Strong British entry at the Curragh on Sunday

A strong British challenge is expected for the two Group 3 races at the Curragh on Sunday, with Border Patrol set to take on 13 possible rivals over a mile in the Solonaway Stakes and course specialist Benbaun entered in the Irish Daily Mirror Renaissance Stakes.

Trainer Roger Charlton is keen to find easier ground for Border Patrol, who has won all three starts this term and has been given a break for an autumn campaign.

"We ducked a race on ground that would have probably suited at Haydock on Saturday because I thought of going for the Park Stakes, which is worth four times as much and attracts similar horses," Charlton told At The Races.

"Unfortunately he needs to have cut and if the ground was fast we'd have to duck Doncaster. He has an entry at the Curragh on Sunday and at the moment we're planning to go."

Incidentally, Charlton is set to run Clowance in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday instead of the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. The prospect of cut in the ground is important to the filly who has been off the course with a number of problems since finishing fourth to Look Here in last year's Epsom Oaks.

The highly progressive Poet heads the opposition in the 'Solonaway', and Aidan O'Brien's charge is now rated on 116 after completing a hat-trick at Leopardstown last Saturday. The runner-up in both the Irish 2,000 & 1,000 Guineas - Rayeni and Lahaleeb - are also entered.

No less than ten of the 17 entries for the six furlongs Irish Daily Mirror Renaissance Stakes are British trained, with Benbaun attempting to win his eighth race at this venue. Other notable UK contenders include Danehill Destiny, Icelandic, Judge N Jury, Lesson in Humility and Triple Aspect, while the home team is headed by hat-trick seeking Girouette, Vocalised and Snaefell.

Cornakill, a winner at Tipperary and Down Royal on her last two runs, will attempt to make it three in a row when she lines up in the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes. The Kevin Prendergast trained filly is one of ten all Irish-trained entries for the race, which also includes her stable companion Dazzling Day and the Jim Bolger trained pair Akdarena and Atasari.

Sunday's seven race card begins at 2.15pm and, on a great family day, there will be a variety of free activities for children in the Giddy Up Club sponsored by K Bowl. The ground is currently soft to heavy on the round course and heavy on the straight course. The forecast for the remainder of the week is for dry conditions.