The Curragh set for The Pat Smullen Race Day this Saturday
Curragh specialist Big Gossey is set to carry top weight in the Paddy Power supporting Cancer Trials Ireland, which features as part of the annual Pat Smullen Race Day, the final day in the FBD Hotels and Resorts Saturday Series.
The Charles O’Brien trained performer will look to gain his 7th success at the County Kildare venue. Last years winner Coeur D’Or is also among the entries for the competitive €100,000 contest, while Bright Stripes, Monasterboice, Chicago Fireball, Sea Eagle, I am Superman and Bopedro trained in Britain by David O’Meara are other contenders.
Adelaise, Goldana and Mexicali Rose are part of a strong entry from trainer Joseph O’Brien in the Snow Fairy Stakes. The Group 3 contest has also attracted Tarawa, Lope De Lilas, Sakti and Wingspan.
Treasure Isle is one of 13 entries in the Group 3 Helder Family Stables Round Tower Stakes, which also include Kodilicious, Morning Vietnam, Ides of March and Usdi Atohi.
A strong British trained challenge is set for the Newtownanner Stud Stakes with both the Sir Mark Prescott trained Alla Stella and Toomuchforme trained by Karl Burke among the 16 contenders. Entries for the Group 3 contest also include Ecstatic, Dreamy, Garden of Eden and January all trained by Aidan O’Brien, while Icona, Fiery Lucy, Sigh No More and Girl Like You are among the home trained challenge.
There are 24 entries in the opening Kara Quinn Memorial EBF Maiden, 14 in the FBD Hotels and Resorts Nursery and 28 in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Apprentice Handicap
A total of 20 riders will line up in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race, you will find their bios below. They are all raising funds individually and riding over the famous Irish Derby course of 12 furlongs, in memory of a family member or friend who they lost to cancer or to support anyone currently living with cancer.
The Curragh to Curragh Cycle, in memory of Olive Lynch and supported by Paddy Power will get what promises to be a memorable day underway at 10am – see coasttocurragh.ie
Racegoers will have the opportunity to donate to this cause during the race day and enjoy a great day out for all the family which features live music and free activities in the Moyglare Kids Zone.
Ground
Good both tracks, Monitoring with regards to irrigation
Forecast
Up to 5mm forecast today. Possibility of showers tomorrow and mainly dry and warm thereafter
Track
Racing on Curragh side with stalls in centre
Where to watch
Racing TV broadcasts all races live
Entries – please click
Microsoft Word – 2024_ONOR258 (hri-ras.ie)
Admission
Adult €20 (€15 in advance at curragh.ie)
Under 18s Free
Times
Gates open 12 noon. 1st race 1.45pm
Transport
Free shuttle bus from Kildare and Newbridge Towns and Stations
Participants in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Race supported by the Breeze Up Consigners Association
Cara Archbold
Dunlavin, Co Wicklow
Cara lost both her grandfathers to cancer so is riding in the charity race in their memories. Cara has been riding horses since she was four but only started riding racehorses just over a year ago for Michael O’Callaghan. She has competed in show jumping and dressage for many years and is excited and a little bit nervous to ride in a different discipline.
Richard Brede
Kilcullen, Co Kildare
Richard only started riding lessons in 2021. He graduated from the trainee jockey course at RACE in June 2023. He was on his work placement with Willie McCreery and is now based with Johnny Murtagh and hopes to take out his license in the near future. Richard is really excited to combine his long-time dream to ride on the track while supporting Cancer Trials Ireland and all the important work they do in memory of Pat Smullen.
Triona Burbage
Portarlington, Co Laois
Triona is from the close-knit community of Portarlington where they have lost a lot of friends and neighbours to cancer. She has been involved in all equestrian disciplines from the age of four and has been riding out for Jarlath Fahey since 2012. Triona has previously participated in the Corinthian Challenge in 2019 and the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race last year. She watched Pat Smullen’s Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland in 2019 and was really inspired to ride at the Curragh for this great charity. She is really looking forward to it.
