THE Curragh Racecourse is set to stage the inaugural St Patrick’s Festival raceday on Monday, March 18th, which is a public holiday.

Staged in collaboration with the St Patrick’s Festival Newbridge Parade Committee, the raceday is part of a new two-day festival of events in Kildare.

There are eight races scheduled for Monday, starting at 1.35pm. The twin features are the Nua Healthcare-sponsored Irish Lincolnshire and the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes.

Off-track, all the category winners that took part in the grand St Patrick’s Day parade in Newbridge the previous day will receive their prizes at the races.

Family-friendly entertainment

There will also be a variety of free family-friendly entertainment throughout the day, including live music from the Newbridge Gospel Choir and local trad musicians the Ramblin Rovers, together with performances from local dance groups.

The Moyglare KidsZone (upgraded this year) will offer free activities for younger racegoers including face painting and Imagination Station. There will also be an appearance from Patches the Friendly Leprechaun mascot.

General admission costs €20 on the day but there is 25% discount available on tickets if bought online by midnight the night before.

Under 18s always go free at the Curragh and there are free shuttle buses operating from Newbridge and Kildare stations and town centres.

Hospitality options can be found on Curragh.ie, which has had a refresh since last year.

Monday, March 18th

1.55 The Castle Star and Alkumait at Capital Stud 2YO Maiden. 5f.

2.05 La Celia Wines 3YO+ Handicap. 5f.

2.35 Bermingham Cameras Dublin 3YO+ Fillies’ Maiden. 7f.

3.10 Finlay Volvo 3YO+ Colts’ Maiden. 7f.

3.40 Lodge Park Stud Park Express 3YO+ Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3). 1m.

4.10 Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire (Premier) 4YO+ Handicap. 1m.

4.40 QuinnBet 4YO+ Handicap. 1m.

5.10 Cavalor Equine Nutrition Handicap (47-70). 6f.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF MONDAY'S RUNNERS AND RIDERS

The Curragh Racecourse is aiming to repeat last year’s success of having every race of the season sponsored.

There have been a number of very positive announcements involving new sponsors and partners including the good news that Cairn have agreed to sponsor the Pretty Polly Stakes.

The Group 1 contest with total prize money of €300,000 is the feature race on day two of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, Saturday, June 29th.

The Cairn Pretty Polly Stakes will be the feature event on a day which is one of the most popular in the Irish racing calendar and has a big emphasis on family entertainment, music, style and community.

As detailed elsewhere on these pages, Nua Healthcare Services - who provide community based residential services, specialist hospital services and supported living services for men, women and children with either a mental health condition or intellectual disability – are the title sponsor on next Monday’s card.

Trainor Stone and Tile is another important new sponsor supporting a series of two-year-old maidens.

Also, a number of current sponsors return and are stepping up their sponsorship including Montane Developments, Glenroyal Hotel and Leisure Centre and Shoda Market Café, Barberstown Castle, FBD Hotels and Resorts, Molton Brown, Bermingham Camera, The K Club, QuinnBet, Capital Stud, La Celia Wines and Fitzpatricks Garage Group.

Newbridge Silverware has been unveiled as the Curragh’s new gift and trophy partner.

Cavalor will continue its association as the racecourse’s equine welfare partner. In addition to sponsoring three races, Cavalor will award the winning connections of those races with a care pack dedicated to the health and wellbeing of horses.

Cavalor will also support a Curragh best turned-out league, won by the Jim Bolger team last year, while there will make a generous presentation to the connections of the horse who wins the most races at the Curragh this season.

Eva Maria Bucher Haefner’s Moyglare Stud continues to support the Curragh by sponsoring the canteen located in the stable yard area which provides all grooms working on the day with a complimentary meal.

Moyglare also supports the efforts of the racecourse to encourage families to come racing by sponsoring the Moyglare KidsZone which features free activities for younger racegoers on every raceday.

Manguard Plus will continue to support the free shuttle bus service from both Newbridge and Kildare.

Mark Boylan and Ronan Groome nominate some Irish-trained three-year-olds they are looking forward to seeing at the Curragh this year

Ocean Of Dreams (Ire)

3yo c by Fastnet Rock - All For Glory

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

There were more high-profile two-year-olds in Ballydoyle last season, but I would not be surprised to see once-raced mile maiden winner Ocean Of Dreams make the jump up to classic company this year.

Conditions were testing when this brother to Oaks third Alluringly bolted up at the first time of asking at Leopardstown in October, and, while the winning margin was six lengths, he could have won by even further but for showing a fair deal of greenness.

Seamie Heffernan described him as a horse with “classic potential” and he holds an entry for both the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh and Betfred Derby at Epsom. We could be set to hear a lot more about him in 2024. (MB)

Opera Singer (USA)

3yo f by Justify - Liscanna

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

A top juvenile of 2023 for sire-of-the-moment Justify and the Coolmore team, Opera Singer looks to have the world at her feet heading into 2024. She showed massive improvement from the beginning of her season to the end, and she may not be done yet as a likely three-year-old type.

