NAAS Racecourse has joined with Ascot in a bid to strengthen the links between the two racecourses, and tomorrow, Sunday 19th, sees Royal Ascot Trials Day at the Co Kildare venue. Naas general manager Tom Ryan visited Ascot for their inaugural Royal Ascot Trials Raceday at the start of the month where he met with the management.
The Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies Stakes was run, won by the John Gosden-trained Muchly ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Tomorrow, Ashley Morton Hunte, corporate and racing communications manager at Ascot, will present the prize to the winning connections of the penultimate race on the card, the Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Handicap
The Royal Ascot Trials Day at Naas is the flagship flat race day of the year at the track and the feature race is the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes. The increased popularity of Royal Ascot in recent years and the corresponding need for preparation races has seen the importance of Naas increase significantly.
Tom Ryan said: “Coupled with significant infrastructural investment in recent years it has been the strengthening of Naas’s relevance to the Royal meeting that has raised the international profile of the venue. High quality colts such as Dawn Approach, Caravaggio, Sioux Nation and Kew Gardens have all won at Naas before success at Royal Ascot. The fillies listing is equally impressive; Lillie Langtry, Sky Lantern, Winter, Quiet Reflection and Alpha Centauri. We are ‘The Nursery of Champions’ and offer people the chance to see some of the real superstars of the future.”
Ashley Morton Hunte added: “We are delighted to strengthen our links with Naas Racecourse. It punches far above its weight when it comes to the standard of horses it attracts.”
A prize worth over €8,500 will be on offer tomorrow for the best dressed lady. The winner will get an overnight stay with dinner in the Manor House at Palmerstown House Estate with 19 of her friends, as well as a €1,000 shopping spree in Kildare Village. Lottie Ryan will be joined Orla Murtagh as a judge.
Admission is €15 to the races and registration for the best dressed lady competition takes place in the Ladies Pavilion between 1 and 3pm. Those who enter will be treated to a complimentary glass of Pimms.
For more information go to naasracecourse.com.
DOWN ROYAL
Racing and fashion aficionados will also be putting June 21st and 22nd in their diaries, the dates for the Down Royal Summer Festival of Racing. With the Magners Derby the highlight of racing, it will be no less competitive in the best dressed lady competition taking place on Saturday, June 22nd. This year, the principal sponsor has been confirmed as Jack Murphy Jewellers, one of the leading jewellers in Ireland and one of Newry’s major shopping destinations.
The competition is open to all female racegoers, with the winner taking home a package worth £3,500; jewellery to the value of £3,000, a case of Tattinger champagne and a host of other goodies. Finalists will receive a bag with bottles of Tattinger and Shortcross Gin, and treats from Charlotte Tilbury and Franklins of Belfast.
Judges will include influencer Louise Cooney and Cool FM Breakfast Show presenter and fashion stylist Rebecca McKinney. Gates open at 12 noon and admission is £15. Children under 16 go free and free car parking is available. For full details or to book tickets visit downroyal.com.