Dick Whittington set for Curragh this Sunday
ANOTHER fantastic weekend of racing at the Curragh commences this Saturday 10th September when the Group One The Irish Field St Leger and Goffs National Stakes feature on an eight race programme.
Fame And Glory will be all the rage for the Group One The Irish Field St Leger and has been installed as the 5/4 favourite by bookmakers Paddy Power. Aidan O’Brien’s colt, winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby here two years ago and successful in this season’s Ascot Gold Cup, suffered a shock defeat when going under by a neck to Fictional Account in the Irish Field St Leger Trial Stakes last month. The latter has been supplemented to Saturday’s race and can be backed at 12/1 with the same firm to confirm form with Fame And Glory. There are 13 entries in total for the final Classic of the season and eight of them hail from Britain. Included among them are Paddy Powers 9/2 second favourite Jukebox Jury, the Godolphin owned Opinion Poll, Duncan and Red Cadeaux .
Aidan O’Brien has landed the Goffs National Stakes on seven occasions in the past and the Ballydoyle-based trainer is responsible for no less than 10 of the 18 entries for Saturday’s race, including Power. Dragon Pulse, which has been supplemented to the race along with the Jeremy Noseda-trained Talwar (sole British challenger), created a very favourable impression when landing the Group Two Galileo Futurity Stakes at this venue last month and Jessica Harrington’s colt is well worth his place in the line-up as she bids to train her second successive victory in the race.
The Listed The Irish Field Blenheim Stakes has attracted an entry of 18, while the ultra competitive Irish Stallion Farms EBF September Premier Handicap will have a maximum of 24 runners. With 49 entries, the Curragh Amateur Derby (QR) Handicap is likely to produce the biggest field of the day.
To coincide with the final Irish Classic Race Day of the year there will be a major Australian theme to promote The Irish Field St Leger as Europe’s premier trial race for the Emirates Melbourne Cup. The iconic Melbourne Cup will be brought over from Australia to be displayed on the day, while Vintage Crop and Bruce Davis, Australian Ambassador to Ireland, will be guests of honour, a special Australian wine promotion featuring the world famous Wakefield Wines will take place, while there will be free entry for Australian citizens. An exclusive preview of the movie The Cup, staring Brendan Gleeson as Dermot Weld and directed by the world renowned Simon Wincer, will be shown on screens during the afternoon telling the story of the 2002 Melbourne Cup won by Media Puzzle. Members of the Irish Australian Rules football team who recently won the World Aussi Rules Championship will be in attendance.
Irish tennis star Conor Niland will be one of the judges for the Bollinger Best Hat competition in association with the Heritage Golf & Spa Resort.
Admission Sat: €20 Under 25s and Seniors €10; Family Package €35, Punters Package €25. Children free. Dining packages to include admission are from €45 per person
Paddy Power, official betting partner of the Curragh Racecourse: 5-4 Fame and Glory, 9-2 Jukebox Jury, 5 Opinion Poll, 7 Duncan, 12 Fictional Account, 14 Red Cadeaux, Sense of Purpose, 16 Blue Bajan, Meeznah, Times Up, 33 Apache, Ted Spread, 66 Waydownsouth
Related posts