Celestial Orbit springs 33-1 surprise as Irish racing makes history at the Curragh

Elsewhere on the card, Nathan Crosse opened his account for the new Flat season in some style when landing the €100,000 1xBet.ie Emerald Cup Premier Handicap aboard Fiver Friday

CLASSIC CONTENDER: The Johnny Murtagh-trained Chasing Paradise wins the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden in the hands of Ben Coen win for trainer Johnny Murtagh. Picture: Healy Racing

History was made at the Curragh as Irish racing took place for the first time on Good Friday with on-course bookmakers sponsoring free entry for racegoers and Joseph O’Brien enjoyed a dream result in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Park Express Stakes where 33-1 shot Celestial Orbit beat stablemate Princess Child (22-1).

Celestial Orbit showed a smart turn of foot in this Group 3 event to go three lengths clear at the furlong pole and Joey Sheridan’s mount had enough in reserve to hold off Princess Child by half a length with 5-6 favourite Faiyum running quite freely before keeping on a further two lengths back in third.