Pyramid Of Piffle

The phrase 'curate's egg' has been employed to describe Champions Weekend II but it's inaccurate since that inference is that it was mostly bad. And that's wrong. In fact there are plenty positives for racing to nourish itself on. The party line certainly appears to be that it was all very Faberge. However there's no getting away from what were basically static attendance figures for the event, something which underlines the scale of the task those in charge of Champions Weekend have in turning it into a sporting institution.

Of course the project is very much focussed internationally, but there is also a domestic element to it, of which skulls through the gates is a very rough but hardly irrelevant gauge.

After the inaugural event, the ambition was that Champions Weekend would very much kick on crowds-wise. Leopardstown targeted a minimum ten per cent increase in attendance: it got a five per cent rise. The Curragh in turn slipped about five per cent to 10,384 which considering the inclement weather was hardly disastrous in itself.

Neither though are they figures indicative of significant forward momentum, and, in terms of the wider Irish sporting consciousness, they certainly don't suggest an event closing in on the status of a racing 'must-see' - in the manner of say Galway, Leopardstown Christmas, or indeed the Curragh Derby - any time soon.

And yes, since it is only in its second year, direct comparisons are unfair. By definition, heritage and tradition take time. There were also extenuating circumstances in terms of uncertainty about weather and consequently runners. But neither is there any point sugar-coating things too much.

Champions Weekend was heavily advertised. There was a stellar line-up of stars, both equine and human. There was another major industry push behind it. In terms of graft, those involved at Leopardstown, the Curragh and Horse Racing Ireland faultlessly put out many various 'bunduin.' And yet in crowd terms it was pretty much as-you-were.

John Magnier emphasised that this is a long-term project which allows Ireland take its place in the flat racing's elite calendar. He also suggested the redevelopment of the Curragh is a potential major plus. Both comments are correct, and come with the international perspective Coolmore is synonymous with.

But in terms of the domestic scene, do roughly similar back-to-back attendance figures indicate that this is the plateau of interest in this country right now for top class flat racing? And if it is, how can that be changed, or can it be changed at all?

Another question being asked on the back of Champions Weekend II is whether or not there's a chance of getting the Flying Five promoted to Group 1 status. A 2015 finish involving the proven top-flight stars Sole Power and Maarek would undoubtedly have graced any Group 1 contest in Europe.

However the 115 handicap average required over three years for races to qualify looks a major stumbling block. Stark figures indicate how elite European racing is focussed on milers and middle-distance performers with a consequent impact on both sprint and stamina contests. When the divide between top handicapper and Group 1 continues to be so blurred, as it can be in sprints especially, it is tough to see the sums adding up in the Flying Five's favour.

In other matters, the question of the usefulness and relevance of jockeys being allowed to appear and give evidence in steward's enquiries has been batted around quite a lot lately and any examination of the transcript from Seamus Heffernan's unsuccessful appeal against a 10-day ban for his ride on In Salutem at the Curragh isn't likely to quell debate on the matter.

Heffernan got done for "dangerous" riding. Under the rule, that meant he failed to ride with sufficient care and competence. In some jurisdictions around the world his penalty would have been weeks instead of days. Nevertheless, the culture in Ireland meant an appeal was almost inevitable despite camera evidence which many would argue left him with little or no wriggle room.

Heffernan's appeal included evidence from Declan McDonogh and Billy Lee as well as the apprentice Tom Madden who ended up badly squeezed on the rail in the race itself in an incident caused by In Salutem and which the stewards on the day decided to view as dangerous.

The patrol film looked clear-cut. Yet the difference of interpretation of what happened at the appeal is such to make one suspect that jockeys and officials were looking at a different dimension, never mind a different race.

Much of it came down to whether or not Madden had a gap to go for up the rail. On film it looks like he had.

But at the appeal Madden said "he was travelling well throughout the race but there was never a gap between An Saighduir and the rails for him to go through." When it was put to him that there was a gap and that he did try to ride into it for three or four strides, "he denied his actions could be described as riding into the gap."

There was a separate offering from Lee about a horse changing legs and rolling onto a rail in a different race while McDonogh attributed "what occurred to an error of judgment by Madden by putting his horse into the gap as there was no room on the inside."

Most dispassionate observers watching the film however might sympathise with Martin Hassett, trainer of the promoted runner up, who told the appeal "he felt Madden was made a scapegoat for what occurred and in his view there was clearly a gap for Madden to go through before it closed."

Professional solidarity is one thing but this looked a prime case of evidence speaking for itself and the yawning chasm between it and what the jockeys contributed wound up filled with what Boris Johnson might describe as an inverted pyramid of piffle. The appeal board certainly thought so and threw out the appeal.

In the overall picture jockeys may argue about their right to defend themselves but rights come with responsibilities and this case was no counter-argument to those who believe rider contributions at enquiries are mostly superfluous exhibitions of self-interest.