Another National Hunt season that provided its share of standout moments drew to a close last weekend with the conclusion of the Punchestown Festival.

Once again, this was a campaign in which Willie Mullins carried all before him, setting a new personal best of 34 Grade 1 wins throughout the season.

Ruby Walsh made it a record 11 jockeys’ championships, Gigginstown House Stud bagged a fourth champion owner’s title, while Jack Kennedy, who only had his first ride this time last year, landed the claiming riders’ title.

Aside from these worthy champions, this was a season that served up a series of memorable occasions and it is worth considering a few of these ahead of the relatively quiet summer period.

Firstly, Douvan is unquestionably the most exciting jumper around. A brilliant novice hurdler, he looks even better over fences and ended his season unbeaten in six starts over the larger obstaces. Truly the sky is the limit for him.

Sadly it appears that Don Cossack’s career hangs in the balance after picking up a tendon injury in the lead-up to Punchestown. However, he wrote his name into Irish racing folklore with his Gold Cup triumph in March. From a very early stage of his career, he had been mentioned as a likely Gold Cup horse by Gordon Elliott and it all came to fruition in some style on 18 March.

Over the last few seasons, the various superpowers involved in jump racing have utterly dominated the top level of competition. However, there is still room for fairytale stories, as evidenced by trainer Gavin Cromwell and his star juvenile hurdler, Jer’s Girl. From humble beginnings, she ended the season with two Grade 1 triumphs and provided compelling evidence of her trainer’s prowess.

Lastly, Rule The World’s Grand National victory was a truly amazing one. The first maiden over fences to win the race since the 1800s, his triumph under David Mullins was both a heart-warming and emotional one for his trainer Mouse Morris. Seldom has there been a more popular winner of the great race.

O’BRIEN RECORD

Switching codes, all eyes were on Newmarket last weekend for the first two classics of the season. Air Force Blue was a red-hot favourite for the 2000 Guineas but he was a huge disappointment in finishing towards the rear of the field and he faces a daunting task to recapture the undeniable brilliance that he showed last year.

However, Sunday was a much better day for Aidan O’Brien as he saddled the first three home in the 1000 Guineas with the winner, Minding, producing an utterly dominant effort. The sky is the limit for this filly and it is hard to see how any of her contemporaries will be able to lower her colours at any stage this season.

The 1000 Guineas made it 250 Group 1 victories for Aidan O’Brien, which represents a truly staggering effort on the part of the Ballydoyle trainer.