Sunday a day to look forward to at Naas

What has traditionally been a mixed card, the Birdcatcher Premier Nursery race day at Naas Racecourse, will for the first time this year be an all flat card with feature races including the Clodovil EBF Garnet Stakes (L) and the Es Que Love EBF Bluebell Stakes (L) taking centre stage this Sunday October 18th.

The first running of the Bluebell Stakes (L), a one mile four furlong race for fillies only has received a very competitive entry. Endless Time is the sole English raider, a good winner at Newmarket recently, who is trained by Chris Appleby. Other notable entries are the Dermot Weld-trained Almela who was narrowly beaten in the Oyster Stakes (L) in Galway, dual Listowel winner Sr Cartage and John Kiely's Toe the Line, who finished just ahead of Shu Lewis when the pair were second and third in the recent Loughbrown Stakes (L) at the Curragh.

A total of fifteen entries go into the Clodovil EBF Garnet Stakes (L). Last year's winning owner, Lady O'Reilly and trainer Paul Deegan join forces again in the shape of Corail. Dermot Weld has won this race twice and holds a strong entry in Joailliere this time. A runaway Gowran maiden winner, Joailliere has not been in action since contesting the 1,000 Guineas. While Kevin Prendergast's entry Tamadhor was a close up sixth in the Curragh Classic and could make a bold bid here. Galway Mile and Irish Cambridgeshire winner Hint Of A Tint and Athasi Stakes winner Iveagh Gardens also feature in a high class line-up.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Race, the inaugural running of this event confined to horses that have run in 2yo auction race during the season, boasts a total prize fund of €75,000. A recent Premier Nursery winner here Mint Chai trained by Ger Lyons is out to gain more valuable prizemoney at the venue while Michael O'Callaghan's Moral High Ground and Jim McConnell's Play The Game, both featured in a well-contested Group 3 at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend are sure to make for a very exciting race.

The traditional feature event of the day, the EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery, now sponsored by At the Races, sees Mimicking and Lieutenant General, trained by Jim Bolger and Aidan O'Brien respectively, as the two highest rated entries in the race. While there are some interesting newcomers entered for the Bungleinthejungle EBF Fillies Maiden in the shape of Not Misbegotten, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Nahoodh, and Somehow, a daughter of Champion race mare Alexandrova.

Tom Ryan, Manager of Naas Racecourse said: "Sunday's meeting is a fitting end to the 2015 flat season at Naas. The progression in the programme of races typifies the overall improvement of the Naas flat offering in recent seasons. With over €300,000 of prize money on offer it is now a feature event in its own right."

Maurice Burns, Rathasker Stud, said "I am delighted to support Naas, our local racecourse, on its newly branded Flat Season Finale. We are pleased to sponsor the new Es Que Love Bluebell Stakes as well as our continuing our sponsorship of the Listed Clodovil Garnet Stakes and the Bungle Inthejungle 2yo Fillies Maiden. I am looking forward to a great day's racing."

For all rugby fans this Sunday, Naas Racecourse will be showing the match live on both big screens as well as all other televisions around the racecourse. Naas are kindly offering race goers free admission if they are wearing the Ireland Rugby jersey. Gates open at 12.00pm, the match kicks off at 1.00pm and the first race is 1.50pm.