IT IS the day after Our Duke skittled a field of 28 to plunder the richest prize in Irish jump racing, the Boylesports Irish Grand National. As son-in-law of victorious trainer Jessica Harrington – his wife Emma is an integral part of the flourishing Commonstown Stables operation and he has been around the inner sanctum a long time as a result – Richie Galway might have been expected to be a little the worse for wear.

But as we meet out at Punchestown on Tuesday afternoon, it is clear that he is operating on full steam. It’s not that there wasn’t a party. There was, and it was a good one, but Galway was on designated driver duties, so the head is clear.