Erin Campbell
Clady, Co Tyrone
Erin rode in pony racing and has always been involved in racing since her teenager years. She worked full-time in racing and now rides out every morning for John O’Donoghue before her day job. Erin has lost close family members to cancer but is dedicating her race to her uncle Eugene who passed away after a lengthy battle. Her uncle Eugene was a huge racing fan and encouraged Erin’s love of horses from an early age. She is looking forward to riding at the Curragh which would have made her uncle very proud and is delighted to raise funds for Cancer Trials Ireland in the process.
Aidan Coonan
Maynooth, Co Kildare
Aidan is riding in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity race in memory of family members and friends he has lost to cancer. Aidan has ridden horses since he was a child and for the last five years, he has been riding racehorses during his holidays and weekends and is now based with Cathy O’Leary. He has always wanted to ride in a race, so he thought this was the perfect opportunity as it’s for such a good cause.
Anna Cropper
Kildare Town, Co Kildare
Anna is originally from Scotland and has been involved in the racing industry since 1997 working as a groom and exercise rider and using her degree to work in animal DNA profiling and clinical diagnostics. Anna is delighted to have the support of John ‘Shark’ Hanlon who she is currently riding out for and has ridden in four charity races at Naas, the Curragh, Leopardstown and Punchestown. Anna is riding in the race in memory of her grandfather who died when she was a child and her friend Clare, who sadly passed away last year. By supporting Cancer Trials Ireland, Anna hopes their research can give hope and a brighter future to anyone going through cancer treatment.
Claire Farrell
Gowran, Co Kilkenny
Claire is participating in the charity race in memory of her grandparents and close family friends whose lives were cut short by cancer. Claire is a radiographer in University Hospital Waterford and sees firsthand the challenges oncology patients face. Claire has been around horses all her life, through the Kilkenny Hunt Pony Club, eventing and re-training racehorses. She has never ridden in a race before but has been riding out for Ray Cody in Owning in Kilkenny and despite the challenge of juggling work and preparing for the race, is truly grateful to support such a meaningful cause.
Ellie Gartlan
Dromin, Co Louth
Ellie lost her Nana on her dad’s ide to cancer a couple of years ago and her Nana on her mum’s side is currently fighting breast cancer. Ellie has been riding out since she was 15 and was based part-time and full-time with trainer John Larkin for six years and is currently working with Gavin Cromwell. Ellie is really looking forward to putting all her riding experience into the charity race, especially for such a worthy cause.
Mark Harley
Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Mark’s dad passed away from pancreatic cancer in June 2022 so is riding the race in his memory and raise money for Cancer Trials Ireland. Mark’s background is in showjumping but his family always kept racehorses and when he was younger he rode out for his cousin. He is looking forward to this new challenge and raising awareness for a great cause.
Shane Harris
Fethard, Co Tipperary
Shane is riding in this race as Cancer Trials Ireland is a charity he wants to support and help raise much needed funds as so many people have been impacted by cancer in some shape or form. He has been riding racehorses for the last eight years with his local pre-trainer PJ Colville and Edward O’Grady has been hugely supportive and is providing Shane with a horse for the race. Shane works full-time, plays polocrosse at a top level and also re-trains ex racehorses for polocrosse, two of which played in an international test match recently. He has always wanted to ride in a race and experience the entire process and hopes to put on a good show.
Jamie Heffernan
Cashel, Co Tipperary
Jamie is a Kilkenny man, living in Rosegreen in Tipperary. He has grown up around horses all his life and for 10 years worked as a work rider in Ballydoyle. He now farms full-time at home and ride out as often as he can with local trainers such as John Grogan. Unfortunately, cancer has affected both friends and family of Jamie’s over the years. His local village, Rosegreen, has seen some very sad losses due to this terrible disease in the past year alone and feels the work that Cancer Trials Ireland do in expanding cancer research in Ireland is very important. Jamie’s dad Seamus rode alongside Pat for many years and in a way the charity race will be a little like history repeating itself with Jamie and Paddy riding in the race together.
