Strong Overseas Challenge for Gladness Stakes The Group 3 Castlemartin/ La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes is the feature event on an excellent eight-race programme at the Curragh next Sunday. The ?70,000 contest has attracted 12 entries, including three overseas challengers in Johnny Jumpup, Steenberg, & Turn Key.Aidan O'Brien, has entered both Ad Valorem and Tiger Dance and the Ballydoyle based trainer looks set to run at least one of them. Also included among the 12 entries are the Jim Bolger trained Tropical Lady, Indesatchel from the in-form stable of David Wachman. And Tom Hogan's ultra consistent Common World.The Alleged Stakes, one of two listed races on the card, is arguably the contest of the afternoon. A total of 14 horses have been entered for the ?50,000 event including the Aidan O'Brien pair of Scorpion and Yeats. Local trainer Dermot Weld is also double handed with Cairdeas and the long absent Media Puzzle, while another resident handler, John Oxx, has entered Gift Range, Helena Molony and Perfect Hedge. Artist's Muse, former Irish Lincolnshire winner Tolpuddle and Winged Arrow add spice to what should prove to be a fascinating contest. The Mick Channon trained South Cape is the sole British Challenger for the listed Oak Lodge Sires Loughbrown stakes. He is one of the 14 entries for the ?50,000 contest which has also attracted two Ballydoyle trained contenders in Beauty Bright and Queen Cleopatra, recent course winner Danehill Music and Kevin Prendergast's well regarded Decado.The Four Star Keadeen Hotel Handicap is a typically competitive 6 furlong sprint which has attracted an entry of 18, while punters face an equally daunting task in attempting to find the winner of the 12 furlong Ray O'Brien Mitsubishi Motors Handicap. Only eight juveniles have been entered for the opening M Murphy & Co Ltd EBF Med. Auction Maiden, while the concluding Peter Byrne Kildare Race has attracted 31 entries.The ground at the Curragh is currently heavy on the straight course and soft to heavy on the round course. Weather prospects for the remainder of the week looks good with dry bright conditions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
