Ruby Walsh: Irish Champions Festival should be highlight of the season but it is faltering

The Irish Champions Festival runs over two days this weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh. 

At a guess, 20,000 should turnout for this weekend's Irish Champions Festival.That would be progress, but that shouldn’t be seen as a victory. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

‘Irish Champions Festival is the showcase of the Irish Flat season.’ That's the opening line on the website to promote the richest weekend the sport on this island has to offer, when two race days in two different counties run off six Group 1 races in a 17-race programme for over €5 million in prize money.

It has all the right races and a mix of handicaps at various distances to spread the love. Big names are plentiful, even if the best jockey in the world, Ryan Moore, is currently sidelined, as is Jim Crowley.