LEOPARDSTOWN had never felt so full as that first Irish Champions Weekend Saturday back in 2014.

The buzz from the crowd hummed out across the racecourse.

Leopardstown never felt so silent on a big day as it did for ICW 2020. Before the Matron Stakes, Albigna’s lass is chatting to her as she passes by in the parade ring leading her around. It’s virtually the only sound.

It’s important to get as much media coverage as possible in these dark sporting days and the media room, now well-spaced out in the 1888 Restaurant has a few more than the normal crew operating.

Where often we are competing for quotes, now it’s all share and share alike. Modern communications come into their own in a land of social distance. David Jennings gets the after-race quotes, audio clips sent to all the correspondents via a WhatsApp group and off they go to the Irish press, the UK and France.

You are momentarily confused when one comes titled ‘Aidan on Monday’. But this is Saturday? What did he say today? Concentrate – Monday is the horse!

Leopardstown’s new buildings and presentation area look great. Down along the parade ring, there seems to be even fewer trainers now coming to the races.

On the RTE coverage, Ruby Walsh and Jane Mangan go down into the stable yard to see some of the preparations and it’s much busier that out front.

The big races bring thrilling finishes, finishes to get the crowds roaring.

Johnny Murtagh’s first Group 1 winner, a full Irish with Colin Keane at the helm.

The video clip of Johnny and Orla, on their own in the stand roaring Champers Elysees home when they should have surrounded by well wishers is the symbol of the summer.

The Irish Champions Stakes is still the sporting event of the day. In the pre-parade ring Japan doesn’t look a particularly happy horse, ears flat as he walks around – maybe he’s remembering those sore feet from his last racecourse appearance. Sottsass is the best turned out.

Ghaiyyath doesn’t do pre-parade rings and is quickly led already saddled to the parade ring, striding tall in his red hood. He does a few laps solitary and the few onlookers get a look at the best horse in the world.

Noel Meade thinks he’s a bit disappointing to be honest, “he looked bigger on TV. Handsome is as handsome does!”Christy Grassick smiles back behind the mask – we still have to beat him, does Christy know what is coming?

There was a bit of debate on tactics among the media – how to beat Ghaiyyath.

On RTE Ruby is forthright “Someone has to go at him, you can’t keep doing the same thing. I think Magical will go with him and may the best one win.”

And so she did. Aidan O’Brien had told us in the pre ICW press calls.

“We keep kind of tweaking things as we go along – to try and get another little bit more out of her. I think everyone hasn’t really seen very best yet.

“Leopardstown is a very straightforward track to ride, you need to be able to go forward you need tactically speed, need to be able to turn and you need to be able to quicken. “

There you have it – we had the game plan told to us and didn’t realise it the previous week. She too deserved an audience.

Pat Keating was caught on camera doing a celebratory war dance on his own as she overhauled Ghaiyyath.

And that was that – Magical and her lad had the whole empty parade ring to herself just five minutes after she had returned in victory. Only the headline writers were still at work.