, silk for your neck and silver for your wrist, even join the Supreme Club.

The serious stylists competing for the best dressed prize had to ignore this and go for broke on the catwalk. Many looked underdressed but MC Brendan McArdle was not giving up his overcoat. Rosie’s Closet in Newry made the running, two ladies clear before Marietta Doran produced a classy performer dressed in Victoria Beckham, “we’re all about Victoria Beckham this season,” she proclaimed. But VB’s under LA skies, it’s chilly in Kildare. The next lady keeps it real in River Island. The ‘trots up’ have been halted for an announcement - “Will Rebecca Curtis please go to the veterinary box please.” It’s a record crowd but it’s easy to move around. It’s great to see crowds already four deep around the parade ring. There’s a freshly painted white line across the winners’ enclosure. Park your winner here? No, as Douvan stands tall we see it’s to hold back the photographing pack.

Nina Carberry got the meeting off with a winning favourite and Ruby Walsh made it two out of two aboard Douvan. But not everyone is winning. “Those prices are no good to me,” says Tom, a ‘senior’ racegoer from Cork city.

Tom and friends are staying in Bewley’s at Newland’s Cross for the week, an annual pilgrimage to the meeting he first made in 1974, the year Tingle Creek beat local hero Skymas in the two-mile chase.

Tom is fielding against Bryan Cooper’s mounts. “He’s not the jockey he was,” is the rather harsh verdict on the 22-year-old. Are you saying that because he’s a Kerryman, I ask.

“Not at all, I have every reason to be grateful to him – I won €5,800 on Cooper at Cheltenham two years ago,” and he pulls out a copy of the betting docket to prove it.

Tuesday turns out to be a bad day for the jockey but his employer Michael O’Leary is happy enough with the day’s haul. Winning the Land Rover bumper with Petit Mouchoir does not seem to be among the owner’s greatest racing achievements. “I don’t usually watch bumpers and I hope to be gone out of here before the next one.”

In the shopping village, there is a lot more browsing than buying going on. “I’d say it’s a typical first day - a lot of lookers, people hoping to buy later in the week,” says Alan Redmond, fine art dealer.

“I’ve sold three Snaffles prints for a grand each to English buyers - the euro price is very attractive to them.”

The bookies are paying out more than they are taking in following a run of successful fancied horses. Bernard Barry has had a losing day but is still smiling.

“Jamie Codd is unstoppable at the moment,” he says through gritted teeth. Another bookie is demanding his €3 back from the coffee vendor. “This cappuccino is cold and I’m having a bad enough day already.” It’s a mostly male area down here, no need for a white line to keep out the ladies.

The weakness of the euro appears to have attracted lots of British visitors and most of them seem to be in the ITM hospitality suite. It’s wall-to-wall tweed and furry hats. Back downstairs to see if there’s any cold cappuccino left.

Enda Kenny is posing for selfies while A.P. McCoy looks bemused to receive a hamper of champagne, chocolate and gardening equipment from his former weighroom colleagues.

He looks lost wandering around the enclosures though he did get a good lunch – “the first time I have ever eaten properly at a racecourse,” he says. The cookery book of Puddings doesn’t thrill the champ.

The skies brighten again before the last race and we have gotten away lightly. The forecast is mixed for the rest of the week but the Festival has started well.

Joe Stack files a report for the RTÉ news that shows off the meeting – the colour, the characters, the crowd and the winners. It should be enough to convince a few couch potatoes to pack their sunglasses and umbrellas tomorrow.

Pronouncing Bon Enfant caused a bit of trouble, French in a Monaghan acccent, the HRI girls wonder how Petit Mouchoir will come out.

As he streaks clear someone informs us it means little handkerchief. If these favourites continue it’ll not be a handkerchief but a white flag from the bookies.