What a spectacle of racing! 7 Races, 4 grade 1’s, 2 grade B’s and a Grade 2. 70 runners, 5 beaten favourites and I dread to think how many pints of Guiness were poured today inside the boundaries of Dublin’s heart of racing, Leopardstown racecourse.

If the figures above weren’t enough, that was only day 1 of the 2 day feature in Dublin, but what did it tell us?

Most surprisingly for some the realisation that the bookies and the punters aren’t always right! 5 beaten favourites from 7 races today highlights that, and with Cheltenham just around the corner, the ante post betting community could be left worrying that they’ve backed the wrong horse, or maybe, the lucky ones, are more sure than ever that they’re on the right ones!

Race 1 of the day was the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus Foe Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle (Grade 1). One of the 2 favourites of the day that passed the line in the place that had been anticipated for them. Barry Connell’s 7 year old Good Land followed up his Christmas Leopardstown victory with a repeat performance under Michael O’Sullivan. He was 1.5 lengths clear of Gordon Elliotts Absolute Notions, and 37.25 lenghts clear of the 2^nd favourite weveallbeencaught of Nigel Twiston-Davies who disappointed connections and crossed the line behind his fellow 7 rivals.

Race 2 saw the hot favourite Lossiemouth finish 2.5 lengths behind stable mate Gala Marceau for Willie Mullins, ridden by Danny Mullins in the famous colours of Honeysuckle for owner Kenny Alexander, hopefully that won’t be the only time those beautiful baby blue and white colours cross the line in front this weekend, I’m nothing, if not loyal!

The Goffs Irish Arkle threw another swerve ball at the punters and saw the favourite appreciate it finish 3^rd, beaten again by a stablemate from the Closutton yard of Willie Mullins, this time saw Daryl Jacob steer El Fabiolo to victory, ahead of Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge in 2^nd place. For me Banbridge was one of the stand out performances of the day, turning in he looked totally beaten and he came home like a steam train to deny Paul Townend of 2^nd pace under JJ Slevin.

The Irish Gold Cup was undoubtedly the feature race of the day, with the crowd waiting patiently for Galopin Des Champs to prove he stays 3 miles and that he can hold his own in open company. He proved himself by 8 lengths, finishing ahead of stable mate from the Willie Mullins stable, Stattler. Gordon Elliotts Fury Road ran a spectacular race to finish third and I think the Cullentra team will be happy enough for him to head to Cheltenham with him after that.

The 15. Provided Gavin Cromwell with the first half of a quickfire double when Mark Walsh crossed the line in the famous Green and Gold colours of J P McManus 3.25 lengths ahead of Charles Byrnes Grozni.

Keith Donoghue followed in Mark Walsh’s footsteps and got Final Orders across the line 4 lengths ahead of the recently recovered from injury Sean Flanagan, denying him his comeback victory aboard Barnacullia.

On a day for beaten favourites, Patrick Mullins was denied his winner for today in the Bumper by John Gleeson aboard A Dream To Share, but in true Patrick style he crossed the line and patted John Gleeson on the back to congratulate his victory. John Kiely and John Gleeson closed the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival and left us all hungry for another action packed day in Dublin tomorrow.

For me, tomorrow is a busy day. With 7 runners from the Knockeen stable, including racing royalty, the Queen of Knockeen, Honeysuckle, running for the first time since her only ever defeat in the Hatton’s Grace, the pressure’s on, but as they say, ‘pressure’s for tyres’.