Some top class racing at The Curragh on Saturday and Sunday certainly whetted the appetite for Irish Champions Weekend in less than three weeks’ time. One horse who came through his prep well was Classic winner LEADING LIGHT (IRE). His win in the Group 3 Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger Trial should leave him spot on in his bid to land an Anglo/Irish St Leger double following his win at Doncaster last September.

Michael Halford completed a good weekend at the Curragh when RAYDARA (IRE), pictured above, won the Group 2 Debutante Stakes under Shane Foley. The Aga Khan’s homebred daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar quickened smartly to beat Lucida (IRE) by half a length. It was Halford’s biggest win on home soil this year and he commented; “We probably made a bit too much use of her last time. I suppose the Moyglare would be an obvious target but she does love fast ground and maybe she has enough done for this year.”

GLENEAGLES (IRE) maintained his progression with a likeable win in the Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes. The full brother to 1,000 Guineas winner Marvellous was probably value for more than his three parts win over over Vert De Grece (IRE) and he looks ready for his next challenge which may come in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes on the Sunday of Irish Champions Weekend.

Ger Lyons has care of a very classy filly in AINIPPE (IRE). The daughter of Captain Rio made it two from two in the Listed Irish Field Curragh Stakes on Saturday, easily outpacing The Great War to win by a length. Bred by John Kennedy and now sporting the Qatar Racing silks since her impressive debut win at Naas, Ger Lyons is mulling a big step up in class commenting; "I suppose you would say it was visually impressive. I would suggest a Cheveley Park supplementary is on the cards. These maroon colours are very important to Irish racing and even more important to me."

JAMESIE (IRE) landed a deserved success in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes. The David Marnane trained 6yo scraped home by a nose from Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) to win his fifth race for owner Damien Lavelle and to bring his prize-money haul towards the €250,000 mark. Not a bad return for a horse that cost €900 as a yearling in Goffs and a second Group winner for Kodiac last week. The runner up ran a fine race and it should leave him in good shape to defend his crown in Haydock’s Group 1 Sprint Cup where he will bid to make it a clean sweep for Irish trained horses in UK Group 1 sprints this season.