Andrew Kinirons
Newbridge, Co Kildare
Andrew had an amateur jockeys licence and rode in Point-to-Points and on the track in Ireland and the UK, eventually hanging up his boots in 2013. He has held a trainers licence for almost four years. Andrew never rode at the Curragh as a jockey, so he is looking forward to ticking the Curragh off his list in memory of his grandparents and friends he has lost to cancer while raising money for a great cause.
Emily MacMahon
Kilmessan, Co Meath
Emily is riding the race in memory of her dad who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2010. Emily has spent most of her career working in the racing industry – either stud farms, racing yards and racecourses and been riding out for her neighbour Ger Lyons in preparation for the race. It has been over 10 years since she last rode in a Point-to-Point and she is enjoying reeling back the years and is looking forward to the challenge.
Aisling McGuinness
Rush, Co Dublin
Aisling lost two uncles to cancer, Laurence in 2021 and her uncle Johnny only this July. Aisling has been riding ponies and horses and showjumping all her life and rides out for her dad, trainer Ado McGuinness. She is looking forward to riding in her first race and supporting this great cause.
Charles O’Neill
Clane, Co Kildare
13 years ago, Charles lost his younger brother David and his dad Charlie to cancer. Despite riding in two Point-to-Points many years ago, Charles hadn’t sat on racehorse in 35 years when he decided to take part the charity race. Charles has been riding out with trainers Martin Brassil, Shane Nolan, Ross O’Sullivan, Johnny Murtagh and Jessica Harrington since the start of the year in preparation for the race and has lost nearly 20kg in the process. He is excited for the challenge and raising awareness and funds for Cancer Trials Ireland.
Eva O’Neill
Naas, Co Kildare
Eva is riding in the charity race in memory of her aunt who she recently lost to cancer and for all those who might benefit from cancer trails in the future. Eva is going into 6th year this September and has been riding ponies and horses all her life through the Kildare Hunt Pony club and eventing with ponies and juniors. She started riding out for Patrick Prendergast on the Curragh during her transition year and has enjoyed learning and working with racehorses ever since then. Eva is very excited to ride in her first race for such a worthy cause.
Steph Searle
Duninga, Goresbridge, Kilkenny
Steph has worked in racing since she was 14 and among her many jobs, she currently rides out for Willie Mullins, is Travelling Head Girl for Tom Mullins and works at Tramore Racecourse. Unfortunately, Steph lost her mum to throat cancer in 2013 so is riding in the charity race in her memory. She has been lucky enough to have led-up Pat Smullen on plenty of winners over the years so is honoured to ride in a race in Pat’s memory and help support his legacy to raise money for Cancer Trials Ireland.
Paddy Smullen
Rhode, Co Offaly
Paddy lost his dad to pancreatic cancer in 2020 and is keen to raise money to help prevent the suffering so many people have had to endure. It’s very special for Paddy to ride in the charity race his dad started in 2019. He has ridden horses all his life, firstly on ponies and continues to take part in eventing. Paddy started riding racehorses in Conor Hoban’s pre-training yard a few years ago and now is enjoying riding out in Gordon Elliott’s and Dermot Weld’s. He is looking forward to having his first spin in the charity race and hopes to continue riding as an amateur jockey in the future.
Derek Stamp
Rosslare Strand, Co Wexford
Derek rode ponies from a young age and completed the trainee jockey course at RACE in 1996. He rode four winners on the track before hanging up his boots in 2008. Since then, Derek has been working in Ballydoyle for the last 14 years, He is riding in the charity race for Cancer Trials Ireland after making a promise to Pat Smullen to raise funds for cancer research. Derek is really looking forward to putting the race riding gear on and riding on the track again for a cause close to his heart.
Joan Widger
Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Joan is really looking forward to riding in the Pat Smullen charity race for Cancer Trials Ireland. It is her first time to ride in a charity race and is honoured to do so for such a great cause. Joan is dedicating her race to her dad who passed away from cancer in 2014 and her sister who had her own battle with cancer and rode in this race last year. She has been riding from an early age through pony club, eventing and show jumping. In preparation for the race, Joan is riding out for Miguel Gunn and John ‘Shark’ Hanlon. She is up for the challenge and looking forward to a wonderful day.