IN the case of the Curragh, when it rains, it pours. The track was unfortunate with the weather on Saturday. Rain can ensure an unpleasurable and uncomfortable experience at even some of the best racecourses in the world so, in many ways, it wasn’t too much of a surprise to see critical reports emerging on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, given that Irish racing’s headquarters is currently half a building site.

I wasn’t at the Curragh this weekend so can’t offer an opinion on the facilities but some of the verdicts seemed harsh, not least the opinion of celebrity racing fan Ivan Yates, who said: “This is an embarrassment to Irish racing. It's an utter disgrace. There's absolutely no regard whatsoever for racegoers and punters. I'll never come back to the Curragh.”

It would seem rather foolish to make that sort of call at this stage. Especially as it will be a hugely exciting time for Irish racing when the new stand and facilities at the Curragh are finished.

Let’s hope that the weekend experience does not cause too much detriment to the more casual racegoer because we have, I feel, missed a great opportunity in not moving the classic races to Leopardstown.

Marketeers could have gone into overdrive and attracted many Dubliners to see the creme de la creme of Irish flat racing for the first time.

It would have been a two-year lease of the jewels of the Irish flat racing season, that would have meant a loss of revenue for the Curragh through admission, sponsorship, et cetera, but could have produced extra long-term gain in bringing newfound racing fans to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in two years' time.

You also have the added benefit of having Champions Weekend, so heavily marketed in the last four to five years, at one course, which likely would have been popular with the visiting British racegoers, in allowing them to spend their whole weekend in Dublin.

It’s understood that a few of the major stakeholders in the new Curragh were influential in keeping the flagship races at the track for this season and next. Without doubt, the racetrack itself is the best in Ireland, but temporarily moving to Leopardstown surely is not much of drop down in standard.

France Galop rehomed Longchamp's races while that track's renovation work takes place, allowing Deauville and Chantilly regulars a chance to sample something special. Ascot also let out their races in 2005, leaving York to host the royal meeting, a move that was largely branded a success.

Why couldn’t the Curragh do something similar?

O'BRIEN APPRECIATION

Such is the domination of Aidan O’Brien and his Ballydoyle team that every major success can sometimes feel routine, like it’s a given. Sometimes it even feels cyclical. Churchill and Winter were two more classic winners this weekend, both by Galileo. They’ll both go to Royal Ascot now and they’ll both be odds-on for their respective races and they’ll both probably win again.

Churchill powers to a 2000 Guineas double

In the opening fillies' maiden on Saturday, two full-sisters to Churchill and Winter, Clemmie and Snowflakes, made their debuts. Clemmie performed with real credit in her run to finish third and she could end up the 1000 Guineas horse for next year.

If she doesn’t develop to that standard, another filly will probably emerge. She’ll probably be by Galileo as well. And away we go again.

Routine is one word which could be deployed but some observers have posted a more cynical verdict on O’Brien’s achievements. Overrated, easy-to-do, boring. That is to miss an important point. O’Brien is the central figure of the Coolmore operation for a very simple reason: he is the best in the business.

And what is sometimes overlooked is that O'Brien earned the right to be where he is by showing the early promise as a trainer and horseman, taking the initiative from an early stage and then delivering consistently at the highest level.

Cyclical it might be, but it can only be admired. O’Brien is reaping the rewards of his own previous success. Galileo was the horse he was, under O'Brien's supervision.

This weekend, the 47-year-old took his tally of European classic wins to 70. Just another milestone. Like all the greats in any sport, milestones come regularly. And, as always, O’Brien gave his usual, modest response to the feat, paying to tribute to just about everyone involved with Coolmore barring himself.

Intriguingly, of all people, it was Ryan Moore who gave the most insightful verdict on O’Brien’s achievements during the weekend.

Speaking to a journalist not long after Winter’s 1000 Guineas win, the jockey said: “Aidan is an absolute pleasure for me to work with. These horses, he turns them out magnificently every time, they continually hold their form so well, right through the year, and the way he gets horses back, they recover from their races, they always look so well.

“He’s got a great feel for a horse, he sees things from a different direction. They’re prepared so meticulously. He’s very special.”

BIG WINS ON SATURDAY

It’s a pity the facilities at the Curragh have stolen headlines instead of the racing action which on Saturday was a fantastic watch. You had Churchill strut his stuff, looking like he might be beaten for a couple of strides before powering to the front. There is a bit of Sea The Stars about him.

But aside from the big race, there were huge wins for trainers with not-so-huge profiles.

Creggs Pipes took the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes for Tipperary trainer Andy Slattery. It was about this time last season she won a moderate handicap at the Curragh off a mark of 75.

Raised a further 4lb today, her new rating is 109 which is a real feather in the cap of her trainer. “There is probably nothing for her at Galway now,” Slattery said laughing, before nominating the Duke of Cambridgeshire at Royal Ascot as a possible target.

Earlier Nicole McKenna produced Rattling Jewel to win for a second time since coming under her care. Once of Andrew Balding’s, the son of Royal Applause hasn’t exactly improved in leaps and bounds under McKenna, but has been placed and produced extremely effectively by the Tyrone handler. He loves it at the Curragh where his form now reads 30152401.

The remarkable Gordon Lord Byron earns a 16th win

Then you have Gordon Lord Byron. What can you say about this remarkable horse that hasn’t already been said. Tom Hogan’s charge was beginning to look like time had finally grasped him at the age of nine.

With three Group 1s and 15 wins to his name, Hogan wouldn’t have minded. But in he went again on Saturday in another marquee sprint on the Irish racing calendar, the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes. So it was 16 up for a horse who spent four months sleeping standing up as a two-year-old in order to heal his broken pelvis. The dream now is to get him to 20 wins.