A NEW autumn nursery series has been launched by the Irish European Breeders’ Fund (Irish EBF) designed to boost opportunities for juveniles horses with over €150,000 in total prize money.

The Birdcatcher Series will see three six-furlong nurseries staged at the Curragh, Navan and Cork over the next two months and worth €33,500 each.

If the winner of any of those three qualifying races goes on to win the Irish EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery at Naas on October 10th, they will receive an additional €20,000 bonus on top of the first-place prize money.

This will net connections just over €70,000 from prize money and the bonus.

Joe Foley, Irish EBF chairman, said; “The launch of the Irish EBF Birdcatcher Series is a strong demonstration of our ongoing commitment to supporting two-year-old racing in Ireland. The intent with the €20,000 bonus is to focus connections on these valuable nursery races and ultimately target the €50,000 Birdcatcher at Naas in October.”

Horse Racing Ireland director Jonathan Mullin added: “We are delighted to work alongside the Irish EBF on the new Birdcatcher Series. Nursery handicaps are a vital part of the programme for two-year-olds, and this initiative offers increased prize money across four great racecourses, which aligns with Horse Racing Ireland’s prize money strategy.”

IRISH EBF BIRDCATCHER NURSERY SERIES

Curragh: August 16th, 6f

Navan: September 5th, 5.8f

Cork: September 29th, 6f

Naas: October 10th, 5.9f (final)