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.