Curragh

Racing will take place in Ireland on Good Friday for the first time in 2026, with the Curragh set to stage a fixture on April 3. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published the new fixture list on Friday with the number of meetings staying the same for the third consecutive year. The Flat season will also see an enhanced programme of Sunday fixtures beginning in May, while there will be seven blank Sundays in total - one more than in 2025. Racing on Good Friday will come from the current allocation...

Ryusei Sakai is savouring a second tilt at the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with last year's third Shin Emperor (Siyouni) featuring among 12 horses standing their ground after Tuesday's confirmation stage. Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, delighted connections in an early workout on Tuesday, with Sakai saying afterwards, "He worked this morning on the Curragh Racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop. He is a more mature and stronger horse...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features an offspring of Gossamer Wings. 1.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the third foal out of the G2 Queen Mary runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), whose second is the current Derby and Irish Derby hero Lambourn by Galileo's Australia. Wayne...

Irish Oaks Weekend kicks off at the Curragh on Saturday where Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk appears to have been handed a straightforward task in the feature contest at 3.40pm. There is an interesting undercard at Irish racing's HQ and here are five things to look out for.  Cult Hero Heads The Weights In The Scurry Big Gossey (Gutaifan) has developed something of a cult following in recent times, which was evidenced by the reception he received when out-battling Camille Pisaaro to land a 10th career success in the Gladness Stakes...

A week after sending out stable star Vera's Secret to win her second Group 3, John Feane, widely regarded as one of the shrewdest handlers in Ireland, is eyeing another major payday in the Scurry Handicap at the Curragh with Greek Flower, a filly the trainer describes as being "seriously well-handicapped." And there would be few more deserving winners on Irish Oaks Weekend. Greek Flower flashed home to fill the runner-up spot in the Rockingham as well as the Scurry last season. Luck was not on her side, either, when...

A rematch between Minnie Hauk (Frankel) and Whirl (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh is unlikely, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was responsible for six of the nine fillies left in the Classic on Tuesday. Just a neck separated the two stablemates when they met in the Oaks at Epsom, with Minnie Hauk edging ahead in the final strides to get the better of the gutsy Whirl, who has since gained a first Group 1 success of her own when seeing off her elders...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Newspaperofrecord. 1.15 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT BENVENUTO CELLINI (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the second foal out of the accomplished Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) after the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Giselle also by Frankel. Not Ryan Moore's choice in this Barronstown...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a Ballydoyle juvenile in what is traditionally an informative maiden. 5.20 The Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT MINERVA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) bids to build on her debut third at Leopardstown earlier this month in the maiden won 12 months ago by stablemate Lake Victoria and...

Friday, Newcastle, post time: 19:05, JENNINGSBET IN DELVES HOPPINGS FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £65,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 42yT Field: Charlotte's Web (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal), Golden Ocean (Ger) (Blue Point {Ire}), Imperial Quarter (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Morrophore (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Tasmania (Ger) (Australia {GB}), Anna Swan (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Diamond Rain beat the solid yardstick Running Lion in Haydock's Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes last month and sets the standard, but Charlotte's Web is a proven all-weather performer and a fresh filly having enjoyed a...

Following Tuesday's confirmation stage, Derby winner Lambourn (Australia) headlines 10 colts who have stood their ground for Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh, which could bring together the first three from Epsom for the first time since Ruler Of The World, Libertarian and Galileo Rock renewed their rivalry in 2013. Lambourn is a red-hot favourite to succeed where Ruler Of The World failed by completing the double for Aidan O'Brien, who could saddle up to five runners in his quest for a remarkable 17th victory in the Dubai Duty Free...

Connections of Derby runner-up Lazy Griff will make a late decision regarding his participation in Sunday's Irish equivalent, with his attempt to go one place better hinging on how much rain falls at the Curragh in the coming days. Trained by Charlie Johnston, 50/1 shot Lazy Griff provided his Middleham Park Racing owners with a huge thrill when finishing second at Epsom, faring best of the rest behind Lambourn (Australia) for the second consecutive start after they also filled the first two places in the previous month's G3 Chester Vase....

The Curragh Racecourse, with their sponsor Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai, will honour the late Kevin Prendergast by running the International Stakes in memory of the legendary trainer. The Group 3 contest takes place this Saturday, the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, and will be titled "The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes in honour of Kevin Prendergast". Prendergast, who died last week at the age of 92, trained on the Curragh for over 60 years, with his big-race victories at the track including consecutive editions...