LOSSIEMOUTH and Brighterdaysahead’s rematch in the Irish Champion Hurdle proved a fitting crescendo to four stellar Grade 1s on the revised opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

With Final Demand disappointing in the first feature, a last-gasp winner in the next, and revived Majborough showing up in the third of the Grade 1s, we received no clues as to how to predict the outcome of the mares’ clash, as they remained tightly matched in the betting right until the off.