WEDNESDAY at Cheltenham was overshadowed by the controversy concerning Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville, sadly taking some of the gloss off the day’s action.

It was a day to remember for the French, as horses bred in the country won five of the seven races. With a GB-bred stopping what was so nearly a Gallic clean sweep of the first six races, we headed into the concluding bumper with a very real possibility of a day at the Cheltenham Festival without an Irish-bred success. Quelle horreur! Thankfully, Noel Meade came to the rescue. Merci Noel.