LAST Tuesday at Punchestown was a day that could reverberate through the entire National Hunt season.

The day started with a trumpet blast as Tycoon Prince made just about all the running under Bryan Cooper to land the two-mile maiden hurdle. The Gigginstown House horse ran in three bumpers last season for Gordon Elliott, and he won all three. He didn’t go to Cheltenham, but the plan was always to skip Cheltenham, let him off after he won at Naas in February. There was never any doubt about the regard in which he was held by connections.