ANY fears that horses could have left their Cheltenham Festivals behind at Leopardstown were ultimately unfounded. On the contrary, the Dublin Racing Festival horses excelled.

Footpad won the Arkle, Rathvinden won the National Hunt Chase, Samcro won the Ballymore Hurdle, Bleu Berry won the Coral Cup, Relegate won the Champion Bumper, Delta Work won the Pertemps Final, The Storyteller won the Brown Advisory Plate, Farclas won the Triumph Hurdle.

The Dublin Racing Festival produced eight of the 28 Cheltenham Festival winners.

The 1-2 from the Spring Juvenile Hurdle finished first and second (in reverse order) in the Triumph Hurdle. The 1-2 from the Frank Ward Arkle finished first and third in the Arkle. Min finished second in the Champion Chase, Supasundae finished second in the Stayers’ Hurdle, Barra finished third in the Coral Cup, Monalee finished second in the RSA Chase.

Early signs are that the new Dublin Racing Festival is fitting very neatly into the National Hunt programme.

Lucky 15 for 2019

Next Destination, RSA Chase (Best odds 14/1)

Summerville Boy, Champion Hurdle (20/1)

Supasundae, Stayers’ Hurdle (14/1)

Balko Des Flos, Gold Cup (25/1)