THERE were reportedly over 17,000 at Leopardstown for the Saturday of the Dublin Racing Festival and it felt it. The track felt near capacity.

We were told there was over 10,000 at Leopardstown last Saturday but there was nothing of that feel. On a hot, sunny, early autumn Saturday, it just didn’t feel like this was a main must-do event of the year.

Whoever sited the RTÉ TV podium by the far side of the parade ring deserves a pat on the back, the busier stands side backdrop gave a good but slightly deceptive view of a healthy crowd, we all want our best sides on TV!

Still, there was a good vibe out and about. Everyone was catered for, with the rugby on the big screen. There was a good mix of age groups but not so much of the British accents that were prevalent in February.

Nobody who was in atttendance at Leopardstown could have failed to enjoy themselves. It was abnormally sunny and warm, the racing was top class and you could easily move around and get an ice cream, a drink, a bet, whatever you want, with no fuss.

And, as someone who desperately wants to see racing thrive, that is the only complaint you could have – the queues weren’t long enough!

As the winners were ushered into the No 1 spot to the upbeat soundtrack of My Type by Saint Motel, you couldn’t but notice the gaps on the steps around the enclosure – even for the well-backed big race winners Tahiyra and Auguste Rodin. It was the same in the grandstand – a very jolly atmosphere but, oh, so much space.

There’s plenty of room too in the Paddy Power shop, a sure indicator. Out front, there is the obligatory ‘stag’ do with the main man in racing silks. Not sure whose colours he was dressed in but there was a touch of the Ronnie Bartlett’s about them.

It brought thoughts of that other big Festival – nay THE Festival – it came again in spotting Cheltenham’s Ian Renton and Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley in the parade ring.

The first of the big ones comes quickly. Tahiyra was short in the ring but she was a supreme winner on track.

We’ve no bother with a bit of whip waving here and Chris Hayes showed his delight. On TV he exclaimed: “She’s just having fun, she’s having some craic when she hits the front.”

There’s not a lot of her, she’s dwarfed by Katie Walsh on Chacun Pour Soi, Whacker O’Brien could see over her back throwing the winner’s sheet over her. But all that she has, is pretty damn potent.

On the ball

Auguste Rodin did the business in the big one. The RTE TV team were on the ball in the analysis, Kevin Stott gets the finger pointed for not taking closer order earlier. The aerial reviews show how well it worked with the Ballydoyle trio and Stott and Hollie Doyle lying out of their ground.

Leading the winner back in, Pat Keating handed the reins to work rider Rachel Richardson. Stable insight came from Emmet McNamara on TV – she was “dedicated to the horse” from when he was two, “I got jocked off!” he exclaimed.

The future stallion prospects were discussed – Ruby Walsh asking does Auguste need to put another back-to-back big win to cement his stallion career? Yes, was the reply, Jane Mangan commenting: “I could see him retiring off this.”

Aidan and Michael Tabor were more encouraging amid the jokes “What kind of boat did you put him on?” Tabor asks on the colt’s earlier travel travails.

Aidan described his winner as “very brilliant but a little bit peculiar and sensitive. If anything is happening around him, he stays awake all night, he doesn’t sleep.” He sounds like any youngster in his prime!

The Curragh got lucky and unlucky. At noon, the M50 around Dublin went from sunny to flooding in under 10 minutes. We wondered if they might have to call an inspection!

However, on arrival at HQ an hour before the first race we were pleasantly surprised to see some car parks already full and a queue of cars down the M7 waiting to get in.

A pair of four-runner Group 1 contests was disappointing, with two short-priced favourites and a short second favourite.

The monumental showers before racing changed the going and saw the two-year-old must-see City Of Troy absent from the Goffs National Stakes. Faster ground mid-week ruled out Hamish and then Emily Dickinson’s departure from the St Leger left it just four runners and with the post-race fitness concerns over Kyprios borne out, it was highly disappointing. The attendance though was decent, despite the golf and other Sunday attractions.

Bookmakers, trainers and the press can be among the last people to praise a racecourse but the consensus among the members of those professions we spoke to was that the Curragh has continued on its upward curve this year. Maybe it’s the presence of the Kildare FM roadcaster blaring out the GAA scores all day but you always get a local feel when you walk around the Curragh enclosures these days.

Best behaviour

In the parade of retired racehorses Tiger Roll was on his best behaviour – not! The parade ring was full of various ‘camera’ people - no one dared go close behind the dual Grand National winner or beware of a full double blast with his hind legs!

Chris Hayes, man of the moment at Leopardstown, was a mud splattered also ran here after Arnhem, Mashia, Red Viburnum. Such is racing.

After the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Ballydoyle trio Brilliant, Pearls And Rubies and Ylang Ylang brought up the last three places. Aidan O’Brien gathers Seamie Heffernan, Dylan Browne McMonagle and Ryan Moore in a concerned huddle before City Of Troy is taken out.

Before the Goffs National Stakes on TV owner Kia Joorabchian mulled over the weekend so far with Brian Gleeson – not exactly beaming: “Kevin made a couple of mistakes,” he recaps on King Of Steel’s run. “Go and give him the confidence,” says Brian. Emm? Monday’s news was not such a surprise after tbis.

Henry Longfellow proved an able deputy. “That other yoke was shite!” exclaimed a punter beside me. Don’t know if anyone translated the Irish vernacular for Bucanero Fuerte’s owner!

There’s lots of kissing at the Curragh (it’s all consensual!). Annemarie kisses Aidan for his 4,000 winner, Sandra kisses David for his first ‘home’ win, David kisses Eldar Eldarov for giving him that win. Kia was missing for the kissing!

You can’t help noting the comparisons in breeding on this showcase weekend. As Donal Spring expained, Moss Tucker was “bred on a cattle farm in Leitrim”, while Henry Longfellow, “the pedigree of this horse is second to none”, was typical of the Ballydoyle bluebloods. They both went home with Group 1s. The game is good and anyone can reach that top table.

But did the two days hit the heights? The weather played ball and there was a nice feel around the tracks. But the flat star horses just don’t connect with the audience the same way the jumping stars do. Both sides still have dominant trainers and wealthy, often-absent owners so it’s difficult to assess it all.

J.P’s EI-LIM was in the air before Dawn Rising was washed down and many people left before the final handicaps. Is the after race entertainment worth it?

Was it a Weekend or a Festival? Felt more like a weekend, but a pretty pleasing one all the same.