A smashing day of racing, a great day of craic.
The races that took place today in Leopardstown, and the others that are set to take place tomorrow were ran over three separate weekends last year and in years before that.
Last year, the combined attendance for the three separate day’s racing was just over 20,000.
On Saturday, the first day of the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival, there were 14,105 spectators present at the Foxrock track, according to official figures.
What a 1st day the #DublinRacingFestival @LeopardstownRC Supersundae beating the mighty Faugheen. Dropping back to 2 miles from 3 was a serious performance. Roll on the World Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces #Supasundae #winner #grade1 #bhpirishchampionhurdle #preprace pic.twitter.com/IHFdLEUkxG
— Jessica Harrington (@Jessica_Racing) February 3, 2018
With the weather forecast to be even better for tomorrow, and given that Sunday attendances for sporting events are usually higher, the projected crowd for the already highly anticipated Irish Gold Cup card will be higher – with hopes that over 16’000 will flock to the South Dublin track.
But even away from attendance figures. It makes so much bloody sense. The hype reached levels that horse racing in Ireland hadn’t seen in some time in the build-up to this weekend.
Since January, horses were being primed, races were being targeted, trainers were talking about it, praising it. Punters have been anticipating, even those who have no interest in the racing have been eyeing it up.
The fact that all the racing was taking place on the one weekend is a God-send. A God send for the people who want to attend racing. They could plan for this, book days off work, the hype train – led by the At The Races’ extensive and wide-ranging coverage of all things Irish racing only fed into it all.
It's been quite a day – and we're back for more tomorrow! @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/0yyJ1h3ut3
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 3, 2018
The Dublin Racing Festival is a great initiative. This Saturday, day one, has been a feast of horse racing. Tomorrow will be, too.
At full house capacity, Leopardstown can hold up to 16,000 patrons. That limit will be tested tomorrow. The stand will be hopping, the betting ring will be humming and the parade ring will be purring.
That’s the buzz of horse racing.
Saturday was full of that buzz.
The racing got off to a flying start, with Joseph O’Brien, the best up and coming trainer in the game taking the opener by a whisker with his promising hurdler Tower Bridge.
It was his first Grade One victory in the National Hunt ranks.
Thrilled to have my first Grade 1 winner today with Tower Bridge at Leopardstown. Especially happy for JJ who was riding his first Grade 1 winner and is a big part of the team here. pic.twitter.com/RNFAFN8z96
— Joseph O'Brien (@JosephOBrien2) February 3, 2018
Min announced his Champion Chase credentials when he put Special Tiara, Yorkhill and other high quality horses to the sword in the Coral Dublin Chase. His odds were predictably shortened for Cheltenham – he’s now into 5/2 for the champion chase.
No mistake – Min wins the Coral Dublin Chase! @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/UFC7Hd8SFf
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 3, 2018
Rachel Blackmore landed Willie Mullins‘ third winner of the day, when she gave Patricks Park a typically class ride in the third race of the day.
Footpad is an absolute beast. It will take something serious to beat him in the Arkle. Amazing how he made a class horse like Petit Mouchoir look ordinary.
Machine! https://t.co/pCVokfCzmW
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 3, 2018
Jessica Harrington proved that her season of all seasons last year was no fluke, when she produced an absolutely masterful training performance to see her renowned stayer Supasundae take the Bhp Insurance Irish Champion hurdle.
She did assure us, however, that the horse will, as planned, go for the Stayers hurdle in the festival. He’s priced at 3/1 for that.
Supa star! 🌟 Good day at the office. 💪 pic.twitter.com/WHAM7GmQCr
— Robbie "Puppy" Power (@Robbie_Power_) February 3, 2018
Faugheen the machine wasn’t far back in second, but he wasn’t himself. There were signs of encouragement for Rich Ricci’s champion, and maybe he’ll come on for the run.
In the bumper, Blackbow, owned by Tom Nugent or Turf Talk Tom – showed his undoubted potential when he raced away from O’Brien’s Rhinestone to bring a great day to an end, and to give Willie Mullins his fourth winner of the day.
What a day. Get yourself to Leopardstown.
You won’t regret it. 🏇🏇
— Tom Nugent (@tom_nugent_) February 3, 2018
Bring on tomorrow.
Get yourself to Leopardstown.
