30 runners set for Europe’s richest handicap this Sunday
A full field of 30 will line up for the ‘Friends of The Curragh’ Irish Cesarewitch. The race over two miles 170 yards is the richest handicap in Europe with total prize money of €600,000.
The first four placed horses from the race last year will renew rivalry again, including Magellan Strait, who landed the race at odds of 150/1. He is one of seven runners for trainer Joseph O’Brien, who is also responsible for Dawn Rising, Derida, Prairie Dancer, Nurbugring, Comfort Zone and A Piece of Heaven. Other notable runners include Falcon Eight, My Mate Mozzie, Chally Chute, The Eurphrates, Taipan and Plontier and Jesse Evans. British trainers are responsible for four runners with Tashkhan (Brian Ellison), Naqeeb (William Haggas), Divine Comedy (Harry Eustace) and Zoffee (Hugo Palmer).
Barnavara, Fiery Lucy, Heaven’s Gate and the Sir Mark Prescott trained Alla Stella are among the 10 runners in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes, while the Karl Burke trained Spycatcher is the sole British trained contender in the Group 3 SBK Renaissance Stakes, with the home trained team featuring Go Athletico, My Mate Alfie, Ano Syra and Curragh specialist Big Gossey.
There are 14 runners in the Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz IEBF Maiden, 16 in the Lavazza Nursery, 7 in the Bord Na Mona Recycling Race, 23 in the SBK Maiden and 14 in the opening Trailor Stone and Tile IEBF Maiden.
Tomorrow, 14 two-year-olds will line up in the Goffs Million, Europe’s richest race for juveniles, The Montane Developments Beresford Stakes has attracted a small but quality field of five runners. Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be strongly represented with both Trinity College and Lambourn, while the prestigious Group 2 contest also features Hotazhell trained by Jessica Harrington and the Joseph O’Brien trained Tennessee Stud, while Windlord trained by Andrew Balding is the sole British trained contender.
Ground
Straight course – Yielding
Round course – Good to Yielding, yielding in places
Following 13 mmm of rain since yesterday
Forecast
Light showers today. Dry Saturday and unsettled Sunday with possibility of 5 to 10mm
Track
Racing on grandstand side with stalls in centre for sprints
Where to watch
Sat TG4 live coverage of 2.35 and 3.45pm races
Sat ITV live coverage of 2.35pm
Sat and Sun Racing TV and their associates, live coverage all races
Confirmed runners
Times
Gates open 12 noon.
1st race Sat 1.25pm and Sunday 1.30pm
Transport
Complimentary buses from Kildare and Newbridge Towns and Stations