Super Sunday at Tipperary Races
A top-class mixed Flat and National Hunt programme is in store this Sunday at Tipperary, featuring three Grade 3 jumps races and the listed Coolmore Sioux National Concorde Stakes, while there will be plenty of off-track entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins is strongly represented in all the graded races under National Hunt rules. In the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle, his recent Galway Hurdle winner, the four-year-old Zarak The Brave, could bid for a follow-up. In victory last time, he just got the better of Jesse Evans, who won this race in 2022. Classy sorts Anna Bunina, Party Central and Fils D’oudairies are also amongst the entries.
The Grade 3 O’Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Chase of 2022 worked out particularly well in 2022 as the first two home, Authorized Art and Ash Tree Meadow, filled the first two places in this season’s Galway Plate, albeit the other way around.
In this renewal, Mullins’ sole entry is Sharjah, a six-time Grade 1 winner and Galway Hurdle champ of 2018. A late-comer to chasing, he was most impressive on his debut over fences and if taking his chance he could face the likes of two-time chase winner Watch House Cross, chase debut winner Captain Conby, the lightly raced but talented Senecia.
Mullins’ Mystical Power, an unbeaten son of the former Champion Hurdler Annie Power, is one of four Closutton runners entered in the Grade 3 Boylesports Novice Hurdle, a race the trainer has won for the last three years and seven times in the last eight runnings.
Gordon Elliott has two possible runners in the four-timer seeking The Wallpark and recent Lartigue Hurdle winner Samui, while Peter Fahey has entered recent winners Sign From Above and Sherodan, and Henry de Bromhead’s Birdie Or Bust adds further quality.
On the Flat, the feature is the listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes, and last year’s winner, Statement, is amongst three entries for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Ger Lyons, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld have all won the race in the past five years and have strong entries, while Michael Halford & Tracey Collins, whose partnership has recently found full stride, have a likely type in Cosmic Vega.
There is plenty of other exciting action, with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, a strong-looking Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel Handicap, the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle and the Peppermill Restaurant Nenagh Bumper which brings the on-track action to a conclusion.
Of course, there is no need for patrons to miss out on the action elsewhere as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, due off at 3.05pm at Longchamp, will be shown live on screens throughout the enclosures.
Trackside, the entertainment will be provided by CJ Kickham Brass Band, which will be in full swing as the crowds arrive, while Handipak will be providing live music in the Bulmers Marquee. For the even younger brigade, we have our playground and pet farm to be enjoyed.
There has already been great demand for the meeting, and the restaurant package is sold out. However, the Bulmers Bundle, which includes admission, a racecard, a pint, a €10 food voucher and €5 Tote voucher is still available, and costs just €29. General admission is €20 at the gate but those who book online can avail of the great-value €15 rate. Gates open at 12pm, with the first race at 1.40pm and the last at 5.20pm.
For those travelling by car, there is a free car park on site, while for those taking public transport, there is a bus stop right outside the front gate, and Limerick Junction train station is just a five-minute walk away.
For further information and raceday tickets visit www.tipperaryraces.ie.