SO, despite any muttered misgivings, it really did work. DRF doesn’t stand for Daily Racing Form in this part of the world anymore. The Dublin Racing Festival was a success.

Even ‘where’s the hunter chase’ devotees could not but feel that the two days of the festival were great for Irish racing and the mix of races was pretty much on the mark. It was very much ‘a build it and they will come’ beginning and it can now be improved upon and activities expanded further around it.

Attendances were excellent, the comparisons over the last three years were – 2016: 7,553. 2017: 6,443 and 2018: 14,105 for BHP Champion Hurdle day. Sunday’s figure were a bit lower, 2016: 9,336. 2017: 9,376 and this year 12,031 but anything over 12,000 was still a success.

The UK visitors gave it due attention, the punters and the heavyweight journalists came and returned with nothing but favourable reports, next year it will grow. Even without British horses in competition, it can become a weekend when British race fans come here before we go over there in March.

Leopardstown provided brilliant racing and it also threw up that element missing from much of jump racing these times, the prospect of a rematch.

Mr Adjudicator v Farclas – will the Elliott horse improve again? Footpad v Petit Mouchoir – the Mullins horse is a such a joy to watch but the grey’s fans were left with a definite glimmer of revenge, given his absence, how he got worked up and missed the first two fences. Will a fitter horse and a stiffer finish see him close the gap? Edwulf v Killultagh Vic and Our Duke. The latter two both made crucial mistakes.

Satisfying on its own, the weekend was also a perfect appetiser for next month.