The 2009 turf season gets underway today on soft ground at the Curragh with Kevin Prendergast's Beach Bunny being the only notable defector from the day's runners.

A general second favourite behind Dermot Weld's Mad About You for the Lodge Park EBF Express Stakes, was withdrawn as she had a temperature.

The day's only other non-runner is Tom McCourt's Zhukhov who is lame and will not take part in the Margaret Weldon Celebrating Mothers Day Handicap.

Meanwhile after racing, Aidan O'Brien will be working 48 of his string in three seperate racecourse gallops.

O'Brien's 2000 Guineas hopefuls Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle and Westphalia will all feature, as will some of the older contingent, like Yeats and Septimus.