Racing resumes at the Curragh next Saturday, August 23rd with an eight race programme which includes the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes.

The Group 2 contest is dominated by horses from the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien yard and included among his 14 entries are Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle, Westphalia and Born To Be King. O’Brien has won five of the last 10 runnings of this seven furlong juvenile contest and he will be keen land the €125,000 event after missing out in 2006 and 2007. Jim Bolger has won the last two runnings with Teofilio and Epsom Derby hero New Approach and the Coolcullen-based trainer now has a chance to land the hat-trick with his probable runner Gan Amhras.

Arazan, which carries the colours of His Highness the Aga Khan, Dermot Weld’s very promising Broad Meaning and the two British-trained challengers Shaweel and Lord Shanakill are other notable horses among the 25 entries in what promises to be a fascinating and informative contest.

Trainer Tom Dascombe has had a dream start to his training career in Great Britain and he has Group 2 winner Classic Blade lined up for a tilt at the Tattersalls Ireland Stakes. Dascombe indicated last week that Classic Blade was a likely contender provided there was cut in the ground and his charge certainly has the credentials to land the €150,000 to the winner prize. Other notable horses among the 24 entries include Whats Up Pussycat, Choose Me, Carito and the Jim Bolger-trained pair of Roshina and Duaisbhanna.

Saturday’s programme also includes the Listed Ballycullen Stakes, which has attracted an entry of 17 including five from the Aidan O’Brien stable in Gentle On My Mind, Hold Me Love Me, Honoria, Sweet Sixteen and Perihelion. Racing commences at 2pm and the ground is currently described as Heavy. Weather conditions remain unsettled for the early part of the week, but there will be a general improvement from Wednesday onwards.
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