THERE were a lot of broad smiles around Punchestown last Saturday and not just among connections, as racing folk were genuinely pleased to see Tony Mullins train his first winner of the National Hunt season thanks to Glencairn View and Liam Quinlan justifying 4/1 favouritism in the Amateur National.

Of course this is racing, and so the much-fancied Shannak fell for the first time in 23 races under rules the following day at Fairyhouse, the venue of the gelding’s three victories. They don’t lie when they say it would tame lions.