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THE start of the 2023 Irish flat season is just a week away.
It all starts at the Curragh on Saturday, followed by Naas on Sunday. A weekend ticket covering both fixtures costs just €25 if bought online now.
Saturday at the Curragh sees twin feature races in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire Premier Handicap and the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes.
Weights for the Irish Lincolnshire were published on Tuesday and the top weight is I Am Superman. There are nine English-trained entries including two from William Haggas and two from George Boughey. Classic winner Homeless Songs is engaged in the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Stakes, as are Group 2 winners Agartha and Insinuendo.
At Naas on Sunday the big race is the Listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes. Last year’s winner Layfayette went on to win at Group 3 and Group 2 level following his Naas success.
The Curragh is laying on free entertainment for children in its Kids Zone on Saturday, including ‘Imagination Station’ and face painting.
Children will also be well catered for at Naas where there is always free creche facilities. On Sunday there will be face painting, a magic show and playground.
Before racing at Naas, at approximately 12:15pm, you are invited to ‘The Gain Flat is Back Flat Preview’ in the Circle Bar where a panel of well-known trainers, a jockey, and a representative from Gain will preview the card and suggest some horses to follow for the season.
At the Curragh on Saturday the Newbridge Gospel Choir will perform between 12pm and 1.30pm. Nitetrain will play after racing in the Champions Hall.
THE Curragh will offer record prize money across multiple races this season, aimed at benefiting as many owners and trainers as possible.
It underlines the strong commitment from the racecourse, their sponsors and HRI to ensuring high quality racing at and competitiveness throughout the season at the Curragh.
This year the Co Kildare venue will stage 23 fixtures, starting next Saturday and ending on November 5th, when the Curragh will close the turf season for the first time.
No race at the Curragh will be worth less than €15,000 this season and that minimum value will jump to €20,000 for all races on Guineas, Derby and Oaks weekends, as well as on Keeneland Phoenix Stakes day.
There will be no race worth less than €100,000 on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day (Sunday, July 2nd) and on day two of Irish Champions Weekend.
There will also be significant prize money upgrades for some of the feature races during the season following an increase in investment from race sponsors to further boost the programme this year.
Prize money for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will increase from €1 million to €1.25 million. The Tattersalls Gold Cup value goes from €400,000 to €450,000 and the Comer Group International Irish St Leger from €500,000 to €600,000.
Another notable increase is an uplift for the Comer Group International Curragh Cup from €120,000 to €150,000.
Recent sponsorship renewals by Juddmonte, Keeneland and Gain will also enhance the overall programme.
COMPAS Stallions will be one of the headline sponsors for the first flat meeting of the year at Naas Racecourse next Sunday, March 26th.
The Westmeath-based stallion station, owned and managed by Micheál Orlandi, is well-known for its unique marketing initiatives and has been involved with Naas as a sponsor in recent seasons.
Compas will be expanding its relationship with Naas this year, sponsoring a total of five races next Sunday, up from four last year. Compas will also be co-sponsoring the fillies’ maiden on the card, with the Irish EBF.
This race has produced two classic-winning fillies in the past two years in Empress Josephine and Tuesday.
The winning breeders of next Sunday’s Compas-sponsored races will also be rewarded with a free nomination to the stallion that particular race is named after. In the case of the Compas Stallions Handicap, the winning breeder will be allowed to take their pick for a free nomination to a stallion on the Compas roster.
IRISH equine science company Plusvital will continue its sponsorship of the Devoy Stakes on the opening weekend of the Irish flat racing season at Naas Racecourse.
The Plusvital Devoy Stakes is a highly competitive early season target for some of Ireland’s leading middle-distance and staying horses. This is the fourth year that Plusvital is sponsoring the 10-furlong listed race.
Layfayette was the impressive winner of the 2022 renewal on his seasonal debut for trainer Noel Meade. The gelding went on to take the Group 3 Alleged Stakes and the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, both at the Curragh.
Plusvital will once again present a €500 prize to the winning breeder of the Devoy Stakes and, for the first time this year, the company will give €500 of Plusvital products to the winning trainer.
Additionally, to acknowledge their contribution to the industry, the groom in charge of the best turned out horse in each race will receive a Plusvital equine care pack.
THE addition of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day to the Tote World Pool for the first time this year will be an exciting initiative, ensuring the raceday will receive significant international coverage.
Introduced in 2019, Tote World Pool is an exciting initiative whereby global Tote operators operate a single pool on several major international race meetings. All eight races on Irish Derby day will be included, which could lead to some attractive prices and dividends for Irish punters.
Moyglare and Tattersalls are backing the Curragh
MOYGLARE Stud has generously agreed to continue supporting the stable staff canteen at the Curragh this year. The canteen provides a complimentary meals on racedays.
The Curragh’s owners and trainers facilities will be enhanced through the support of Tattersalls. This will see the owners’ restaurant and lounge relocating to Level 3 of the grandstand, allowing for the champagne bar and Orby’s Bistro to return as general public facilities.
Get best value online
BOTH the Curragh and Naas offer special ticket price offers on their websites throughout the year.
Early bird ticket prices can be bought throughout the year on the Curragh website and there is also the option of buying an annual membership to cover all 23 days of racing this year.
Under 18s are always admitted free to the Curragh when accompanied by an adult, and the racecourse continues to provide a free shuttle bus service to and from Newbridge and Kildare.
Naas offers a ‘golden ticket’ package which includes admission, free bet, racecard, plus food and drink vouchers, while the Curragh has also launched a ‘Curragh Bundle’ for all racedays.
Web: curragh.ie, naasracecourse.ie
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