News

Epic battle in store for Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas. Another showdown between two high class fillies is on the menu for the second day of Tattersalls Guineas Weekend at the Curragh this Sunday after Aidan O’Brien’s English 1,000 Guineas heroine True Love and stable companion Precise both figured among the 12 declared for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas on Friday morning. True Love supplied the Ballydoyle trainer, who has also declared Beautify, with his 49th British Classic success when victorious at Newmarket where a below par Precise was only seventh after starting favourite under Ryan Moore.

Billy Loughnane also bids for his first Irish Classic. Gstaad heads the ten runners declared for Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas with the Newmarket Guineas runner-up a warm favourite to provide Aidan O’Brien with his 13th win in the first Irish classic of the season. His stable companion Neolithic is also declared for the Group 1 contest at 3.40pm that includes three overseas challengers including Alparslan (Karl Burke), who landed the valuable Tattersalls Sales race on his previous visit to the Curragh last September.

The Curragh Racecourse will officially open the 2026 Irish Classics on Saturday, 23rd May and Sunday 24th May with the world renowned Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas, marking the first two of five iconic Irish Classics to be staged at Ireland’s home of flat racing. This year promises an exceptional atmosphere both on and off the track, as The Curragh also unveils its first style competition of the season, “The Ashford Castle Style Icon Award”. Entertainment across the weekend includes the Saturday night Afterparty with The Highstool Prophets.

The Curragh will Race into Easter this Friday with a packed program of eight races featuring the Irish EBF Park Express Stakes.  

Some of the highest rated racehorses in training from across Europe are set to converge on the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, with this year’s entries underlining the race’s reputation as one of the premier middle-distance contests in the world. First entries for the €500,000 contest, which takes place on Sunday 24th May, were published this afternoon. A truly international list of entries was published today including many multiple Group 1 and Classic winners trained in Ireland, Britain, and France. The depth and quality on show reflect the global standing of the Group 1 race, which was rated as the joint 10th best race in the world last year.

The Curragh will launch the new 2026 flat season this Sunday 15th March with a packed programme of eight races, featuring the Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire, as part of their St Patrick’s Festival Race Day. The €100,000 feature has attracted 30 entries following this morning’s entry stage, including Curragh specialist Big Gossey who is set to carry top weight. The Charles O’Brien trained performer will be running at the County Kildare track for the 50th time and has won eight times. Other notable contenders include Norwalk Havoc, Mississippi River, Crypto Force, Highbury See See, 2025 Irish Lincolnshire winer Olandi and Whip Cracker, trained in Britain by Richard Hughes.