Ireland today

Ireland features a good card at the Curragh this afternoon, while Tralee finally gets its first day´s racing after four abandonments with a modest N.H. card. The main event at the Curragh is the Group Two Futurity Stakes race for 2yo´s over 7 furlongs at 17.15 CET. Aidan O´Brien has won this 5 times in the last 10 years and saddles no fewer than 5 of the 11 runners, with Westphalia (Seamus Heffernan) probably his strongest candidate. The Aga Khan´s Arazan (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane), a half-brother to top-class Azamour, is the obvious danger. The listed race over 1 3/4 miles at ^15.30 was won last year by Red Moloney (Kevin Prenxergast/ Declan McDonogh) from Hasanka (Oxx/ KInane) and this result could well be repeated, however the 3yo´s Ballyhaunis and Hold me Love me are also respected. The most valuable race on the card is the Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes over 6 furlongs at 16.05 and Prendergast/ McDonogh can double up here with Heart of Fire. Most interesting event at Tral ee is the novice chase over 2 1/2 miles at 17.35, in which Tom Hogan´s smart hurdler Sonnyanjoe (Paul Carberry) makes his chasing debut.