24th September 2020
13 runners to line up in Curragh feature this Saturday
The Curragh stages their two day Autumn Racing Festival this Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th September and although behind closed doors, owners will be permitted to attend for the first time.
The Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes is the feature race on Saturday with 13 going to post for the one mile contest, the highest number of runners for the race since 1966.
Impressive Curragh Maiden winner High Definition is one of three runners for Aidan O’Brien who has won the race a remarkable 19 times. He will also be represented by Brazil and Sir Lucan. Dermot Weld will attempt to win the race with Wuqood, an eye catching winner of a Maiden at Gowran Park recently. The son of Dubawi carries the colours of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also owned Ahkaam, Weld’s previous winner of the race in 1995.
The Jessica Harrington trained Ace Aussie, Reve De Vol and Ides of August both trained by Ger Lyons, Monaasib trained by Kevin Prendergast, Jack Duggan trained by Jim Bolger and Lifetime Legend trained by Andy Oliver are other notable runners, while Joseph O’Brien is responsible for Snapraeterea and Southern Cape is set to represent his brother Donnacha.
Urban Beat, Forever In Dreams, Downforce and Son Of Rest feature among the 12 runners in the Group 3 Qatar Racing and Equestrian Renaissance Stakes, which also includes Summerghand trained by David O’Meara and the Richard Fahey trained Ventura Rebel, both trained in Britain.
Other races featuring on the eight race programme include the Tipperary Crystal Ladies Trophy with 18 leading lady riders competing in the 12 furlong contest, while 16 to post in the Equisoftlive Maiden, 15 in the Clark Recruitment Nursery, 18 in the IEBF Maiden, 15 in the Foran Equine IEBF Auction Race and 18 in the Manguard Plus Handicap.
Declared runners
https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Microsoft_Word__2020_ONOR265.PDF?id=5&v=20200924102700
Declared runners for Sunday will be published tomorrow at 10am
How to watch the races
Racing TV - Live coverage of all races
ITV3 – live coverage of the Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes
Ground
Following 4mm of rain overnight,
Straight course: good to yielding
Round course: good, good to yielding in places
Forecast: showers, possibility some heavy today, dry thereafter
Track: racing on far side in straight. Stalls in centre for all sprints
