Johnson Houghton's Curragh plans Eve Johnson Houghton could launch a double raid on the Curragh this weekend with stable stars The Cheka and Fontley. The Cheka has been running consistently well this season, winning the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on his penultimate start, and could return to Ireland for the Minstrel Stakes on Saturday. Fontley finished second to the improving Law Of The Range in a Listed race at Pontefract last week, and could run in the Kilboy Estate Stakes on Sunday. There are 17 possibles for the Minstrel Stakes, including Jessica Harrington's National Stakes winner Pathfork. "Good ground would be fine for The Cheka, but at this stage it's a bit early to say for sure whether he'll definitely run. It's certainly an option," said Johnson Houghton. "His last run looks better now with Libranno running so well in the July Cup and it was a bit of a muddle of a race. He had to come over to join them and they had the run of it, and possibly he wasn't as good as he can be, that happens. "He was giving the winner a stone at the end of the day but perhaps he wasn't quite as sparkly as he was at Haydock. I'll have a good look at it. "I'll also look at the Kilboy for Fontley. She came out of her Pontefract race well but she needs a really strong pace over a mile which you don't get in Listed races, so we'll look at stepping her up in trip." Saturday is titled the "Lifetime In Racing Achievement Race Day" with races named to honour of people who have made a significant contribution to various sectors of the Irish horse racing industry. These include Liam Browne (nominated by the Irish Trainers Association), Tommy Carmody (Irish Jockeys Association), Tom Gillson (Association of Irish Racehorse Owners), Sonia Rogers (Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association)and Irish Stable Staff Association nominee Joe Lynch. Five-day entries for the Darley Irish Oaks will be published at mid-day tomorrow, with a strong field anticipated including the first three home in the Epsom equivalent . Admission prices at the Curragh this weekend are €15 on Saturday with under 25s & seniors €8, while for Sunday's Oaks meeting entry is €20 with under 25s & seniors at €10. Children are free on both days.
