THERE were wins at last week’s National Hunt Festival at Punchestown for many owners, trainers and jockeys who were involved in other equestrian sports in the past and some, besides those who hunt, who still are.

Before we get into the detail, didn’t Punchestown look absolutely fabulous all week? How many of us who rode, groomed, officiated, volunteered or just partied throughout thought longingly of the brilliant, much-missed international horse trials that were held there up to 2007?