It could have been chaos, a week remembered for lost opportunities, lost tempers and even loss of life. Somehow, Cheltenham 2008 negotiated all such threats and staged a Festival that was unforgettable in various ways, but most notably because it was unique.

Even the impresario himself, Edward “Expect the Unexpected” Gillespie, had never dreamed of a Festival with a “rest day”, like an old-fashioned Test match. Wednesday was a bonanza for the town, while the racecourse drew breath from the gales and prepared to stage more races in two extraordinary days than three conventional ones.

Add in the headline horses - Denman, Inglis Drever and especially Master Minded - and the storyline was box office. Complaints were so few that Simon Claisse, the clerk of the course, says his “Issues List” for the upcoming debrief is a fraction its usual size. Some themes, though, will be indelible.

Fortitude

The decision to abandon on Wednesday was correct, for public safety, but fraught for organisational purposes. Once done, the ambitious priority was to preserve every race, and at advertised values. To make this happen required the co-operation of many - trainers to accept revisions for their horses, caterers to serve meals early, customers to turn up soon after breakfast. Somehow, it all came together.

It could have been open house for criticism if the schedule had proved too punishing or equine fatalities had multiplied. Yet ten races on Thursday went off on time and only one horse died all week - yes, one too many for comfort but several fewer than averages would indicate for 25 championship races.

Everyone will wish for a return to normality but, as a one-off, the week was glorious. The spirit surrounding it was summed up by response to a tragedy. A doorman in a hospitality area died of a heart attack on Thursday - the punters within clubbed together and raised £1,500 for his family.

Format

The silliest comments heard were from those averring solemnly that it was a better meeting for being back over three days. Most of the additional races are now embedded and accepted - the Ryanair Chase is such a highlight one wonders how we ever did without it.

One issue that will be revisited, though, is the downturn in

Tuesday's attendance. Gillespie is right to say 52,000 is hardly disappointing but it was still 4,000 fewer than last year. Royal Ascot has the same problem and other big Flat meetings have moved off Tuesday altogether.

Cheltenham can only do this if it uses Saturday as a final day, which has always been resisted. Yet there is increasing evidence that more people are coming for the last two days and, with a weekend day included, they are likelier to stretch their stay to three.

Finance

Diplomacy dictated that Cheltenham danced around this subject. Instead, officials rightly offered regret to those who had lost their day at the Festival, if not their admission money. Soon enough, though, the sums must be done and, even after insurance payouts, the meeting will be well down on budgeted profit.

The Festival has long subsidised the business of Jockey Club Racecourses. This deficit could have repercussions for planned developments at various courses but it must not hamper the necessary progress at Cheltenham, where it is now clear that the vast acreage of tents and temporary structures is vulnerable to our increasingly frequent extreme weather.

Cheltenham needs to turn much of that area into permanent buildings, and deferring it could have still more serious consequences.

Titans

Some heroes are easy to identify - Sam Thomas is now a household name, Harry Findlay a celebrity and Denman a horse with the world at his remorseless feet. But what about the others? Inglis Drever brought the house down and has become a public horse as much for his running style as his record.

Master Minded gave the most stunning performance of the week and Mister McGoldrick, at 66-1, the most startling, not least for being a first Festival winner for Sue Smith, his Yorkshire-based trainer.

With two wins for Howard Johnson and one each for Ferdy Murphy and Donald McCain, this was a resurgent week for the North. It also marked a coming of age for Emma Lavelle and Evan Williams, part of a new generation of talent and now with their names on the honours board that matters most.

Team Ditcheat

Fears that the champion yard would exert unhealthy dominance were misguided - within this hothouse of competition, no one trainer can monopolise. Paul Nicholls won three of the 25 races but, yes, he was a little greedy in the Gold Cup. With more than £400,000 prize-money from that 1-2-3, and almost £800,000 from the meeting, Nicholls is a good winner short of an unprecedented £3 million for the season.

Instead of envious sniping, the sport should celebrate him and his horses. This is a golden age of steeplechasers and it is worth remembering that other trainers turned down Denman and Master Minded before Nicholls moved in.

Touts

Finally, one personal gripe. Touts are viewed as a mixed blessing, as their presence is an indicator of success, but surely more controls are needed. On Thursday and Friday, they swarmed around the car parks in packs, asking each new arrival if they had spares. For such a magical venue, this is a first impression that needs correction.