FOR the second year running a strong breeze greeted Curragh racegoers for day two of Irish Champions Weekend.

But unlike in 2016 it’s not a dry day and you need to be quick on your feet to avoid the passing showers, some of them quite nasty. Before racing we see hats flying everywhere and Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes desperately chasing her notes which had blown under a Portakabin as she awaited her slot on At The Races.

Relying on temporary facilities and the public’s patience, the Curragh really needed all the good luck that was going last Sunday but they just can’t catch a break. Earlier in the week Big Orange was withdrawn from the St Leger, on Sunday morning we lost Gustav Klimt from the National Stakes and, half an hour before the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the favourite Clemmie was withdrawn.

None of this matters a damn to the children being entertained in a large marquee in the in-field area. Moved here from its traditional spot behind the champagne bar, the ‘fun zone’ boasts an impressive array of attractions. Alice in Wonderland is the theme and top marks to the Mad Hatter for keeping up his crazed enthusiasm throughout the day.

The biggest crowd of all is above in the Grand Hall, the giant betting and drinking circus tent just inside the main entrance. There must have been over 500 people in here at all times we visited, most eyes fixed on the Paddy Power screens or on their drinks.

They may be safe from the elements in here but a power-cut strikes at 3pm and knocks out the Paddy Power tills and screens for 10 minutes. One group of punters whip out their phones to watch a listed race from York. A huge cheer goes up as they see Billy Lee drive Downforce to win by a short-head.

Downforce’s trainer Willie McCreery is in amongst the punters, accepting congratulations and slaps on the back as he dashes back towards the parade ring. Then the screens come to life again and … what’s this? Downforce was beaten in that photo? Shaking heads and groans all around. “He was in front before the line and after the line. Feck it!”

Presentations in the parade ring are made to Dermot Weld and Stan Cosgrove. Recently turned 90, Stan was Moyglare Stud manager for 50 years and made an important contribution to equine veterinary surgery. He is paying his first visit of the year here and believes the temporary facilities are better than the old permanent ones. “I think the new grandstand will be fabulous,” he says. “I just hope it isn’t ‘upstairs, downstairs’. The Curragh got a name for being too exclusive before and they’ll have to work hard to break that image.”

The temporary grandstand is fairly full for the first of the Group 1 races. Shouts go up for Alpha Centauri, then it’s “Go on, Moore!” for Magical before falling quiet as Happily spoils it for most punters.

A Panama hat comes flying past us and disappears under the stand’s steppings where it looks irretrievable in the rubble. Its owner, Stevie from London, mutters that his weekend couldn’t get any worse. “I’ve had an airport delay, got caught in a downpour, no wi-fi in the hotel, the TV didn’t work and I had a bad day at Leopardstown.”

The wind is whipping up the home straight, and right through the temporary stand. It’s the coldest place to be. Still, the well-backed Verbal Dexterity and odds-on Order Of St George give the hardened racegoers something to cheer about. Both winners are generously applauded.

In the betting ring, Ronan Graham reports it’s been quiet. “The way the facilities are laid out now punters only go past us once, on their way to the grandstand,” he explains. “The old configuration had us more at the centre of things and you had a constant flow of people.”

We can see his point. The Grand Hall is packed with punters but it’s a long walk for them to the betting ring and very few are even bothering to go outside and watch the races live. Even Stevie, our London friend, has taken refuge in there to watch the sales race. The good news is he’s recovered his hat and had a couple of winners. “I’ve backed Clive Cox’s in this and that will rescue the weekend for me,” he says.

Snazzy Jazzy duly does the business and a smiling Stevie heads for the airport. “I love Irish racing, I’m already booked in for the Jumps Champions Weekend at Leopardstown next February.”

As at Leopardstown on Saturday, British voices are to be heard everywhere. The UK market is very important to our festivals.

Bookmaker Willie Power is in no doubt: “If it wasn’t for the English and the Northern Ireland crowd Champions Weekend would be nothing.”