WELL, there you go. The Festival is over and it’s snowing again - can you believe it?!?

How lucky we were, horse racing’s jewel in the crown survived and what a four days it was.

Native River ruled supreme in the Gold Cup, Altior produced what can only be described as an astonishing performance in the Queen Mother and I now think Samcro could be the ‘real deal’.

As for Laurina, she could be the next Irish PM she won with so much authority. 

Talking of the Irish, they wiped the floor with us Brits.

It’s a good job they are such nice people as we all go “Oh well, it’s the Irish; fair play to them” - do we say that to anyone else?

No! So, hang on, are we being hoodwinked here?

They have the best horses and trainers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, just to name two, owners Gigginstown Stud, JP McManus, Rich Ricci and, lastly, jockeys Ruby Walsh, Davy Russell and the incredible young talent of Jack Kennedy.

Not a bad recipe for success is it and, yet, we are still so gracious in defeat . . . wake up and smell the Irish coffee, guys, and let’s make a revenge plan for next year.

I know! How about a ‘Stop the Ferry’ campaign for starters!

As for the punting, day 1, 2 and 3 all returned a profit for the Horses To Follow list and individual selections and then carnage on Gold Cup day which created a fair dent in it.

However, I ended the marathon with a profit of £35 to a £10 stake on all the horses selected and a 13 per cent return on investment, mainly due to Tiger Roll, Coo Star Sivola and The Storyteller.

I’m happy with that and so was the remainder of the H’s after the rib of beef on Sunday. 

So, there you have it; last week we experienced some intruders doing a ‘grab and run’ on us Brits, not only at Prestbury Park but also ‘Twickers’ on St Patrick’s Day. 

Well, can I just say . . . I hate green, I don’t like stout, potatoes, alcoholic cream drinks and fast horses. 

I have no idea what hurling is or, indeed, the rules of Gaelic Football.

Am I bitter about last week? Of course not, it was the Irish!

STOP PRESS . . . Native River, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, will be parading during racing on Monday as well as Regal Flow, who won the Midlands National . . . come and join us!