Curragh Racecourse© Photo Healy Racing
The ground is sure to be testing for the opening day of the Flat turf season at the Curragh this afternoon with a further 6mm of rain since declarations maintaining the going as soft to heavy, heavy in places.
Adrian Murray saddles three runners in the opening juvenile race of the campaign and Bucanero Fuerte is a solid 6/4 favourite with Kevin Stott travelling over to take the ride. Laugh A Minute is proving popular in the DMG Media Handicap (2.15) with Ado McGuinness’ charge cut to 4/1 (from 11/2) with bet365. Jon Riggens is the general 5/2 favourite for this five-furlong event and trainer Eddie Lynam is hopeful of a good run with ground conditions to suit.
“He'll love the ground, but I'd never be more than hopeful first run of the year. He signed off last season well and was a bit unlucky not to win.
"We are hoping he will run well and he might handle the ground better than some of the others but I think he might improve for the run.”
The €100,000 Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire (3.25) is the feature on this eight-race card and Totally Charming is the clear favourite this morning at around 11/2.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained Emporio has attracted support with the sponsors from 11/1 into 7/1, while Dha Leath and Mashhoor have also shortened.
Perhaps the best backed horse at the Curragh is the Charles Byrnes-trained Cliffs Of Freedom in the Westgrove Hotel Handicap (5.07).
The lightly raced six-year-old gelding showed some promise on his first start for the Limerick handler here last autumn, and has been supported from 13/2 into as low as 11/4 favourite in this 21-runner event.
The forecast is manly dry with the possibility of some light showers and racing is on the stand side.