It’s no surprise to see her atop the 1000 Guineas market at around 5/1, and she’s bound to be a big player back at the Curragh for the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas too.

Expect her to thrive when going out in trip later in the season and add to her Group 1 haul. (MB)

Azada (Ire)

3yo f by Siyouni - Azmiyna

Trainer: Dermot Weld

Azada created a very good impression on her debut in a backend juvenile maiden at Leopardstown and could be one to progress to classic/Group 1 standard this term. Dermot Weld’s filly was held up in the seven-furlong contest but made eyecatching headway on the heavy ground, producing notably fast splits for her final two furlongs.

Given it was her debut and she was facing fillies with experience, this was pretty taking. She is a half sister to five-time Group 1 winner in Australia The Autumn Sun, who was versatile with regards to ground, so there is every chance she will handle quicker. It will be no surprise at all if she emerges as another smart filly for her trainer, with the 1000 Guineas likely to be in the equation for her, all being well. (RG)

One Look (Ire)

3yo f Gleneagles - Holy Salt

Trainer: Paddy Twomey

One of the most memorable performances at the Curragh last season was that of One Look in the Goffs Million. Paddy Twomey’s filly was simply sensational here on debut. Held up in a big field off a pace that wasn’t particularly strongly run, she showed a devastating turn of foot to see off a number of well respected and experienced rivals, with the winning margin all of six lengths at the line.

The runner-up Cherry Blossom, blown out of the water here, went on to finish a close fourth in the Group 1 Cheveley Park and ran well in defeat again at the Breeders’ Cup, so that gives the form a real solid look.

The daughter of No Nay Never has an Irish 1000 Guineas entry and given how comfortable she was on the Curragh, that looks a rock solid early season target for her shrewd trainer who continues to progress and improve his output year on year. (RG)

THE Curragh Racecourse recently received a Excellence in Community accolade from Co Kildare Chamber of Commerce.

This was in recognition of the track’s support of various community-based initiatives last year.

In 2024 the Curragh will continue to develop its ongoing programme of developing deeper ties in the communities that surround it in new and novel ways.

New initiatives and partnerships will be unveiled this season, and this will commence on Monday with a novel new community initiative with Naas-based Nua Healthcare Services collaborating with Kildare Sports Partnership and Club Kildare.”

The Curragh is delighted to host Relay for Life on the weekend of July, 6th and 7th, with 10,000 people expected to be in attendance to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and stand shoulder to shoulder with those facing cancer. Other community related projects include Brigid 1500, Junefest and Newbridge Parishes Raceday.

Opening of the 2024 Irish Flat Season

Monday, March 18th

Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes (Group 3)

Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire

Saturday, April 6th

Tote Alleged Stakes (Group 3)

Newbridge Community Parishes Raceday

Sunday, April 21st

Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes (Listed)

Irish Guineas Festival Trials

Monday, May 6th

Coolmore Mooresbridge Sottsass Stakes (Group 2)

Coolmore Little Big Bear Athasi Stakes (Group 3)

The Coolmore Paddington Tetrarch Stakes (Listed)

GAIN First Flier Stakes (Listed)

Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival

Friday, May 24th

Emerald Mile Handicap

Saturday, May 25th

Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (Group 1)

Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Group 2)

GAIN Marble Hill Stakes (Group 3)

Sunday, May 26th

Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1)

Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1)

Heider Family Stable Gallinule Stakes (Group 3)

Junefest Race Evening

Wednesday, June 5th

Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Premier Handicap

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

Friday, June 28th

JJ Mahon & Sons Premier Handicap

Silken Thomas and Lock 13 Apprentice Derby

Saturday, June 29th

Cairn Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)

Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2)

International Stakes (Group 3)

Kildare Village Ladies Derby

Sunday, June 30th

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2)

Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend

Saturday, July 20th

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1)

Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)

Comer Group International Curragh Cup (Group 2)

Sunday, July 21st

Romanised Minstrel Stakes (Group 2)

Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes (Group 3)

Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3)

Summer Saturday Series

Saturday, August 10th

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

Phoenix Sprint (Group 3)

Saturday, August 17th

Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)

Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial (Group 3)

Saturday, 24th August – Future Champions Day

Coolmore Wootton Bassett Futurity Stakes (Group 2)

Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (Group 2)

Saturday, August 31st – Pat Smullen Race Day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland

Newtownanner Stud Stakes (Group 3)

Snow Fairy Stakes (Group 3)

Heider Family Stable Round Tower Stakes (Group 3)

Cancer Trials Ireland Irish Cambridgeshire

Irish Champions Festival Day 2

Sunday, September 15th – Irish Champions Festival

Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1)

Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)

Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1)

Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)

Autumn Festival

Saturday, September 28th

Goffs Million, Beresford Stakes (Group 2)

Sunday, September 29th

Friends of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch

Renaissance Stakes (Group 3)

Weld Park Stakes (Group 3)

Saturday, October 5th

Brigid’s Pastures Stakes (Listed)

Thursday, October 17th

Tuesday, October 22nd

Staffordstown Stud Stakes (Group 3)

Finale of Irish Flat Season

Sunday, November 3rd

Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes (Group 3)

Finale Stakes (Listed)