Punchestown has long since left behind its rural heritage. The sprawling venue throbs with corporate money and political clout, while the surrounding leafy lanes are clogged with constructors’ lorries, emblem of the Celtic Tiger economy. It is still aptly described, though, as “Cheltenham with a smile on its face” and most who come here are instant converts.

Naturally, the atmosphere lends itself to celebratory imbibing and the tale of a prominent politician who left the races and drove the wrong way up the dual carriageway to Dublin is retold avidly and annually. Such over-indulgence has been checked, however, by the arrival in Ireland of random breath-testing.

The effect on the Festival and its environs has been marked. Hotels now lay on buses to the track, taxis are overburdened, village pubs have closed down and even the street carnival in neighbouring Ballymore Eustace has been scrapped.

Publicans’ humour, however, is unimpaired. An advert in the Ballymore Bugle announces in bold type: “Lap Dancing in Paddy Murphy’s pub. Punter’s paradise for Punchestown.” Beneath, in small print, is added: “Due to expected moral outrage, the above has since been cancelled and comedian Paul Malone will appear instead.”

Fashion takes an ever greater role here, with Best Dressed Lady awards on all four days. Tomorrow, five finalists will parade for an overall €30,000 (£20,400) prize judged by Yasmin LeBon. It is the second year that Ms LeBon has been the face of Punchestown and even Dick O’Sullivan, the genial general manager, now knows who she is. Last year, one of her staff rang on the eve of the meeting to ask what security arrangements had been made.

O’Sullivan, nonplussed, replied: “Jasmin LeBon? Just hold on while I check which race she’s running in.”

— Delegations from Cheltenham and Haydock have been at Punchestown, both with issues on their minds. Cheltenham needs a new sponsor for its cross-country races after the withdrawal of Sporting Index. Ironically, the news came on the day that Silver Birch – second in the Festival cross-country before winning the Grand National – paraded here. Peter McNiele, commercial director of Cheltenham, says there is no question of the races being discontinued and is confident of acquiring a new sponsor.

Haydock’s management is reeling from the resentment aroused by changes to its jumps programme and the use of portable fences. It is to hold a meeting with northern trainers next week in a bid to prove commitment to jumping. One possibility is an enhancement of the Swinton Hurdle meeting in May.

— The general assumption of a seamless baton-change at Aintree, with Andrew Tulloch succeeding Charles Barnett as managing director, may have been premature. Tulloch, whose work as clerk of the course was highly praised this year, was spotted walking the track at Punchestown yesterday, unable to shed any light on an appointment. Diary understands, though, that Lord Daresbury, the course chairman, met with Andrew Coppel, chief executive of Jockey Club racecourses, last week and that another strong contender has emerged.

— Paul Nicholls will run three horses – a fourth, Royal Auclair, is doubtful – in the Betfred Gold Cup on Saturday in a bid to break the untouched £3 million mark in prize-money. The greatest contributor, Kauto Star, will also be present, albeit in a ceremonial role. He will parade before racing as the winner of this season’s Order of Merit award.

— Imagine the teenage angst afflicting Kate Harrington. The 17-year-old daughter of Co Kildare trainer Jessie takes her driving test today. Then, tomorrow, she rides Moscow Flyer for the first time in public as the iconic chaser comes out of retirement in Punchestown’s charity race. Moscow is so bright he beat Cork All Star, the stable’s Cheltenham bumper winner, in a gallop this week. No pressure for Kate, then . . .