RICHARD Hannon’s Strong Suit features among 13 confirmations for the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

LIBANO should prove tough to beat in the Group 3 www.thetote.com Gladness Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow.

Johnny Murtagh has been crowned Ireland’s champion Flat jockey.

THERE IS no doubt this recession has started to bite hard as far as racing is concerned.

Johnny Murtagh is confident Mastercraftsman remains at the peak of his powers ahead of his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile assignment at Santa Anita tomorrow.

CRYSTAL Gal should prove tough to beat in the listed Lanwades & Staffordstown Studs Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow.

MASTERCRAFTSMAN came through his Breeders Cup prep successfully at Dundalk last night, outclassing his ten rivals in the Group 3 Diamond.

The Breeders’ Cup meeting looks the likely next port of call for Mastercraftsman after he proved a different class to his rivals in the Diamond Stakes at Dundalk.

FREE Judgement should open his account in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden at Dundalk tonight, where Mastercraftsman will be the star attraction in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes.

AQLAAM will bid to show his younger rivals the way home in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.

Rip Van Winkle and Delegator feature among just five horses declared for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

RIP VAN WINKLE delighted his connections in his latest workout ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

THE Curragh can look forward to a cracking afternoon on Saturday, with Yeats a major draw in the Irish Field St Leger, while the National Stakes has attracted a smashing entry.

IT’S virtually certain Sea The Stars will take his chance in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown today.

MICK Kinane believes Sea The Stars is a stronger horse now than he has been all season as he defends his unbeaten record in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown today.

Aidan O’Brien has the utmost respect for Sea The Stars as the Ballydoyle batallions bid to sink John Oxx’s colt for the first time this year in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.

DESPITE the continued uncertainty over the participation of Sea The Stars in Saturday’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, William Hill have installed him as their 10-11 favourite.

Despite the continued uncertainty over the participation of Sea The Stars in Saturday’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, William Hill have installed him as their 10-11 favourite.

WELL, what can you say, a Danehill Dancer who doesn’t go on heavy ground!

PRAISE from weighing room veteran Mick Kinane is praise indeed and there is no doubting Sea The Star’s place in his affections after the Irish wonder rattled off his fourth Group One success in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York yesterday.

Sea The Stars enhanced his reputation as a modern great today with another Group One victory in a thrilling Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Sea The Stars has won the big race at York today.

Godolphin are in no hurry to finalise plans for Schiaparelli following his victory in the Goodwood Cup.

Karl Burke will run the gamut of emotions over the next couple of days after achieving the pinnacle of his career with a first Group One victory in the Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Fame And Glory will be given a midsummer break by Aidan O'Brien before being brought back to the track for the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

YOU would have to say that the line-up for Sunday’s Irish Derby at the Curragh is entirely predictable.

LOOKS as if Ballydoyle may have unearthed another iron horse in the shape of Mastercraftsman.

DAY one of Royal Ascot belonged to the punters after a host of favourites and well-backed winners left bookmakers reeling.

AIDAN O’Brien likened Mastercraftsman to Giant’s Causeway as the devilishly tough colt wrestled the St James’s Palace Stakes from the clutches of Delegator yesterday.

Aidan O'Brien likened Mastercraftsman to Giant's Causeway as the devilishly tough colt wrestled the St James's Palace Stakes from the clutches of Delegator.

AIDAN O’Brien has no grounds for concern about the going for Mastercraftsman in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Mastercraftsman, brilliant winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, heads 13 confirmations for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

PLANS for Rayeni will be geared around his preferred soft going following his fine effort in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas.

Johnny Murtagh has spoken of his "soft spot" for Rip Van Winkle as the Investec Derby gamble on the Stanjames.com 2000 Guineas fourth gathers pace.

Mastercraftsman stretched clear of his rivals to run out a hugely impressive winner of the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

TRUST Mastercraftsman to reverse Newmarket form with Delegator in the Boylesports.com Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

OWNER Poilin Good is keeping her fingers crossed Delegator will handle the testing conditions as he bids for glory in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

JOHNNY MURTAGH is confident Rip Van Winkle can prove he is up to Group One level when he lines up in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket today.

AIDAN O’BRIEN’S Mastercraftsman was rated last year’s top two-year-old in Europe but his mark of 122 was considerably lower than the one achieved by 2007 champion New Approach in the European Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.

Irish-trained horses have scooped four trophies at the Cartier Awards, racing's equivalent of the Oscars.

Trainer Freddie Head made it a remarkable eight Group Ones for the season on the Longchamp undercard as Naaqoos took the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) and Marchand D’Or the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Mastercraftsman just prevailed in a desperate struggle with Shaweel to give Aidan O’Brien a seventh Bank Of Scotland (Ireland) National Stakes at the Curragh.

AIDAN O’BRIEN can make history at the Curragh this afternoon by becoming the first trainer since 1935 to win all five Irish classics in the one season.

The pecking order among Aidan O’Brien’s juveniles could become more evident after the Bank Of Scotland National Stakes on Sunday at the Curragh.