IF this is designed as a colour piece, there were just two prevailing colours merging when crossing the track at the Curragh for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day.

To the left, the track stretches away back up three furlongs to the entrance to the straight. As green and wide and appetising as any thoroughbred racehorse could desire. The best mile and a half of gallop in the world, no argument there.

Then raise your eyes and look around, a grey horizon surrounds, along the top of the green. It’s even gloomier with no stands to break it up. It’s a strange, almost eerie sight. Green for the horses, grey for the humans.

On the TV coverage later, Ted Walsh says we don’t need stands anymore, people just want to watch on big screens. Don’t tell the Japanese, if we get some visitors for Champions Weekend.

Entering the enclosures, there’s a damp drizzle. Heading down to the temporary stand, there’s a covered area alongside the passageway where patrons can stand at tables with drinks. Functional, yes. Classy for the biggest day in Irish flat racing? No.

A few things fit better, some bookies pitches have been moved to what used to be the side of the stand, they are more visible as part of the overall scene but business looks quiet.

GARDEN PLAZA

The Garden Plaza area is full but it looks like those who came early took a seat and are staying put for the day. It’s a covered area which is good in the drizzle but just a bit cramped passing through. It’s disconcerting having to dodge so many people biting into a burger.

The big screen for the Plaza is good, more prominent than before. Beckford’s win brings a few more hollers than usual. A lady punches the air with her left hand, “Yes!”, while balancing three chip containers in her right.

Full marks to the busiest lady on the track – the Curragh’s Kate O’Sullivan. She’s on the go all day, from parade ring to Most Stylish Lady competition, to Grand Hall and pre-parade ring, always on the move.

Queues at the food and drink outlets along the side of the Plaza are not too large. Over on the right the Wine and Champagne Bar is full with bigger queues. Closer to the parade ring, the Legends Restaurant is nicely placed with a good view out on to the enclosure.

The Grand Hall works fine, though it is some way away from the action. Screens high up also show the action from Britain, and the press conference after the Derby.

Again you feel most are seated here for the day. The the “temporary” toilets are a bit of a trek outside, down the stairs and round. Not much room for touching up for any best dressed trying to get a look on the few small mirrors in the ladies.

From the pre-parade ring, into the parade ring, out on to the track, and back to the winners’ enclosure, everything looks the same as always. That’s the big issue again, horses first. O’Brien, Bolger, Prendergast, follow in the placed horses. Though hold on, here’s G Elliott coming back with a group winner at the home flat racing.

FUTURE STALLION

Down in the pre-parade ring before the big race, one horse stands out. If you came to pick your future stallion, Wings Of Eagles is the unanimous choice. Forget that he started 40/1 at Epsom, he’s the Derby winner and looks like one.

Taking a spot at the back of the stand before the off – that’s just about 12 steps up – a group of young lads discuss the big race. “I’d love to see Cracksman win – Frankel’s under so much pressure.”

It’s quite comical given Frankel has what any colt would desire, the pick of the top mares in the world to cover, and he’s under more pressure than he was on the track.

Wings Of Eagles briefly looks like he’s coming with a winning challenge but Capri is too strong. Still, it’s a fine run with a subsequently discovered injury, from the Epsom winner, and a shame we won’t see him again.

Having the winner’s presentation out on the track in these facilities didn’t work. It would have been best with ease of movement around, to have it back in the parade ring.

If we listen to John Gosden, Anthony Oppenheimer would not be here if the race was at Leopardstown or Naas. His horse is beaten and he was asked to show his wristband going up the staircase to the top balcony of the temporary suites.

The argument that Derby needed to be at the Curragh to attract Waldgeist and Cracksman can’t be proven. Leopardstown didn’t do the same connections’ Golden Horn any harm and Gosden’s comments that Leopardstown’s mile and a half wouldn’t work with a bend early in the first furlongs hardly holds sway for a single figure field.

Similarly, we’ve had purely domestic Derbys before and survived. There were 22,311 watching Camelot in the first later evening slot in 2012. And 23,946 were officially in attendance for Australia beating four opponents two years later.

The final attendance figure was 5,412 – take away those directly linked to racing on the day, and perhaps 3,500 turned up? There’s also the issue of the cost of the whole temporary facilities as opposed to moving elsewhere.

Many prominent racing people are now expressing disappointment on the whole “we must race on” saga. What continues to be disappointing is the staunch “tough, it’s for your own good” attitude of the racing powers to the public.

Leaving after the final race, the gentleman walking alongside me summed up the day. “Well, it could have been worse.” But it’s hardly the slogan you want on your Champions Weekend merchandise.