Top-class entries for National Stakes

A top-class entry has been received for the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 10th, day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

Nine subsequent European champion two-year-old colts have won the Group One contest race in the past 14 years, including this season's dual 2000 Guineas hero Churchill.

This year's race has attracted a total of 102 entries, an increase of 12 on last year.

Aidan O'Brien, seeking a fourth straight National Stakes success and a 12th overall, has entered 28 horses, among them Royal Ascot fancy Declarationofpeace and Murillo, who impressed on his second start at Tipperary.

Also among the Ballydoyle contingent is the unraced Ancient City, a three-parts brother by Frankel to last year's Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger.

Jessica Harrington sent out Pathfork to score in 2010 and the leading dual-purpose trainer has made four entries including Coventry Stakes hope Brother Bear, the unbeaten colt who won the Marble Hill at the Curragh in some style last time out.

Joseph O'Brien has entered his Listed Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes winner True Blue Moon while Beckford, trained by Gordon Elliott, and Ken Condon's Romanised, both winners on their sole starts to date, are also entered.

Dermot Weld has made 13 entries, all unraced, and they include Falcon Flight, closely related to Free Eagle, and Sapiens, a son of Frankel and the Group One winner Etoile Montante.

Jim Bolger has put 11 horses in the race and notable among them is National Security, a full-brother to Parish Hall, who was a good servant to the stable a few years back.

There are 27 entries from Britain, an increase of four on 2016 and led by the Richard Hannon-trained Denaar, unbeaten in two starts.