Samcro, Faugheen and a miracle: four standout Dublin Racing Festival moments

The Dublin Racing Festival takes place for the fifth time this weekend and is once again set to be a pivotal two days in the jumps season.

Although much of the narrative may be Cheltenham directed, and the festival undoubtedly has an impact on events in March, there have been some spine-tingling performances in their own right during the first four Dublin Racing Festivals.

Here are four standout moments from the first few years at Leopardstown.

'He lives up to the hype' – Samcro lights up opening DRF

Although Samcro has developed into a real character of the jumps game, he had the world firmly at his feet after a stunning win in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in 2018.

He arrived at Leopardstown unbeaten after winning his point-to-point, three bumpers and two hurdles, so it was little wonder he was already attracting plenty of superlatives. Even Gigginstown supremo Michael O'Leary was wincing at the amount of attention he had received, saying before the Deloitte: "The only person the Racing Post has left to interview about Samcro is the lorry driver who brings him to the race."

Much the best: Samcro was far too good at the first Dublin Racing Festival in 2018Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

If O'Leary wasn't a fan of the hyperbole beforehand he had little choice but to sit and suffer afterwards. Jack Kennedy had an armchair ride as Samcro cruised clear in the straight on the 4-6 favourite.

He became Ireland's big Cheltenham hope that year and duly delivered when bolting up as odds-on favourite in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Further Cheltenham Festival success would come down the line amidst multiple disappointments, but the Deloitte is potentially the day Samcro will be remembered for.

What they said

Jack Kennedy, jockey
He's a dream ride, he travels away and is always there when you want him. He lives up to the hype.

Michael O'Leary, owner
He's still not Jesus Christ. Hopefully he will be when he wins a chase, a proper race. He's going the right way.

Watch the replay of Samcro's Deloitte Novice Hurdle win

Edwulf's miracle Irish Gold Cup win

Samcro grabbed plenty of headlines from the inaugural weekend, but he had to play second fiddle to Edwulf following his remarkable Irish Gold Cup win.

The nine-year-old was not the best friend of punters at odds of 33-1, but it was a heartwarming success for a horse who nearly lost his life at the previous season's Cheltenham Festival.

Edwulf: the miracle horse who defied the odds in the 2018 Irish Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was a fairytale performance for so many reasons, including a big win for leading amateur Derek O'Connor, whose mount battled bravely to overhaul Outlander on the run-in.

But Edwulf's recovery from near disaster at Cheltenham, where he went wrong in the National Hunt Chase and collapsed, was the main story.

What they said

Joseph O'Brien, trainer
He was in Cheltenham for two weeks before he came home and I can't stress enough the job the vets did and how well he was looked after at Martinstown Stud over the summer. My own staff also deserve a lot of credit. We started him back at Christmas when he just got tired after being off for so long. It's an unbelievable result.

Derek O'Connor, jockey
When you think about what was going through our heads at Cheltenham it's incredible to think Edwulf has come back and won a Grade 1. It looked as if he would never race again. It's been an incredible training performance by Joseph.

Watch the replay of Edwulf's Irish Gold Cup success

Fabulous Faugheen brings the house down

Dubbed 'The Machine', the 12-year-old had questions to answer heading into the Flogas Novice Chase in 2020.

A brilliant hurdler in his pomp, Faugheen was very much in the twilight of his career but making a good go of a season novice chasing as a veteran. He had dismissed Samcro in Limerick's Christmas Grade 1, but this was a different examination. His legion of fans need not have worried.

Paul Townend lets out a roar as Faugheen wins the Grade 1 Flogas Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Faugheen gave Dublin's racing home one of its finest moments when scrapping to hold off the surge of stablemate Easy Game. On ratings it was not his finest performance, but that did not matter. To those lucky enough to be in attendance at Leopardstown, Faugheen had proved he still had the heart of a champion.

It was the last victory of his career as he soon bowed out at the Cheltenham Festival.

What they said

Willie Mullins, trainer
The two of them had been running and jumping fantastic but I wanted Faugheen to win in a big way. I would have been gutted if he'd been beaten. Coming here I was worried he'd have a bad fall or get injured, but he came up trumps. It's fantastic. I thought our other horse was going to beat him coming up the stands' rail, where the ground was probably better, but Faugheen dug deep.

Rich Ricci, owner
I'm delighted with that. It was magic, super, fantastic. Golly, Faugheen was brilliant. It's spectacular for all the people here.

Watch the replay of Faugheen's final career victory

Deadly Honeysuckle remains unbeaten

She had already won one Irish Champion Hurdle, but one soon became two as Honeysuckle, Kenny Alexander's outstanding mare, extended her unbeaten record under rules to a perfect ten when coasting clear in the 2021 Irish Champion Hurdle.

Partnered by Rachael Blackmore, Honeysuckle had beaten Darver Star by just half a length 12 months earlier before winning the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore cross the line in splendid isolationCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

But she reached new heights when pulling ten lengths clear of Abacadabras with ease, setting up a successful tilt at the Champion Hurdle.

She was slicker and sharper than ever before at the DRF. She was brilliant.

What they said

Rachael Blackmore, jockey
She was just deadly and Henry [de Bromhead] has just done an unbelievable job with her. She was a lot sharper today than she was the last day. She was class. She's got plenty of pace and you do whatever you want with her now.

Watch the replay of Honeysuckle's second Irish Champion Hurdle

Read more on the Dublin Racing Festival:

Ruby Walsh: why Willie Mullins might be tempted to reroute Galopin Des Champs

Dublin Racing Festival: five key races you don't want to miss at Leopardstown

Dublin Racing Festival: confirmations for the eight Grade 1s plus an early tip

New Sky Bet customers can get £20 in free bets. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 2 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.