ENTRIES for The Friends of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch closed this week attracting 82 entries for the richest handicap race in Europe, an increase of 12 from 2024.

Ascending, Goodie Two Shoes, Leinster, Shackleton, Shoda, Thrice, Uxmal and Helvic Dream are among the contenders for the €600,000 contest over two miles on Sunday, September 28th, while British trainers with entries include George Scott, James Ferguson, Alan King, Charlie Johnston, Andrew Balding, Simon and Ed Crisford, Ed Bethell and Brian Ellison.

TRAMORE trainer John Flavin is hosting an open morning at his Laketour Stables next Saturday (August 16th) at 11am. The yard is two miles from Tramore Racecourse which races that evening. “We will have some special guests and prizes to give away,” Flavin said. “All are welcome.”

The Eircode is X91 YX32 and the trainer can be contacted on 086 1935942.

THE Irish Equine Veterinary Association’s ‘A Good Life Well Lived’ Equine Summit, in partnership with Connolly’s Red Mills, takes place in Gowran Park next Tuesday (open to all) and Wednesday (veterinary day). See irisheva.ie for details.

SEAMIE Heffernan will be the ridden judge for the Theresa Marnane Memorial Cup Class at Bansha Show on Wednesday, August 20th. The Cashel Palace Hotel has donated a prize for the class winner. Staged for the first time last year, the class is for retrained racehorses and was won last year by Sarah Neville and the Mouse Morris-trained Limekiln Rock.

GOLD Cup winner Minella Indo and dual Cheltenham Festival scorer Sir Gerhard have been retired from racing. Aged 12, Minella Indo won the 2021 Gold Cup for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

, jockey Jack Kennedy and owner Barry Maloney.

Minella Indo finished second to stable companion A Plus Tard in the 2022 Gold Cup and third in the 2023 Grand National. He again completed the course in the 2025 Grand National, in what was his final outing.

Sir Gerhard won the 2021 Champion Bumper and 2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Cheveley Park Stud. He wasn’t as good over fences and spent the last two seasons exclusively over hurdles.

TIM Husbands, the former CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, has been appointed commercial director of Race and Stay, Horse Racing Ireland’s official travel partner.