The opening day of what racing people call "Ireland's answer to Cheltenham" got under way yesterday in Punchestown where the largest cheer was reserved for a winning horse called Offshore Account.
According to RTÉ racing guru Colm Murray, the attempt by the management of Punchestown to make this a Cheltenham by luring the British racing fraternity has worked remarkably well.
Top-class cards with offers of free entry to the course for members of British racecourses and special concessions and offers to owners and trainers from the other island are beginning to pay off, with the betting being fast and furious.
While we may never see a famous British roar in the heartland of the Irish bloodstock industry, there was certainly a large number of English visitors at the opening day. Attendance figures broke all records with almost 18,000 people making their way through the stiles, a 16 per cent increase on last year's opening day.
The crowd featured much glamour, including Ireland's newest model, Katy French, who was on her way from the course to make a video, "Rock the Vote", that aims to encourage young people to cast their ballots.
Surprisingly, with a general election about to be announced, there were few politicians to be seen pressing the flesh.
The event was marked with a formal opening ceremony for the first time and the crowd had a chance to pay homage to Ireland's latest equine hero, Silver Birch, winner of the 2007 Grand National at Aintree.
For those who did not want to see him, there was a fine rendition of the best of Irish songs by the Three Irish Sopranos, Deirdre Masterson, Kay Lynch and Wendy Dwyer.
And if they were pleasing to the eye, so too were former Miss Ireland, Andrea Roche and incumbent Sara Morrissey, who were adjudicating on the first of the entries for best-dressed woman of the festival.
Apart from the loud cheer for Offshore Account, the winner of the big race, which was sponsored by the Kerrygold organisation, was Mansony, ridden by Davy Russell. He was trained by the popular Arthur Moore, who described him as "a fantastic animal" and praised the way he had been ridden to victory.
Graham Lee was the only injured jockey here yesterday when his mount, Aces Four, tumbled spectacularly at the last fence, to give Offshore Account his acclaimed win. Lee was taken to Naas hospital, where he was being treated for a suspected fractured left elbow.
The four-day event continues today with the first race due for the off at 2.15pm.