Racing 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.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Lambourn and Minnie Hauk, winner of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks are set to return to the Curragh this Bank Holiday Monday. Both Classic winners are entered for the Clem Murphy Memorial Mooresbridge Stakes, with the Group 2 contest also attracting Group 1 winner Cercene, together with Beset, Adelaide River and Faiyum. Details were published following today’s entry stage.

The €100,000 Irish EBF Park Express Stakes is the feature of the first race day to take place in Ireland on Good Friday. The competitive 8-race programme features €420,000 in total prize money and has attracted a total of 103 runners. The Ger Lyons-trained Faiyum is one of ten runners in the Group 3 contest, and this lightly raced daughter of Frankel will face tough competition from Princess Child, California Dreamer, Catalina Delcarpio, Celestial Orbit, Bubble Gum, Cameo, Spicy Margarita, She’s A Nation and Moments of Joy.

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