Henry Adams (far side)© Photo Healy Racing
The Aidan O’Brien trained Henry Adams heads a small and select field for the featured Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes at the Curragh this Sunday.
A leading two-year-old last year, the son of No Nay Never, won his maiden at Naas, a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown and finished fourth behind City of Troy in the Dewhurst Stakes.
He was last seen finishing down the field in the UAE Derby at Meydan late last month.
Other challengers include the Ger Lyons trained Mutasarref, San Andreas and Jumbly trained by Joseph O’Brien, Yosemite Valley trained by Donnacha O’Brien and Big Gossey, who will be running for the 45th time at the Curragh.
The race is named to honour the legendary Lester Piggott who not only rode Gladness to some of her greatest successes, but he also rode Night Alert, Apalachee and Minsky to win the race.
There are a total of 99 runners across the seven-race programme with six in the opening race for two-year-olds, 11 in the maiden for two-year-olds, 15 in the Treacy Group Maiden, 21 in the PG Duffy and Sons Citroen Handicap, 12 in the Newbridge Silverware Handicap and 28 in the Business Plus Handicap.
The Group 3 tote.ie Alleged Stakes takes centre stage of a seven-race programme on Saturday.
White Birch, who finished third in the Epsom Derby last year, is one of nine runners in the Group 3 contest, while other notable contenders include 2022 Beresford Stakes winner Crypto Force, Mashhoor winner of the Group 3 International Stakes, Village Voice, a Group 3 winner in France, Group 3 winner Greenland and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Helvic Dream , in addition to the Joseph O’Brien trained Maxux owned by Spanish soccer star Alvaro Odriozola Arzallus.
