“IT’S in its infancy yet it’s firmly established,” Robert Hall began the RTE Racing coverage from Leopardstown on the first day of Irish Champions Weekend. “It’s built on each year, has got progressively better.”

Churchill and Winter were the two key horses for the big races. “There’ll be a big question mark against him if he doesn’t win,” Ted feels on the favourite for the Irish Champions Stakes.

As the day goes on, Ryan Moore will be hoping for better luck than he endured in the first four races.

“He was ringing traffic control at Dublin airport but there was no answer,” Brian Gleeson describes Moore’s misfortunes on Sir John Lavery.

The international aspect of the meeting is to the fore and Josh Christian, Director of Racing and Nominations for Breeders Cup, shares his thoughts. He reminds Robert that both are graduates of the Irish National Stud course.

Aidan O’Brien seems happier than punters after 20/1 shot Hydrangea has beaten Winter. “She was the only one who hadn’t won at Group 1, she did all the work for Winter all year.”

Tracy Piggott, whose legendary father Lester is in attendance, meets up with Longines Prize for Elegance winner. “Eva, we’ve met before?” she laughs as we have a familiar winner.

Colin Keane comes to join the team ahead of the big race. After his win on Frankel’s daughter Lightening Quick in the opener, he is asked what he thinks of the Frankels. “We have three or four at home, they are all different.”

Churchill is cut down by another shock winner in 25/1 shot Decorated Knight as Ted has definite questions marks over the favourite “luggin’ in” in the final stages.

Sunday began with Tracy “beyond excitement” as she talks of the National Hunt Parade of Champions and fashion with Kate Harrington. Later on, the excitement didn’t seem to rub offf on Ryan Moore who tried his best to cut the interview short after Order Of St George’s win.

Ted noted from the previous day “how little of the big owners were attending the meeting,” though the big names in Irish racing are here.

Robert interviewed Neil Wilson, CEO of Victoria Racing Club, who enthusiastically related the connections between the Melbourne Cup and Irish racing as Dermot Weld was honoured. Vintage Crop had “changed the landscape of the Cup and the Carnival.”

With 31 international entries this year, it’s shaping up to be a worldwide classic again and Neil hoped for at least two Irish-trained runners.

“We’re in for a cracking day, three Group 1 races, a heck of a Moyglare. Aidan’s got all that talent in there.” Even though Clemmie didn’t run, Aidan still had the first three home.

Ger Lyons pops up to promote the upcoming Legends Day at Punchestown in aid of jockey John Shortt’s family.

There is a nice piece with Kathleen Kennedy on the making of jockeys’ colours. There are 18 designs to choose from and a wide variety of combinations.

Brian Kavanagh reports his satisfaction on the findings “good and bad” in the Deloitte Report on the Economic Impact of Racing published last week.

After Verbal Dexterity gives Jim Bolger another Group 1 win, Ted describes the colt’s trainer as a “one-man band.” With the horse, the sire and jockey all part of the family.

Order Of St George doesn’t let supporters down in the big one and is described as a “right bloody good horse” by Ted.

It was unfortunate for the Curragh coverage that neither of the RTE interview podiums for Robert and Ted, and for Brian and Tom in the betting ring, showed off the big occasion to the best advantage.

At the far end of the parade ring, the absence of a stand is very noticeable, while the camera in the betting ring had an empty track as its backdrop. There was no sense of a betting ring, just a few people passing by in the background.

The TG4 coverage from Listowel later in the week brought far more of the atmosphere from the ring.

The attendance might have been low at the Curagh and it sure looked it from some of the angles shown on television.

A lot of the RTE broadcast lacked energy especially when the ITV Racing team have done such excellent work this year to put fun, colour and enthusiasm into their shows.

Very few activities around the enclosure apart from the parade ring were seen on screen. It did not really make you want to be there.