Royal Ascot Trials Day meets Family Fun Day at Naas Racecourse this coming Sunday. In what promises to be perfect conditions to enjoy an afternoon of racing, a host of potential Royal Ascot contenders will attempt to book their ticket for next months summer racing highlight.

Group 1 winners will take on Group 1 hopefuls at the County Kildare venue for a spectacular day of racing which will be complemented by a mix of entertainment for all ages off the track.

Trainer Ger Lyons may well unleash a couple of proven Group 1 performers as Babouche heads the field in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes, while Breeders’ Cup winner Magnum Force is included in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes.

Babouche, who won the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes last season, returned to action at Cork earlier this month and could do battle with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Group 1 winner Whistlejacket who also features among the 13-strong entries.

Whistlejacket was successful on his seasonal debut at Navan with stable companion Ides Of March just behind and O’Brien has also given Ides Of March an entry for Sunday’s €60,000 contest.

Magnum Force, who gave Lyons a breakthrough Breeders’ Cup victory last November, may face 10 rivals in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes.

The speedy son of Mehmas hasn’t been seen in competitive action since his Del Mar triumph but looks the standout name in a field that does feature the seasoned Big Gossey, the course and distance winner Bucanero Fuerte and improving three-year-old Powerful Nation.

Father and son duo to clash on Sunday

Sunday’s most valuable race is the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Blackbeard Fillies Sprint Stakes in which the father and son duo of Aidan and Joseph O’Brien may clash with two exciting fillies.

This race was earmarked by Aidan O’Brien for the wonderfully named Simply Astounding when she scored over the course and distance at Naas on debut and the strong opposition would appear to be headed by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Green Sense.

Green Sense had three lengths to spare over her nearest rival on debut at the Curragh last month and is on course for a her second start in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“Green Sense would look to be our main runner,” her trainer confirmed. “She enjoyed a good debut at the Curragh and she would look to be potentially in the zone for Ascot and we’ll find out more at the weekend.”

Ger Lyons once again features with a notable entry as Lady Iman will seek a hat-trick of wins while the Richard Hannon-trained Saffron Dandy add some British representation to the race.

Maiden form put to the test

The opening Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race can often throw up a winner with a bright future and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Charles Darwin, a brother to Blackbeard, is the only previous winner in that line-up but some good maiden form could be put to the test in an intriguing race.

The locally-trained Dance Night Andday was a winner at Naas last season for Ross O’Sullivan and features in the Owenstown Stud Stakes alongside more recent Naas winners including last Saturday’s winner Temperance who could make a quick reappearance for Kate McGivern and the Danny Murphy-trained Unique Journey.

Off the track, Naas Racecourse will be catering for racegoers of all ages with a barbecue, cocktails and live music throughout the day. The kids entertainment will include bouncy castles, face painting, a magic show, cartoon characters and a petting farm as well as the opportunity for all racegoers to meet retired racehorse Briar Hill, a former winner of the Slaney Hurdle at Naas, the race now known as the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.