WINS for the Willie Mullins trio Un De Sceaux, Douvan and Faugheen over the weekend saw something of a social media frenzy with a volley of praise initially heaped on the manner of the victories, but as the adulation abated, a minority piped up to question if the utter dominance of the Co Carlow establishment wasn’t, in fact, robbing racing of true entertainment. “Boring,” was the call, “that’s not what I want to watch at Cheltenham.”

Let’s deal with the kernel of truth in this persistent murmur of discontent. We would all love it if the races won in facile style over the weekend had been more competitive, and it’s true that while the presence of equine greatness is guaranteed to attract racegoers, a constant diet of poorly contested championship races would eventually become numbing to the senses and indeed to the betting ring.