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| Staff Writer |
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The Tattersalls Guineas Weekend at the Curragh Racecourse marks the start of the Irish Flat racing season, featuring top-notch racing action on Friday evening, as well as on Saturday and Sunday.
A strong lineup of 11 colts is confirmed for Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, with notable entries including the Richard Hannon-trained duo of Rosallion and Haatem, who secured second and third positions respectively in the English 2,000 Guineas.
Trainer Andy Oliver, based in County Tyrone, is eyeing a potential career highlight with either course and distance winner Bright Stripes or Jack Davison's contender Take Me To Church in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.
Aidan O'Brien leads the charge with six of the 11 entries, featuring Group One winning juvenile Henry Longfellow and Coventry Stakes victor River Tiber, while Joseph O'Brien's Atlantic Coast is also in the mix.
The Gr.2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes includes representation from five British trainers, with notable contenders such as Shouldvebeenaring, Unequal Love, Regional, Art Power, and Mitbaahy.
Local sprinters, including Moss Tucker, Matilda Picotte, Aesop's Fables, and Yosemite Valley, are set to deliver a strong performance in the sprint races on Saturday.
The action-packed eight-race card on Saturday also includes the Gr.3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, the listed Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby Stakes, and other exciting races.
Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas sees the Paddy Twomey-trained duo of A Lilac Rolla and Purple Lily among the 15 acceptors, adding excitement to the race alongside English 1,000 Guineas runner-up Porta Fortuna.
The Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel aims to make history as the first British-trained winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas since 2013. Notable entries for Sunday's races also include Vespertilio and Azada, among others.
The Aidan O'Brien stable star Auguste Rodin leads the 11 contenders in Sunday's Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup, joined by last year's winner Luxembourg, as well as other top-class entries.
Exciting prospects for Sunday's races also include White Birch, Elegant Man, and Okeechobee, adding further depth to the high-level competition.