Saturday Derby just the job
The fact last Saturday's race attracted almost 23,500 was impressive enough and there seems no good reason to change what is essentially, in the context of falling attendances, a winning formula.
Saturday evening was initially mooted - last year was the first try - to avoid clashing with major GAA fixtures and that paid dividends last weekend.
Certainly, swerving the clash of Dublin and Kildare on Sunday in Croke Park was a no-brainer.
The fantastic weather on Saturday was, obviously, a massive plus, but the Derby atmosphere was particularly good and, quite frankly, there wasn't much to be moaning about.
The victory of Jim Bolger's Trading Leather was a bonus as well.
Bolger, like a good wine, gets better with age and a change was badly needed, after Aidan O'Brien had won the previous seven runnings of the race.
There have been plenty this week questioning as to how good a Derby this really was and that's understandable.
The doubts are raised by the proximity of the fourth horse, Cap O'Rushes, who was supplemented into the contest to make the running for fellow Godolphin challenger, Libertarian.
Cap O'Rushes went into the race rated 23lbs behind Ruler Of The World and 18lbs and 20lbs inferior to Trading Leather and runner-up, Galileo Rock, respectively.
As it turned out he had to be content with taking second spot for much of the journey anyway, with the 100-1 outsider, Ralston Road, determined to blaze the trail.
We won't know the value of this Derby until horses begin to emerge from it to run again, but what we do know is that the time was very fast.
It would be silly to underestimate Trading Leather. When he won a Listed race, his prep for the Derby, over ten furlongs at the Curragh, it took a long time for Kevin Manning to pull him up.
What was so good about him on Saturday was the way he kept finding in the straight, when Galileo Rock threatened to close him down.
Look at the race again and it is quite clear that he is powering away through the final hundred yards.
And Trading Leather didn't exactly pull up quickly when going by the line either.
Galileo Rock was the only one to strike a blow for the Epsom Derby form, which is increasingly becoming a highly suspect race.
Most observers felt that the lack of pace at Epsom didn't suit Ruler Of The World and it was to his credit he was able to overcome the perceived drawback.
But it may well be the way that Derby developed was right into his barrow and, perhaps, Libertarian's too.
They both ran shockers at the Curragh and connections face an uphill task redeeming their reputations.
It was interesting that Ted Walsh, on RTÉ, was less than enthusiastic about Ruler Of The World, after looking at him in the parade ring.
Walsh, apparently, wasn't mad about his appearance and said if he was going to have a hundred euro on the horse would stick it back in his pocket instead.
Indeed, a pal of mine, who was about to invest several thousand on Ruler Of The World, heard what Walsh said and decided to refrain.
Bolger was in good form at the post-race press briefing and training the winner of the Irish Derby, in the colours of his wife, Jackie, seemed to give him more satisfaction than any of his other considerable achievements.
He was seriously relaxed and chatted easily with anyone who wanted to chat. His demeanour reminded me of something Graham Henry offered after he had coached New Zealand to rugby World Cup glory.
Henry said what it meant to him was "inner peace for the rest of his life'', or words to that effect.
Bolger struck one as being in that zone. He even asked me how they all were in Cork?
Another punting pal of mine rang on Sunday morning and told me he had great word of Michael Halford's Dabadiyan at the Curragh in the afternoon and I should have my few quid on.
Dabadiyan was running in a mile-and-a-half 12-runner fiercely competitive handicap and didn't have the form in the book to win it.
He had previously taken a maiden at the Curragh, admittedly in a canter, and gone up 12lbs for his troubles.
The horse he beat in the maiden by four and three quarter lengths, Aidan O'Brien's Waver, went to Tipperary subsequently and finished a poor fourth behind Zarkiyr.
The third, Alkali, has yet to reappear, but the fourth, R U Serious, also went to Tipperary and was seventh of seven to Majestic Jasmine.
Dabadiyan's form was basically worthless, so resolved not to get involved and sat back and waited for him to implode in the straight, even though he was major order in the market, going off the 5-2 favourite.
Dabadiyan, of course, hardly broke sweat and scored with any amount in hand.
There is surely no greater idiot than the smart arse!
