Holy Roman Emperor gave Aidan O’Brien his eighth win in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes with a convincing victory at the Curragh.

Bryan Smart’s Hellvelyn flies the flag for Britain in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

THE decision of Horse Racing Ireland to downgrade Tipperary’s John James McManus Memorial Hurdle in October From a Grade One to a Grade Two has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Tommy Stack’s Drayton is set to lock horns with Holy Roman Emperor once more in Sunday’s Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s promising juvenile Holy Roman Emperor stands out among a 15-strong entry for the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

DANDY MAN confirmed he is the best sprinter this country has produced for a while with a scintillating display in the Listed King Of Beers Stakes at the Curragh yesterday, writes Pat Keane.

NASAFAR, desperately unlucky at Leopardstown last time, is a confident choice to take the Wagon Trail Maiden at Navan this afternoon.

GALILEAN, stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time, gets the nap to land the Tipperary Races Support Munster Maiden at Tipperary this evening.

With a Cheltenham Festival success to his name already in 2006, John Joseph Murphy turned his attention to the Flat and struck at the top level when registering his first Group-race success with Pout in the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh.

Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Ace again had to settle for second place when chasing home Alayan in the Group Three High Chaparral EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.

Decado ran out the impressive winner of the Rock Of Gibraltar EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh to earn a tilt at the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Aidan O’Brien suffered an early reverse in his quest for Classic honours when Vodafone Oaks hopeful Chenchikova was beaten on the opening day of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh.