THE action moved to the Curragh on Sunday, for all the litany of complaints since its reopening, this felt a day when it held its place as a real showcase venue of Irish racing.

Most of the 4,000 permitted seemed to have arrived early and throw in a good mix of different winners, it added to a feel-good day.

Walking over, one gentleman is heading back to the carpark. “Forgot the bloody mask.” How many times have we said that these last 18 months?

The Curragh racecard was a worthy souvenir of the day, Leopardstown’s came up a little short in comparison.

A four-page memorial to Pat Smullen, full-page photos of past stars to grace the day, like Minding and Churchill, and all of last year’s Group 1 winners, information on the Curragh and a page with photos introducing the team at the track (and a Covid protocol page in case you want to look back in days to come!). It was a fine quality production to merit the day.

Today RTÉ has prime position – the Pyramid stage overlooking the parade ring – while poor old Gary and RacingTV are in a bunker down paddock-side.

The events from the stewards’ inquiries the previous day are discussed again by Ted, Hugh and Jane on TV.

Ted of the opinion that “some of the riding was questionable from top-class men and the penalties handed out were weak enough.” Or “milky watery” if you like things lukewarm! In the same discussion Jane Mangan was left with the feeling did the best horse win the Matron?

Back to the track. “That’s her, boys,” racegoers wanted to see Love in the Blandford Stakes and she kept the faithful waiting, last into the parade ring. She gave her fans an aubible shock when the photo went up on the big screen showing she’d been pipped by La Petite Coco.

Amid all the Group 1 winners Paddy Twomey’s achievement of have his three runners pick up a Group 2, and beaten a neck in a Group 1 was a notable one.

Charlie Appleby and Dermot Weld are engrossed in conversation in the pre-parade ring before the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and then it ends as the masks have to be allied for the ring proper.

Around the parade ring there’s a nice crowd but still space to breathe your own air. “Isn’t it gas, they have to wear the masks in the parade ring, and we don’t,” one lady remarks. Yes!

Native Truth is the pick of the parade ring, tall, a fine head, and he duly conquers for Godolphin and Appleby again.

It’s assumed he’s a Dubawi by those around me but no, this lad’s by Oasis Dream.

It was Eddie Lynam who in the past pointed out how there was no Group 1 sprint at home when he had Sole and Subtle Power. It’s fitting Fast Eddie wins the Group 1 Derrinstown Flying Five time with Chris Hayes punching the air to the skies on Romantic Proposal.

Hayes was quick to admit on TV, he’d made a mistake the last time and could do better but “I didn’t think I’d get a Group 1 out of it.”

Mistakes

Eddie Lynam was quick to excuse that: “We all make mistakes. That’s why we have rubbers on top of pencils.”

Rohaan’s run was the performance of the weekend. He did an impression of the old Hamlet horse and gave away almost 15 lengths in a five-furlong sprint, yet was just beaten two lengths.

Moyglare Stud Stakes favourite Cairde Go Deo caused a bit of a pronunciation problem for the British commentators on Racing TV. But at the business end it’s Commonstown again as Discoveries knuckles down for a Group 1 win.

It might be difficult to judge a best mate for the Alpha Lupi as she’s bred an imposing grey filly, a small chesnut and now a fine bay. Who cares – she’s now bred three Group 1 winners.

The Pat Smullen tribute stops everyone in their tracks. Watching back on TV later, the feeling is the same. If we are more prone to tears after a year of isolation, this hit all the soft spots again.

Declan McDonogh is interviewed on TV and with Donagh O’Connor, and they share solos in a recording of Stand By Me performed in WhiteWater Shopping Centre underground car park along with the Newbridge Gospel Choir and a group jockeys in the various colours carried by Smullen, the song is sung over images of Smullen’s biggest successes.

Eibhlín Mulroe of Cancer Trials Ireland is interviewed on RTÉ along with Frances Crowley, paying more tributes to the fundraising that was begun by the former champion jockey.

Legacy

“There’s more to come – it just keeps coming. What’s he’s done is given hope to Irish people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, hope for the future. He’s left a legacy behind like no other and we will never forget him.”

National Hunt stars Hurricane Fly, Hardy Eustace, Douvan and Faugheen were early attractions on Sunday and the the Longines Young Designer Award winner is selected. With Thom Malone on MC duty, the Curragh offered a bit more communication of events through the day, with introductions on the Leger runners in the parade ring.

In the race, for a moment it looks as though Twilight Payment will add an Irish St Leger to his Melbourne Cup but it’s a celebrated win this time for Johnny Murtagh with crowds now roaring Sonnyboyliston home after the silence of Leopardstown last year when the stable landed their first Group 1. Even Ben Coen gets the smile out. “Unreal, a day I’ll never forget.”

The best interview of the day comes later. I caught it on the RacingTV’s Irish racing replay.

It’s always one of the bonuses of the channel that presenters can wait until all the immediate fuss and celebrations are done and then conduct more insightful interviews. Lydia Hislop’s are a must at Cheltenham. Here, Kevin O’Ryan caught up with Johnny Murtagh after all the presentations and congratulation. Over about eight minutes, you got a proper insight into the yard, the appreciation of the team, and how things have evolved to this day.

Overall, even if mostly outdoors, the Curragh felt like a real showcase day’s racing, though Leopardstown’s betting ring probably distributed more of the crowd to spread out their crowd.

The sound system out front of the stand in the Curragh is loud and clear and Snowfall’s Vermeille was shown on the big screen. The social media team deserve a shout too – getting Oisin Murphy to voice over the St Leger is a nice addition in a recap of the day.

1, 2, 2

Paddy Twomey’s record from three runners

2

Group 1 ICW winners for Jessica Harrington

3

Group 1 winners for the mare Alpha Lupi

3

Winners of the National Stakes in four years for Godolphin

4

Winners for Jessica Harrington and Ger Lyons