DRF is the double vodka to Cheltenham’s cocktails - and what fun fun fun we had
The top amateur jockey reflects on an action-packed weekend for the Closutton team

The weekend finished with Fun Fun Fun and I think that summed the whole thing up nicely.
The Dublin Racing Festival is a distillation of pure high-class racing, the double vodka to the cocktails of Cheltenham and Punchestown. Big names, big crowds, big races, big results.
The Gold Cup favourite showed he stays three miles, the Champion Hurdle winner was beaten, the Supreme Novices' favourite blew out, the Triumph Hurdle favourite got stuck in a traffic jam, John Kiely produced a Champion Bumper contender, a handicap was won by a Grade 1 horse, Mighty Potter won his fourth Grade 1, Barry Connell and Michael O’Sullivan won their second, the Arkle was like a Cannonball Run, Gavin Cromwell won two valuable handicaps and Liz Doyle captured a major prize on one of the biggest stages of the season. Got all that?
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Published on inPatrick Mullins
Last updated
- Two great warriors, the centre of the ring, dying seconds of the 12th - now that was a horse race
- No dogs chasing the horses, no trainer favouring telepathy over instructions - riding out for Harry Derham is rather different to Closutton
- Our bid for another jumps title is starting early - and I also think I was riding our next Cheltenham Gold Cup winner last season
- Drama at the Obstacle Anglais and a trip to the Infirmerie - it's just another Monday in Clairefontaine
- You’re Rachael Blackmore. You were relieved to get just one pro winner, you had to go up and down stairs on your hands and bum. But you did it all
- Two great warriors, the centre of the ring, dying seconds of the 12th - now that was a horse race
- No dogs chasing the horses, no trainer favouring telepathy over instructions - riding out for Harry Derham is rather different to Closutton
- Our bid for another jumps title is starting early - and I also think I was riding our next Cheltenham Gold Cup winner last season
- Drama at the Obstacle Anglais and a trip to the Infirmerie - it's just another Monday in Clairefontaine
- You’re Rachael Blackmore. You were relieved to get just one pro winner, you had to go up and down stairs on your hands and bum. But you did it all