Firebeam ruled out of Curragh trip Connections of Firebeam will not run in the KARE Race Day Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. The four-year-old will bypass the Group Three over seven furlongs as it comes just a week after his excellent second in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. William Haggas' inmate was beaten four lengths by Soul, who was a close-up fourth behind Black Caviar in the Golden Jubilee, with owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing taking plenty of encouragement from the run. "He doesn't go to Ireland at the weekend - it was really just a precautionary entry," said Harry Herbert, Highclere's racing manager. "He's not a horse that you want to run back quickly and he ran a great race at Newbury. "It was very testing ground and he was a bit tired at the end. "We think he is capable of winning at that level, but he was just unfortunate to bump into a very good horse with some good form, who possibly could have figured in the July Cup the same day. "We're not quite sure what the plan will be with him, but hopefully he will be back out in two or three weeks' time. "We look at all the options with him but the horse deserves a Pattern win and we think he can achieve that if we place him right."
