THE 2019 season brought with it the long awaited opening of the redeveloped Curragh and unfortunately, the first half of the season for Irish flat racing’s headquarters was punctuated by discontent, dissatisfaction and disappointment.

This reached its nadir on Irish Derby Weekend when the three day festival was marked by poor attendances, congestion, pressure on facilities and lengthy queues, all of which meant that these issues and not the racing emerged as the main talking point from one of the most important weekends of the season.