12.20 – The Hope-Springs- Eternal Handicap Hurdle. On the Luas from Stephen's Green a group of veteran racegoers from Munster remember Leopardstown winners past, and try to decide if the bright winter sun on the horizon is a good omen. "I hope it doesn't blind the horses," remarks a woman, looking up from her Irish Times racing page. But another in the group sees grounds for optimism: "Maybe it'll blind the bookies."
12.50 – The Search-for-a-Winning-Favourite Wild Goose Chase. The opening race of Day Three has gone to the favourite, but many punters missed it. A long traffic jam still stretches out on Leopardstown Road, and those better-situated in the tailback watch the second race from their cars. Nearby, a woman in a fur hat asks latecomers "anyone selling a ticket?" and, in her other line of trade offers "lucky pens". But the bookies must have the pens already. The race is won, in silence, by a 20/1 shot.
1.20 – The Post-Christmas Handicap. With everybody now in, the condition of the punters is officially "soft" or "soft to heavy" in places. Exceptions include the 10-strong shortlist for Best Dressed Lady, now being compiled by adjudicators who say that the key to the competition is "looking like you know what you're doing but at the same time not trying too hard". Out on the course it's announced that the last fence has been eliminated from the third race because "a low-lying sun" is blinding the horses.
1.50 – The Naughty-or-Nice Novice Hurdle. After years of being rude to everybody, the new gentler Michael O'Leary has been reaping PR benefits of late. The run of luck continues when his horse Lieutenant Colonel wins the €48,000 first prize in the day's big hurdle race. "It's like Santa Claus has come a couple days late", he declares, beaming like a child.
2.20 – The Best Dressed Lady Gold Cup and Shopping Voucher. In the day's most fiercely contested event, Geraldine Shalvey from nearby Foxrock beats off the competition to win a €5,000 shopping spree in Harvey Nichols and a luxury break in the Powerscourt Hotel and Spa. She reveals her pink and grey outfit has also triumphed over the doubts of her brother-in-law (named and shamed as Vincent Gregory, Cologne-based Irish pub owner) who had predicted that if she won, "pigs will fly".
2.55 – The Ryanair Festival Bumper. There is no sign of pigs on the runway at Leopardstown, but if there were any and if they were saddled by Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud, they'd be in with a chance. Confirming his full rehabilitation on Santa's nice list, he also wins the day's feature race with the well-named Road to Riches. In the absence of a jolly fat man in red, trainer Noel Meade is the recipient of the Ryanair CEO's gratitude. Without waiting for mistletoe, O'Leary plants a big kiss on his cheek.
3.20 – The Festival Not- So-Flat Race. The last feature on the card is officially a "flat" race, but try telling that to the punters. It's won by the hottest favourite of the day, Willie Mullins's Up For Review. This was one of several bad results for the bookies in fact, although, typically, they still have two Bobs to rub together: thanks to Bob's Worth and Boston Bob, who were both well fancied in the big race and finished nowhere.
