Feast of racing action for punters in Cork this weekend with three day festival in Mallow

There is a feast of action for racing fans with the three day Cork Easter Festival taking place locally, while the Irish Grand National takes place on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse. 

Fittingly, the late Michael O’Sullivan will be remembered at this local track with the three-mile chase on Easter Sunday being run in his memory which is sure to be an emotional affair for his family and friends. 

The Michael O'Sullivan Chase has attracted some very high profile entries with all the top yards represented.  

O'Sullivan rode his first winner under rules at Cork Racecourse, Mallow at the 2018 Easter Festival on Wilcosdiana, trained by his uncle Eugene and owned by Tony Wilson.

 Eoghan O’Grady, General Manager Cork Racecourse Mallow, said: “Michael was greatly admired by the local community, and it is only fitting that we continue to remember him at his local racecourse. 

"We are delighted to host the Michael O’Sullivan Chase on one of our biggest racing days and we look forward to welcoming Michael’s family and friends on the day. 

"It will also be a special day for Michael’s weigh room colleagues.” 

The Irish Grand National has attracted a maximum field and is always a fiercely competitive contest. 

Haiti Couleurs was a winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Rebecca Curtis who has committed her stable star to this high profile contest. 

Gavin Cromwell’s Now is The Hour was travelling very well in the same race before falling at the last. 

Others to consider are Johnnywho, High Class Hero and Better Days Ahead. Henry de Bromhead’s Air Of Entitlement and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Sixandahalf head the 19 horses remaining in the Grade 1 Irish EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. 

The pair finished first and second respectively in the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when there was only half a length between them with Air Of Entitlement under an inspired Rachael Blackmore just getting the verdict. 

The Big Westerner also holds an entry and Doneraile’s Darragh O’Keeffe was slightly unlucky at Cheltenham with this very talented mare.

Willie Mullins has left in eight horses with Karoline Banbou, fourth in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and Maughreen, which lost all chance at the start in the same Cheltenham race, among them. 

This horse is owned by a cork based syndicate who will be hoping for compensation here.

Mullins is also well represented in the WillowWarm Gold Cup, the first of the two Grade 1 contests at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday. 

He is responsible for seven of the 14 horses still entered with Ballyburn, Champ Kiely, Ile Atlantique, and the mares Fun Fun Fun and Spindleberry.  

Gordon Elliott has left in Firefox, Down Memory Lane and Shecouldbeanything while Common Practice is there for Joseph O'Brien with Slade Steel a possible contender for Henry de Bromhead and Jesse Evans a big hope for Noel Meade, who is owned by the Singleton family and friends. 

What a servant this horse has been to connections.   

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien issued a number of positive bulletins at his press day at Ballydoyle this week. 

Star stayer Kyprios  will have a similar campaign to 2024 when he recorded a stunning seven-race unbeaten streak, but O'Brien has also floated the idea of dropping in trip in the autumn for a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Kyprios made an extraordinary recovery to get to the track twice in 2023 before returning to the peak of his powers last year when he won four Group 1s, including a second Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

O’Brien said: "We're over the moon with Kyprios and we think he's forward. He'll go to Vintage Crop Stakes, Saval Beg and then to the Ascot Gold Cup, but if we are as successful as last year we might have a look at the Arc instead of the Cadran."

O'Brien, who has sent out a record-breaking 45 British Classic winners from Ballydoyle, added: "You can have the place and the horses, but if you don't have the people it won't happen. 

"There are more than 300 staff here and there are teams of people involved in the horses.”