Jacobean aiming to open account The Group Three Park Express Stakes and the Lincoln take centre stage on the first day of the Flat's new season at the Curragh on Sunday, but the supporting card also sees some capable performers in action. The absence of Joseph O'Brien, who takes his first ride over hurdles at Limerick instead, will be one of the main talking points of the day and last year's Derby-winning jockey misses out on partnering his father Aidan's high-class Jacobean in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Jacobean made a very encouraging debut at this venue in October and confirmed that promise when finishing a very creditable fourth in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster just 13 days later. Jacobean, by Derby winner High Chaparral, has form on testing ground and will be ridden by three-times British champion jockey Ryan Moore. The Madrid Handicap has a prize fund of just 24,000 euros but will be on many connections' wish-lists given the prestige of the race. The JP McManus-owned Fit The Job has top weight but won his last two races last year, while the Godolphin-owned and Michael Halford-trained Prolouge has proven Flat form and can figure from his rating of 92. The opening two-year-old Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden has attracted 11 runners with Tribal Beat, drawn on the stands side in 11, a token selection to win on debut for trainer Jim Bolger, who won this race with New Approach in 2007. By Tom Weekes
