On-course layers vote for Curragh over Leopardstown at Irish Champions Festival but figures improve all around

Bookmakers have praised the Curragh's efforts to rejuvenate the atmosphere at the revamped track and said it outshone Leopardstown over the two days of the Irish Champions Festival despite the official crowd being 1,286 less on the Sunday.

Brian Keenan branded Irish Champion Stakes day "brutal and boring" at Leopardstown, while Ray Mulvaney, chairman of the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association, said he thought turnover was better at the south Dublin venue but praised the Curragh for making the day as enjoyable as possible for racegoers.

Irish racing's headquarters has come in for a lot of criticism following a €81 million redevelopment, not least because of the placement of the betting ring away from the grandstand.