The sun shines bright and Ruby pulls off his first trick of the week

It is nigh on perfect. Bestowed with such exquisite natural blessings, Cheltenham racecourse is never less than beautiful. When the sun shines like this, that beauty is breathtaking. If conditions stay as they are we will head home happy on Friday. Poorer, very possibly, but happy all the same.

This may or may not be Ireland’s week, but Monday is always Ireland’s day. At 9am, the weather already warm, three members of the huge raiding party amble up the horsewalk and past the grandstands in the same direction 28 winners will, over four magical afternoons, return under elated riders.

Instead of looking elated, these riders are using their mobile phones. One is taking a selfie, another seems to be reading a message, while the backmarker has the phone attached to his riding helmet. It looks a little strange, but there’s a stranger sight on the infield, where a man is pedalling a bicycle and carrying a large television aerial. He’s probably not part of the ITV team.