Un De Sceaux: so tough as well as outstandingly classy

Day one of the Punchestown festival, which just gets better and better, had it all – class, controversy, and several big-priced winners, often the feature of a meeting which takes place at the end of a long, hard season. Here are five things we learned from the opening day

1 Un De Sceaux not only possesses a touch of brilliance; he is remarkably tough too. The winner of 22 of his 29 races – a quite phenomenal strike-rate considering the calibre of opposition he has faced throughout his career – the Ryanair Chase surely took plenty out of him, but he returned fresh as paint to justify odds-on favouritism at Fairyhouse and then landed the Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase in thrilling fashion. He got into such a wonderful rhythm up front – it was beautiful to watch – one sensed from a long way out that only a Douvan at the very top of his game would be able to reel him in.

2 Douvan did not travel as well as he did up to the time of his departure four out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on his comeback. He ran a perfectly good race, but the spark which has characterised his greatest performances was never ignited. Will we ever see a return to his imperious best? Granted a clean bill of health next season there is no reason why not.