A day at the races: Festival buzz at Leopardstown

The Luas was packed when it set down at Dundrum station. Many were dressed in their Peaky Blinders garb; others more eye-catching in their sartorial elegance. An indication then that a bumper crowd was heading to the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

At the Sandyford stop, the throngs disembarked. The shuttle bus that would have taken some of us to Leopardstown had just departed. There were no complaints, however. A walk of 15 minutes took us to our destination, all in good time ahead of the first race.

Shouts of "any spare tickets" could be heard as one made their way up the slight incline towards the entrance. One tout was looking to pay €50 for five tickets. Good bless his brass neck!

Once inside a beeline was made for the main stand; the seats and steps were well populated. You could sense the atmosphere. In advance we were told that a number of UK visitors would be in attendance. Their voices were clear: Cockney, Brummie, Black Country, North of England.

From the latter, I spoke with two lads from Carlisle. Roddy Collins' time as manager of their local football team seemed to have escaped them, but they knew their racing. The Gold Cup chances of A Plus Tard and Galopin Des Champs were thrashed out and I was informed that Carlisle is behind Hexham and Newcastle in terms of the northerly race tracks in England.

At about 1.21pm, a roar went up as the runners and riders departed for the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle. A bit of mouthful but on-course commentator Jerry Hannon gave it more than a few mentions during the course of his call.

Owner-trainer Barry Connell reflects on Good Land's win in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors '50,000 Cheltenham