Naas Racecourse to begin massive Week of Racing

Competitive renewal of Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes

 Monday will begin a massive week of racing in County Kildare as Naas host a strong seven-race Flat card on the eve of the Punchestown Festival. 

The Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes is the feature race on the card and has attracted 11 entries, headed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Tenebrism who won nicely at Cork earlier this month. 

O’Brien’s daughter of Caravaggio is one of three course and distance winners among the entries for Monday’s Listed race, while stable companion Aesop’s Fables has the champion trainer double-handed at this stage. 

Joseph O’Brien has included Brostaigh who won the Sole Power Sprint Stakes at Naas last May before enjoying Group 2 glory. 
The third course and distance winner among the entries is the Ado McGuinness-trained Hodd’s Girl who has catapulted through the ranks in the last year and was an admirable third when last seen at Newcastle on Good Friday. 

British representation is possible as the Charlie Hills-trained Equality is among the entries, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Hurricane Ivor might try to strike again after winning at the Curragh last weekend. 

The Ken Condon-trained Moss Tucker is a five-time winner who is an intended runner for the popular Curragh-based trainer. Moss Tucker had another of Monday’s entries, Big Gossey, behind when signing off last season with a win at the Curragh and Condon is hoping he can build on his reappearance at Cork.
The David Marnane-trained Lady Tilbury and Takashi Kodama’s recent Cork winner Pineapple Island complete a fascinating list of entries for the Anglesey Lodge-backed feature. 

Anglesey Lodge is one of the most renowned equine hospital’s in Ireland since it was founded in 1976 by Ned Gowing. The Curragh-based hospital serves performance and pleasure horses offering a wide range of routine and highly specialised veterinary care and are proud sponsors of this Listed race. 

There is also a strong list of three-year-olds entered for the Naas Racecourse Business Club Blackwater Handicap. The Jessica Harrington-trained Spirit Genie is the highest-rated of the 17 entries with Naas winner Betterdaysrcoming an intriguing inclusion for Andy Oliver. 

Monday’s card also features the Best Of Luck To Our Neighbours Punchestown Ahead Of The 2023 Festival Handicap as a nod to Punchestown Racecourse ahead of their mammoth five-day Festival which begins on Tuesday.

Racegoers who show their Punchestown Festival tickets on Monday will benefit from half price admission for the card at Naas with the first race due of at 5pm.