Start of the Irish flat season: What are the big meetings? Who are the horses to follow? What are the Grade 1 races?

Although UK racing is currently suspended, Irish racing is going ahead behind closed doors, with today (March 23rd) officially marking the opening of the Irish flat season.

But what Irish action is on this week? What are the big meetings to look for throughout the season? Are there any exciting horses to follow? What are the Grade 1 races?

Oddschecker has taken a look at what’s coming up on the Emerald Isle.

What flat racing is on this week?

Monday kick-starts the Irish flat racing season, with Naas well and truly underway. The highlight of the seven races on offer is last season’s Derby favourite, Sir Dragonet, who runs in the 4pm.

Wednesday sees flat racing at Dundalk, whilst Navan has a full card on Friday.

The home of Irish flat racing, the Curragh, gets underway this Saturday where the Irish Lincolnshire is the trophy everyone is after.

Today's card at Naas marked the start of the Irish flat season.

There's a meeting at the Curragh this weekend too. https://t.co/W5F2RWIoOP

— Oddschecker Racing (@OddsRacing) March 23, 2020

What are the big meetings?

Curragh Guineas: 23rd – 24th May
Curragh Derby: 26th – 28th June
Curragh Oaks: 18th – 19th July
Galway: 27th July – 2nd August (mixture of flat and jumps)
Longines Irish Champions Weekend: 12th – 13th September (includes the Irish St Leger)

Who are the horses to follow?

Patrick Sarsfield – Currently, favourite to win the Irish Lincolnshire this Saturday at the Curragh, plenty will be watching the Joseph O’Brien-trained horse with interest.

Topping the market at 6/1 favourite, the four-year-old topped Aisteoir and New York Ballet at the same track back in October last year.

Mogul - Aidan O'Brien's primary Derby hope, the type to improve this year and already crying out for longer trips, could be the best Ballydoyle middle-distance colt for the season ahead.

At the time of writing, Mogul is the 14/1 joint-second-favourite alongside Kameko, now only trailing red hot favourite Pinatubo (7/1).

Albigna - Could turn out to be Ireland's best hope of a 1,000 Guineas win after an impressive victory in the Marcel Boussac, currently 12/1 second favourite.

Was left with too much to do at the Breeders Cup when last seen, but connections have had recent success with top-class fillies and this could turn out to be another one this flat season.

What are the Group 1 races?

Group 1 races showcase the crème de la crème of the Irish flat racing community, with previous winners such as Pinatubo, Iridessa, Hermosa, Magical and Phoenix of Spain.

The Curragh and Leopardstown are both home to the biggest Grade 1 races.

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Distance	Age/Sex	Winner of race in 2019
May	Irish 2,000 Guineas	Curragh	1m	3yo c&f	Phoenix of Spain
May	Tattersalls Gold Cup	Curragh	1m 2f 110y	4yo+	Magical
May	Irish 1,000 Guineas	Curragh	1m	3yo f	Hermosa
June	Pretty Polly Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	3yo+ f	Iridessa
June	Irish Derby	Curragh	1m 4f	3yo c&f	Sovereign
July	Irish Oaks	Curragh	1m 4f	3yo f	Star Catcher
July / Aug	Phoenix Stakes	Curragh	6f	2yo c&f	Siskin
September	Matron Stakes	Leopardstown	1m	3yo+ f	Iridessa
September	Irish Champion Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 2f	3yo+	Magical
September	Moyglare Stud Stakes	Curragh	7f	2yo f	Love
September	Vincent O'Brien National Stakes	Curragh	7f	2yo c&f	Pinatubo
September	Irish St. Leger	Curragh	1m 6f	3yo+	Search For A Song
September	Flying Five Stakes	Curragh	5f	3yo+	Fairyland

What are the Grade 2 races?

The Curragh Cup and Clipper Boomerang Mile are two of the standout Grade 2 Irish flat races that will be taking place this year.

Month	Race Name	Racecourse	Distance	Age/Sex
May	Ridgewood Pearl Stakes	Curragh	1m	4yo+ f
May	Mooresbridge Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	4yo+
June / July	Railway Stakes	Curragh	6f	2yo
June / July	Balanchine Stakes	Curragh	6f	2yo f
June / July	Curragh Cup	Curragh	1m 6f	3yo+
July	Kilboy Estate Stakes	Curragh	1m 1f	3yo+ f
July	Minstrel Stakes	Curragh	7f	3yo+
August	Debutante Stakes	Curragh	7f	2yo f
August	Futurity Stakes	Curragh	7f	2yo
September	Clipper Boomerang Mile	Leopardstown	1m	3yo+
September	Blandford Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	3yo+ f
Sept / Oct	Beresford Stakes	Curragh	1m	2yo