ATTENDANCES at the Curragh so far this year have been on the rise and the Curragh management team continues to make changes and improvements for racegoers ahead of next weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival.

The big change this year is moving the Derby from Saturday to Sunday. Curragh CEO Brian Kavanagh explained: “We felt that the third day of the meeting was a bit of an anti-climax, once the Derby had been run on the Saturday. We wanted to build up to our big race on the final day.

“Fairyhouse made a similar switch, moving their Easter Tuesday meeting to Easter Saturday, so that the Irish Grand National was on the final day.”

Another significant factor in that decision was the ability to offer World Pool betting on the Irish Derby day card. “We couldn’t have done that if the Derby was on Saturday, as Sha Tin race on that day,” Kavanagh said.

Run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in association with the British and Irish Tote, World Pool will see millions more bet into the Tote pools on all races on Derby day. This could present the home punters with some unexpected value, especially on exotic bets such as the Swinger, where punters have to select any two horses to finish in the first three.

Around the enclosures, racegoers will also notice some upgrades next weekend. Kavanagh explained: “We’ve made a big investment in extra facilities. There’s a new Festival Quarter near the parade ring/pre-parade ring area which is open to the public and has new bar and food offerings.”

There are new screens and food outlets near the betting ring and “something interesting” in the Orby Café, which is located just inside the main entrance which has us intrigued. We hear there are plans to open the Orby Café on non-racedays soon, so it’s worth checking out.

The winner’s enclosure has also moved since last year. “Winners used to return to the top of the parade ring but the feedback from racegoers and from winning connections was that it was too far away from the people and lacked atmosphere.

“So now the winner returns to an area in front of the presentation podium, right beside the betting ring, and you could see at the Guineas Festival that this created some good photo opportunities when Tahiyra and Paddington were coming back in to a great reception.”

But there is one reason above all others why people should come to the Curragh next weekend, Kavanagh says. “The racing will be top-class. We have lifted prize money through the weekend, and I know a lot of owners and trainers have deliberately targeted this meeting. Every race on Derby day is worth a minimum of €100,000.”

The Friday of Irish Derby weekend has traditionally been a meeting for the locals and all the races are being supported by Kildare companies, bars and hostelries. “We’re hoping for a big local turnout and we have [tribute act] Qween playing after racing, which was a big hit at the Guineas.”

There’s live music after racing on all three days of what promises to be another memorable Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend.