The inaugural Dublin Racing Festival has provided any amount of food for thought for the coming weeks. A cumulative attendance of over 26,000 and the quality of the racing represented a tremendous beginning for this newly created meeting.

The two biggest stories of the weekend were Edwulf’s amazing Unibet Irish Gold Cup triumph, while Willie Mullins roared back into the trainer’s title race with seven winners over the two days.

Edwulf’s victory capped a remarkable weekend for Joseph O’Brien. Not even the wildest optimist could have predicted that Edwulf would even return to the track after he collapsed from a lack of oxygen in last year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Now there is the incredible prospect of him bidding for the Gold Cup.

Samcro’s Deloitte Novice Hurdle success was nothing short of stunning. The door is now open for him to switch Cheltenham targets to the Supreme Novices and, in truth, he will take all the beating wherever he goes.

Monalee did exceptionally well to win the Flogas Novice Chase considering the nasty fall he took at Leopardstown over Christmas. The gelding produced a marvellous round of jumping and then dug deep on the run in to hold on. A clash with Presenting Percy in the RSA Chase will be something to savour. Meanwhile, Mr Adjudicator has gone a long way towards establishing himself as the country’s top juvenile hurdler with a hard fought success over Farclas.

Supasundae produced a Stayers Hurdle trial par excellence in landing the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle. In the same race Faugheen left the form of his Christmas effort behind with a brave second. However, he remains some way off the peak of his powers.

Footpad came through his last test before Cheltenham in fine style with a clinical victory over old rival Petit Mouchoir. At this point the Willie Mullins’ gelding is unquestionably the horse to beat in the Arkle, but Petit Mouchir has emerged as a formidable rival.