TRAINER Willie Mullins is well represented among the entries for the Friends of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch, which were published this week.

The weights for the €600,000 handicap - the richest race of its kind in Europe - are due to be published on Monday. The race will be run at the Curragh on Sunday, September 24th, a day after the Goffs Million at the same venue.

Mullins is responsible for 14 of the total 80 entries for the two-mile contest. These include Absurde, Jackfinbar and Scaramanga, together with Echoes of Rain and Lot of Joy who finished second and third in the race last year.

Increased race purse

The 2022 edition was the first since the race purse was dramtically increased and it was won by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Waterville. In getting the favourite up to win by a neck after a troubled passage, jockey Wayne Lordan received the Ride of the Year Award from Horse Racing Ireland.

This year O’Brien has eight entries including Tower Of London, Peking Opera, and Library. Other eyecatching entries include Nusret, Brazil, Final Gesture, Night Sparkle, Pied Piper, Drop The Anchor, Dawn Rising, Comfort Zone, Chally Chute, My Mate Mozzie, Okita Soushi, Princess Zoe, Teed Up, Valiant King and Youcrackmeup, The Very Man, Common Practice, and the William Haggas-trained Post Impressionist.