THE flat turf season in Ireland starts quietly, coming so soon after Cheltenham, but try to tell that to some of the smaller yards that got among the winners on the opening day at the Curragh, most notably Michael Mulvany landing the Irish Lincoln with Ribee.
That race is an early target itself, but now naturally leads onto the new Good Friday meeting at the Curragh, where there is another valuable mile handicap and an even more valuable 10-furlong one, the Emerald Cup Handicap.
Lincoln runner-up Eastwatch is an obvious one for the latter race as a mile on testing ground is his bare minimum considering he raced over as far as a mile and six furlongs last year, and he shaped well with a view to going back over further.
Other Lincoln runners like Narlita, Norwalk Havoc and Akecheta will likely be back for that race too, and Akecheta is an interesting one to consider.
Disadvantage
She was heavily backed into 7/2 favourite for the Lincoln despite her trainer saying beforehand that the run would be needed and had little chance from her draw in stall 24, none of the first 12 home drawn higher than 16, while Colin Keane going the solo route up the near side seemed a disadvantage.
I am inclined to forgive those higher drawn runners, with two interesting ones being Engines On (travelled like a return to seven furlongs would suit) and Highbury See See (had little chance from his track position).
Of the rest, a couple of new acquisitions shaped well. Dark Summit cost just 8,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training sales and showed promise on his first run for Denis Hogan, making good headway from three furlongs out and getting tight for room before flattening out.
Steady progress
Tamam Desert cost €41,000 last November and showed a bit on her first start for Michael O’Callaghan despite being unfancied. She was dropped out but made steady progress through the field from halfway while not being knocked about. Having been highly tried last season, this was a more realistic level and she looks reasonably treated.
The other good handicap on the card was over six furlongs won by Dmaniac who thrives in testing conditions, with the fourth Real Force catching the eye.
Visuals and the CourseTrack sectionals suggest he made a big move in the hot part of the race from halfway to the one furlong pole, all while racing alone up the middle of the track. He is an older horse now and has been difficult to train but can get competitive if returning to track soon.
Back Down Under was strong in the market for this race but could never get involved from off the pace and was showing signs of coming into season. She was presumably going well at home to be supported in the betting and is likely better than this, though I would like to see her tried over five furlongs this season as she has lots of pace.
Performed wonders
Opening day maidens can produce promising types and it looked that way this time too, Ruler’s Control putting up a taking effort amidst greenness to land the first juvenile maiden while Pollenca performed wonders to win the seven-furlong maiden for fillies.
Having initially had a decent position, she was shuffled back towards the rear and had to be switched to the middle of the track from where she powered home, coming clear with a promising type while the third was again clear of the rest.
Victory Trip was also impressive in the mile maiden for colts and geldings, cutting through the field from a long way back, albeit aided by the leaders going too hard. Shaftesbury Avenue looks a surefire improver from that race while Hassaniya travelled best for a long way and won’t have any issue dropping to seven furlongs.
Drop Dead with excitement from debut win
DAY two of the flat season at Naas was more about the bigger yards, Aidan O’Brien times three and Joseph O’Brien with a double. Madrid Handicap winner Causeway inevitably drew Paddington comparisons pre-and post-race and this was a likeable effort from one sure to improve for the outing, Ryan Moore keen to come near side and his mount showing an excellent attitude.
He had to fend off a former stablemate in Controlled who looks an excellent buy at 31,000gns for Danny Murphy, that one coming from near last to chase down the winner.
Aidan O’Brien’s two other winners came in maidens, with Drop Dead Gorgeous looking particularly exciting, backing up the trainer’s positive opinion of her.
When interviewed after an earlier winner, O’Brien implied that his other filly in the race, the 85-rated White Sand Beach, was there to ensure a decent pace for the winner which she did before finishing third and this form looks solid.
Winning soon
The runner-up Fleur De Provence reached a good level here and should be winning herself soon while the fifth Chestnut Palace made up late ground while not being knocked about.
She has an interesting profile having been bought back by her vendor for 120,000 gns as a yearling before missing out on an intended breeze-up sale entry last April. Connections have taken their time here, and she looks one that can build on this.
Beset won the Devoy Stakes for Joseph O’Brien, getting a good ride from Declan McDonogh in front but clearly best in any case, and she has a willing attitude.
Her wide margin win in a backend listed race at the Curragh had looked dubious form at the time but not a bit of it and she proved herself a mare on the up here.
Sweeney’s seasonal strike-rates shine out
JUMPS racing quietens down a little before the remaining spring festivals but Showurappreciation completed a three-timer in the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final at Navan on Saturday and his trainer Jonathan Sweeney is in the middle of another productive season.
Per the statistics section on Irishracing.com, Sweeney finds himself in an exclusive group of trainers, the 20/40 club, with a 20% plus strikerate and a 40% winner to individual runners percentage.
Looking at the 2025/26 jumps seasons and considering trainers with at least 30 total runners and 10 individual runners, only four yards are in this club: Willie Mullins (25%/46%), Robert Tyner (26%/61%), Sweeney (22%/45%) and Bill Durkan (22%/58%) though both Mark Fahey and Martin Hassett are close.
Showurappreciation has been the star of the Sweeney show but Barnahash Mason won a Leopardstown Christmas bumper along with a maiden hurdle while Rushmount won a decent Thurles handicap chase in fine style. Western Walk has not won a race, but he did get placed in a Grade 1 and of Sweeney’s 11 total runners, all but one have picked up prize money.
Nor is this unusual for Sweeney. Taking the same statistics from previous seasons, strike-rate and winner to individual runners percentage, the trainer has made or gone close to the 20/40 club in each of the four previous campaigns. In those seasons, his numbers where 19%/46%, 13%/44%, 20%/40% and 21%/67%, pointing to a yard that needs to be respected whenever they have runners, and especially when they are fancied.