The Curragh

Monday's Listed First Flier Stakes at The Curragh was stripped of key interest after the withdrawals of Star Prospect and Maria Quiteria, but still boasted a smart winner in Gary Matthews and Steve Weston's Velozee (Sioux Nation). Happy to wait while Ballydoyle's New Yorker (No Nay Never) pulled away his chance ahead, the Paddy Twomey-trained 4-1 joint-second favourite went by that 4-7 favourite and into the clear approaching the furlong pole for a 3 1/2-length defeat of What A Girl Wants (Persian Force). New Yorker paid for his exertions to...

All the rage for Sunday's six-furlong maiden at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's Great Barrier Reef (No Nay Never) proved the buzz was spot-on with a command performance to become the first two-year-old of the 2026 crop to become a TDN Rising Star, Presented by Hagyard. Always travelling easily tracking the pace under Ryan Moore, the 4-9 favourite loomed on the front end approaching the furlong pole and opened up for a six-length success from the 100-1 outsider Ischgl (Inns Of Court). He is the second colt to sport the title for Coolmore, with...

Saturday, Newbury, post time: 14:00, THE WATERSHIP DOWN STUD TOO DARN HOT GREENHAM STAKES-G3, £100,000, 3yo, c/g, 7fT Field: Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Alparslan (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Aqpan (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Ardisia (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Gonna Fly (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Needle Match (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Title Role (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}). TDN Analysis: Albert Einstein is here to make up the minds of the Coolmore collective as to whether to go the mile in two weeks or back in...

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 the first juvenile runners from Ballydoyle. 1.22 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, 5fT NEW YORKER (No Nay Never) is one of two by the sire from Ballydoyle in the line-up as Aidan O'Brien sends out his first juveniles in 2026. Interestingly, both him and the 1.7million gns Tattersalls...

Trainer Aidan O'Brien is hopeful multiple Group 1 winner Precise (Starspangledbanner) will still make the starting gate for the G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas on May 3. A winner of four of her five starts, she is on the recovery trail after spiking a temperature a few weeks ago. "She's in good form, she had a temperature two or three weeks ago and we had to just back off her and slowly pick her back up," said O'Brien of his 2025 G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Fillies Mile heroine, who...

Testing ground and stern opposition did for Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's Listed Gladness Stakes at The Curragh, with last year's winner Big Gossey (Gutaifan) putting all his considerable experience to full use. Aidan O'Brien seemed to suggest that it will be the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot rather than the 2,000 Guineas for Albert Einstein, who was sixth as the 11-10 favourite. "He's always been a very quick horse who finds it very hard to go slow," he said. "Ryan said his tempo was very strong straightaway and he...

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 likely Derby prospect. 4.50 The Curragh, Mdn, 3yo, 10fT GEORGE STUBBS (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the duo from Ballydoyle and as a half-brother to Galileo's Criterium International hero and Melbourne Cup runner-up Johannes Vermeer and dual Group 1-placed Wembley...

The racing world will have only to wait until Saturday to catch sight of Ballydoyle's spring buzz horse after Aidan O'Brien declared the 2,000 Guineas favourite Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) for The Curragh's Listed Gladness Stakes. Originally slated to head straight to Newmarket, the colt who hogged the headlines after last week's Press Day at Rosegreen will be fine-tuned for the Classic in the seven-furlong contest against older horses. Taking on a field of nine including last year's G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes winner and Prix de la Foret third...

The Curragh's opening six-furlong maiden featured the Group 2-placed Go Just Do It (Kingman), but there was a surprise in store as Ballydoyle's newcomer Trojan Warrior (Wootton Bassett) emerged best. Always travelling strongly for Wayne Lordan, the 13-2 shot looked booked for second as that 6-4 favourite took off in the lead approaching the final furlong but found a surge to overwhelm the Futurity Stakes third late on and win by 1 1/2 lengths. "He's a fine big horse physically, looking at him walking around the ring. The penny has...

Tuesday, Curragh, post time: 15:17, STAFFORDSTOWN STUD STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, f, 8fT Field: Cameo (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Caught U Sleeping (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Ice Dancer (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ifweonlyhavelove (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), La Fogata (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Stars Will Shine (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Thundering On (GB) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Analysis: Without the customary Ballydoyle standout, this is wide-open and could go to one of the unexposed maiden winners. Stars Will Shine impressed at Down Royal and may have more upside than stablemate...

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 daughter of Dubawi. 1.42 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT TOGETHER NOW (Dubawi {Ire}) missed her intended debut at Dundalk last month and re-routes to the track at which her illustrious half-brother City Of Troy made his debut before scaling the heights. Also a half to...

Coming off an authoritative Cork maiden success, Bond Thoroughbred's Black Caviar Gold (Havana Grey) carried that momentum into Sunday's G3 Weld Park Stakes at The Curragh. Sent off the 4-1 joint-second favourite for the seven-furlong feature for two-year-old fillies, the Paddy Twomey-trained grey arrived under Billy Lee to overpower her peers a furlong from home and register a 2 3/4-length success from Pivotal Attack (Pinatubo). "I loved the way she put the race to bed well at Cork the last day and had come forward," Twomey said. "She was very...