Free admission to Lenebane today! Horses for Courses by Tom Red

Racing this week starts this afternoon (Thursday) with action on the flat in Roscommon off at 2.05 pm, and free entry for all. This evening, Fairyhouse also has a flat card with first race at 4.25 pm.

On Friday, racing is over the jumps with six hurdle races and a bumper at Down Royal, off at 5 pm and sponsored by BoyleSports, and the first of a two-day meeting at Tramore, both national hunt meetings, off on Friday at 5.20 pm and Saturday at 5.30 pm.

Saturday also sees the first of a threeday Bank Holiday meeting at Listowel starting at 2.25 pm, on Sunday at 2.05 pm, both jumps meetings, and Monday on the flat at 2.20 pm.

There is national hunt racing in Kilbeggan on Sunday at 2 pm and on the flat at Gowran Park at 2.05 pm on Monday.

On Friday, there are five races being covered on ITV and Virgin Media 1 from Epsom, including both the Group 1 Coronation Cup and the English Oaks.

On Saturday, all eight races from Epson are covered on ITV, ITV 4 and Virgin Media 1 including the Epsom Derby at the early time of 1.30 pm to avoid a clash with the FA Cup Final.

Last weekend at the Curragh, the feature on Friday, The Emerald Mile Premium Handicap, was won by the Johnny Murtagh-trained Rahmi, ridden by Danny Sheehey. On Saturday, the first Irish classic, the 2000 Guineas, went to Paddington, giving Aidan O’Brien his 12th win in the race with Ryan Moore aboard.

On Sunday, the pair won the Tattersalls Gold Cup with Luxembourg, and the 1,000 Guineas went to the Dermot Weld-trained Tahiyra with Chris Hayes in the saddle.

Racing News

There is a very open card of racing today in Roscommon starting with the featured EBF Median Sires Series Maiden with 11 runners. The value may be Thia with Rory Cleary aboard. Jim Bolger’s charge is stepping up in distance.

In the third, Voice Of Reason catches the eye on his third outing behind 1000 Guineas runner-up Cairo and could be the value of the day.

Aidan O’Brien is three-handed in the 1000 Guineas with Ryan Moore taking the mount on Savethelastdance, who should account for the Gosden pair,

Soul Sister and Running Lion. Charlie Appleby has supplemented Eternal Hope at a cost of £30,000 and must be given consideration.

O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale will be there or thereabouts in the Coronation Cup, but Emily Upjohn is taken to give Detorri his winner. There are seven Irish runners in the field of 16 headed by Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin who will get most to do from Charley Appleby’s Military Order, winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial which was run on the all-weather. Jessica Harrington’s Sprewell looks the best of the other Irish runners and has been backed from 20s to 10/1.

Competition Corner

Our winners of the tickets for Kilbeggan on Sunday are John Egan, Ballinlough; Mick McGarry, Roscommon; and Elizabeth Kiernan, Drumlish who all know that Kilbeggan is in Westmeath and don’t forget to collect your tickets in the office.

Second chance to win tickets for Roscommon on June 12th, and all we want to know is which trainer enjoyed a treble in Roscommon on Monday, May 22nd?

We also have tickets for Kilbeggan on Monday, June 19th and to win those just tell us what is the only type of racing to take place in Kilbeggan? Answers please on a postcard to The Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon or by email to tomred17@gmail.com by 5 pm on Wednesday, June 7th for Roscom- mon and June 14th for Kilbeggan. Don’t forget to include your name, address, and a contact phone number with all competition entries. Tickets will have to be collected in the office in Abbey Street, Roscommon. There was no competition for tickets for the rescheduled meeting at Roscommon today as entry will be free.