Free magazine

THERE will be a free 32-page Cheltenham Festival magazine with The Irish Field next weekend. It contains interviews with some leading personalities, betting recommendations, reports from the preview night circuit, and the latest entries for all 28 races.

Gallop refurbished

WORK has recently been completed on the refurbishment of the Little Curragh, the round all-weather woodchip gallop used by some of Ireland’s top trainers. Additional refurbishments are expected to take place over the next year as part of an overall strategy to continue to improve the overall facilities on the Curragh training grounds.

Gold Cup boost

THE Tattersalls Gold Cup will be worth €300,000 this year. The 10-furlong Group 1 race was worth €250,000 in 2016 when Fascinating Rock beat Found. First run as the Ballymoss Stakes in 1962, the race has been sponsored by Tattersalls since 1985.

Breeder result

RICHARD and Martin O’Keeffe have won the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month award for January. They bred Finian’s Oscar, winner of the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle.

Darley treble

KILDANGAN Stud reports that first-season stallions The Last Lion, Belardo and Buratino have all had their first mares scanned in foal. Gerry Duffy of Kildangan said: “We’re delighted with how they adapted to their new careers. All three are good stallions to cover.”

Harzand off mark

GILLTOWN Stud stallion Harzand has had his first mares scanned in foal, as has Dariyan at stud in France.