St Nicholas Abbey, runner up to Cirrus Des Aigles at Meydan last month on his seasonal debut, is one of four horses left in the race by trainer Aidan O’Brien, who also has Memphis Tennessee, Robin Hood and Windsor Palace.

O’Brien is also well represented in the Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes and can choose between Empowering, After, Ahimsa, Ishvana, Soon and Up. Alanza, Fire Lily and Princess Sinead are three other interesting home-trained challengers for the Group Three prize, while Mick Channon has left both Lady Gorgeous and Tinzapees in the seven furlong contest.

Lady Gorgeous also features among the 16 horse remaining in the Listed Dylan Thomas EBF Tetrarch Stakes as is her stable companion Tidentime, while the Mark Johnson-trained Bannock is the other overseas challenger. Once again Aidan O’Brien is well represented with no fewer than seven (After, Ahimsa, Ishvana, Soon, Triumphant, Vault and Wonderful) entries, while the promising Takar is likely to take his chance for Curragh-based trainer John Oxx.

Racing opens at 2.20pm with the Alfred Nobel EBF Maiden for which there are 12 entries. Five of those have already tasted racecourse action, including Canary Row which ran the highly regarded Dawn Approach to one and three quarter lengths in the opening juvenile contest of the season at this venue last month. The Newbridge Credit Union Handicap and the Keadeen Hotel Wedding Specialists Handicap are both wide open contests, while National Hunt fans are catered for with concluding The Irish Field INH Flat Race.

The Curragh have reduced the adult admission price to €10, under 25s and seniors are only €5 while Under 16s accompanied by an adult are free. A family package is only €15.

In addition to 8 exciting races on the track, an impressive variety of free entertainment is planned to take place throughout the day with a major family theme including a magnificent display by the Defence Forces, live music, the Horse Racing Ireland Front Runner Racing Club and the chance to ride the Horse Racing simulator

364 5th and 6th class pupils from local schools took part in demonstrations from RACE (Racing Academy & Centre of Education) and farrier, Donal Bennett. They heard talks from jockeys Gary Carroll and Shane Foley and local trainers Paul Deegan and Willie McCreery. The pupils also met Racecourse Manager, Paul Hensey who explained how the team at The Curragh Racecourse prepares for a race day.

The objective of the ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ initiative is to build ties between the racecourses and their local community, encouraging an affinity with racing which will hopefully produce future race-goers. The activities educate school children about racing and show them what happens behind the scenes on the racecourse.

All the children received a ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ goodie bag at the end of the day and were invited to attend the Newbridge Community Race Day. There was also a competition element built into the day. Following their day at the track, the children were asked to write an essay about their morning at the Curragh with the winning essay to be announced at the races on Monday 7th May. The winner of the essay competition will receive a new laptop kindly sponsored by the Newbridge Credit Union.

Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager, The Curragh Racecourse, commented: “We were delighted to welcome so many children from local schools to the racecourse which gave us the opportunity to not only give children a behind the scene view of what takes place on a race day and the importance of the sport to Kildare, but also promote our Newbridge Community Race Day taking place on bank holiday Monday 7th May

Nephrite may have been sent off the odds-on favourite for the Listed Anne Brewster Memorial Loughbrown Stakes but it was stablemate Requisition who landed the spoils under Seamus Heffernan. The 7-2 shot made every yard of the running and held on comfortably from Coolnagree with Nephrite back in third.

O’Brien’s afternoon got off to the best possible start as 1-3 favourite Infanta Branca made every yard of the running under Joseph O’Brien to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden by half-a-length.

DAVID WACHMAN continued his superb start to the Flat season at the Curragh on Sunday by sending out Chrysanthemum to win the Listed Run Kildare 13th May Alleged Stakes. The 5-4 favourite, running in the colours of Michael Tabor, made every yard of the running under Wayne Lordan to beat Vivacious Vivienne by one-and-a-half lengths. The winning Cashel trainer revealed afterwards that Chrysanthemum may now go for the Victor McCalmont Stakes at Gowran Park on May 6.

Golden-based Tommy Stack was also among the winners at the Curragh courtesy of Cnocan Diva who justified 7-2 favouritism in the Irish Field Handicap under Shane Gray. Running in the colours of Newtown Anner Stud Farm, Cnocan Diva had to survive a steward’s enquiry after beating Susiescot by a head but the placings were left unaltered and favourite backers collected.

Contact us: email. goracing@naasracecourse.com
• Phone: 045 897391

Winner of last season’s German 2000 Guineas, Excelebration was also successful in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury where he earned rave reviews for his complete demolition of his rivals. He is reported to be in good shape ahead of Sunday’s race when he will face a maximum of eight rivals including stable companions Empowering and Windsor Palace. There are also two likely overseas challengers here in the David Nicholls-trained Beacon Lodge and Charlie Hills’s Red Jazz.

Aidan O’Brien is also well represented in the Listed Anne Brewster Memorial Loughbrown Stakes and is responsible for five of the 13 remaining in the seven furlong contest. Nephrite, unbeaten in his two races as a juvenile, appears to be best of the Ballydoyle quintet, while David Wachman’s Experience and the Jim Bolger-trained Caonach are two other horses to look out for.

Chrysanthemum created a very favourable impression when landing a Group 3 contest at this venue last month on her seasonal debut and the David Wachman-trained filly bids for a quick follow up in the Listed Run Kildare13th May Alleged Stakes. She is one of 11 horses remaining in the 10 furlong contest which has also attracted Midnight Soprano and the Dermot Weld-trained pair of Unaccompanied and Zaminast.

