The first win was of particular delight to Marilyn Bane, owner/rider of The Grey Rebel, a seven-year-old Gleneven Rebel gelding, as she was leaving Ireland during the week to move to Northamptonshire where her partner, Jason O’Donnell, has just taken up the position of whip to the Grafton.

Claire Maher was even more pleased with her victory in the well-filled Ward Union Hunt novice class on her eight-year-old skewbald Miss Chief. The Co Laois rider had contemplated selling her mare but that idea was put on hold after Saturday’s win.