Strong entries for William Hill Autumn Festival
Entries for the William Hill Autumn Festival taking place at the Curragh this weekend was published earlier today with the prospect of high quality competitive racing throughout the two day fixture.
First run in 1857, Saturday’s featured Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes has an impressive roll of honour of previous winners including Sea The Stars, Saxon Warrior, St Nicholas Abbey, Azamour, Sadler’s Wells and the legendary Nijinsky in 1969. Trainer Aidan O’Brien will look to saddle his 21st winner of the Group 2 contest and currently have five contenders including Luxembourg, Scriptwriter, Stone Age and Howth. His son Donnacha is set to be represented by Killarney Maiden winner Piz Badile, while Joseph O’Brien has three contenders including Galway maiden winner Swan Bay. Other entries include the Jim Bolger trained Manu Et Corde, John The Baptist trained by Fozzy Stack, I am Magic trained by Michael O’Callaghan, Tuwaiq trained by Ger Lyons, the Jessica Harrington trained Confident Star and the Johnny Murtagh trained Chicago Soldier who will carry the colours of Tony Smurfit.
British based trainers are set to mount a strong challenge in the William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes with Art Power and Glen Shiel among the 16 entries. Home trained contenders for the Group 3 sprint include Measure of Magic, Speak in Colours, Teresa Mendoza and Twilight Spinner
There are 21 entries in the William Hill Ireland Lengthen Your Odds Maiden, 19 in the GAIN The Advantage Series Nursery, 29 in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap, 38 in the Bord Na Mona Recycling Apprentice Handicap, 26 in the Irish EBF Maiden over 1 mile and 14 in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Race.
Sunday’s featured Raa Atoll Loughbrown Stakes has attracted 21 entries. These include Search For A Song, Falcon Eight, Stratum and recent English St Leger third The Mediterranean. Aircraft Carrier and Seattle Sound are set to represent the race sponsor Luke Comer
There are 22 entries in the Weld Park Stakes with notable entries including Concert Hall, History, Juncture, Sunset Shiraz, Tenebrism, Hello You, Lovely Mana and Albula, while trained Dermot Weld has entered Homeless Songs and Eriskay in the Group 3 contest.
The Highway Rat, Strong Johnson and Master Matt are among the 26 entries in the valuable William Hill Ireland Joe McGrath Handicap, while there are 40 entries in the Tesoro Vita Ladies Trophy open to both amateur and female riders with sponsor TRI Equestrian presenting a voucher for €1,000 to the winning jockey.
There are 18 entries in the William Hill Ireland Nursery, 37 in the William Hill Double Odds Maiden, 27 in the William Hill Play Responsibly IEBF Maiden and 19 in the opening William Hill Acca IEBF Maiden for two year olds
Ground
Straight – Good
Round – Good, Good to Firm in places
Monitoring situation with regards to watering
Track
Racing on Stand Side in straight with stalls in centre for all sprints
Entries
Saturday: Click here
Sunday: Click here
Betting
Rennaisance Stakes antepost prices - Click here
Declared runners
For Sat on Thursday at 10am
For Sun on Friday at 10am
Forecast
Main dry with chance of showers on Wednesday
Where to watch
Racing TV – all races
TG4 live coverage of Beresford Stakes and Renaissance Stakes
Tickets
Admission tickets are on sale at €15 to include a complimentary racecard by going to www.curragh.ie
Under 18s free accompanied by an adult
