RACING PUNCHESTOWN NEWSTWIST MAGIC and the six other winners at Punchestown yesterday returned to the number-one spot accompanied by some rousing pomp rock from the Electric Light Orchestra, and for once Birmingham's naffest band seemed to capture the popular mood.
That was no doubt helped by the major success of the British raiders Air Force One and Twist Magic, who landed the featured €220,000 Kerrygold Champion Chase for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.
But there was also a significant "feel-good" factor in play generally as a record, day-one festival crowd of 18,168 revelled in sunny conditions and generated over €3 million in betting turnover.
Bookmaker wagering in total was actually down €316,681 from last year to €2,306,030, but there was one fewer race run yesterday. That also helped explain a €100,000 decrease in Tote turnover to €789,924.
However, the crowd figure was slightly up on last year and the Punchestown authorities were accentuating the positive.
"We were worried that the addition of a fifth day to the festival on Saturday might impact on today. We were also wary at the general crowd figures recently. So we are delighted with the attendance," said the track's racing manager, Richie Galway.
"We expect to get up to 5mm of rain overnight but it should be reasonably good on Wednesday itself. And if we get another 5mm on Wednesday night, as is forecast, we won't have to water the course," he added.
Ruby Walsh extended his lead over Davy Russell to six (127-121) with Twist Magic's victory in the race for the jockeys' title, while Willie Mullins slightly stretched his advantage over Noel Meade in the trainers' championship after each had a winner.
Nicholls and Walsh are favourites to also scoop the second-day highlight, the Guinness Gold Cup, with last year's winner Neptune Collonges this afternoon.