Infanta Branca produced a fine debut effort when taking second place behind Liberating in a Cork maiden recently and the Aidan O’Brien-trained juvenile will be fancied to go one better in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. There are also a couple of decent handicaps on Sunday’s programme, in particular the Irish Field Handicap which has attracted an entry of 25 horses.

The first of eight races at the Curragh on Sunday commences at 2.20pm and the ground is currently Good.

The 4yo daughter of Danehill Dancer won her only two starts as a 2yo but failed to score last season finishing seventh in 1000 Guineas over the course and distance before running well when stepped up to 1m 2f to finish third in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

She rounded off last season with a disappointing effort in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes finishing a well beaten seventh behind Manieree last September.

Having opened at 10/1 on course today she was well supported and returned at 8/1.
The winner tracked the leaders early on under a keen hold but when ridden a furlong from home she responded and stayed on best from there to score by a length and a half at the line.

The 7/4 favourite Twirl under Ryan Moore for Aidan O’Brien had her chance but just couldn’t chase down the winner and had to settle for second while the 7/1 shot Princess Sinead finished a further length and a quarter back in third under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington.

Winning trainer David Wachman said afterwards: “She likes an ease and never really got her ground last year. She was third in a Group 1 and so she was entitled to win this today.

“She will go for any of those Group races now as long as the ground is not too firm. The blinkers helped her today.”

Aidan O’Brien trainer of the runner-up Twirl said afterwards: “She ran a lovely race and we are delighted with her.”

On just his third career start the John Oxx trained Sharestan took the Irish Lincolnshire in convincing fashion under Johnny Murtagh at the odds of 3/1 favourite.

Having won on his debut over the course and distance last June the 4yo colt then finished a slightly disappointing third when sent off the 5/4 favourite in a race over 1m 2f behind Flowers Of Spring and Steps to Freedom at Fairyhouse last July.

The winning bay son of Shamardal chased the leaders early on but made nice progress into second over a furlong from home. He hit the front inside the final furlong and stayed on well from there to score by two and three parts of a length.

The big gamble of the race Ansaab, who was backed from 14/1 into 7/1, got each-way money for his supporters as he finished second under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast.

The Tommy Stack trained Sikara under Shane Gray finished a further neck back in third at 6/1 while Stack also trained the fourth placed horse who was Parkers Mill at 12/1 under treble seeking jockey Wayne Lordan.

Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: “He will be stepped up to Listed class next and will go for the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in three weeks’ time.

“He is still inexperience and a bit green. It’s hard to know his best trip until he sharpens up.

“He goes on soft ground but it remains to be seen whether he goes on better ground. He has a bit of talent and hopefully we will see it this season.”

When asked whether he had won the Lincolnshire before Oxx added: “I have rarely had a 4yo to run in and it is my first win. It’s hard to win it with just two runs to your name.”

Coolnagree continued where she left off last season as she took the Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap for her trainer Willie McCreery with Wayne Lordan (completing a quick double after winning aboard Chrysanthemum) in the saddle.

Having won on her first start for McCreery (trained by Denis Cullen previous to that) at Leopardstown in October of last year she was then just denied on her next start again at Leopardstown going down by a neck to Backbench Blues.

Having her first start since that defeat at Leopardstown, she tracked the leaders in fourth early on before improving from two furlongs out.

She came with her challenge under a furlong from home and soon hit the front staying on well under pressure to score by a length from the Aidan O’Brien trained, Joseph O’Brien ridden Ishvana back in second at 5/1.

The 2/1 favourite Swerve for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen could offer no more when headed by the winner a furlong from home and had to settle for third at the finish.

The winner didn’t go unsupported as she was backed on track from her opening show of 4/1 into 7/2 second favourite at the off.

Winning trainer Willie McCreery said afterwards: “I’m delighted with that. She won off a mark of 80 last year and she coming here with a similar mark today.

“We will see what the handicapper does with her now. The ground is tacky but they all

Travel within Kildare for only €2 (single).

Click on the link below for more information

http://dublincoach.ie/curragh-racecourse

Ballylinch Stud Farm and Racing in Gowran Park

Members Only

Date: Thursday 12th April 2012

Cost: €25pp (must be paid on booking)

Please book and pay before Thursday 29th of March 2012

Includes: Return transfer from and to The Curragh Racecourse. Tour of Ballylinch Stud Farm. Racing in Gowran Park (evening meeting) admission, race card, refreshments.

To book contact: Yvonne Coyle 045 441205 or racing@curragh.ie or complete and return the section below to The Curragh Racecourse, The Curragh, Co. Kildare

Places are limited

Monday 7th of May – Free Upgrade to Premier Level @ The Curragh

Sunday 10th of June – Bring a Guest for Free @ The Curragh

Saturday 21st of July – Free Upgrade to Premier Level @ The Curragh

Sunday 12th of August – Bring a Guest for Free @ The Curragh

Saturday 25th of August – Free Race Card @ The Curragh

Sunday 30th of September – Bring a Guest for Free @ The Curragh

Please visit our stand at Naas Racecourse on Sunday the 26th of February.

Membership Cost:
Adult: €299pp
*Senior Citizen / Under 25: €199pp
*Proof of eligibility is required
Go Racing in Kildare membership can be purchased on line or from any of the three racecourses:

Naas: 045 897391

The Curragh: 045 441205

Punchestown: 045 897704

Email: info@goracinginkildare.ie