Galway Races: Win Tickets To Ladies Day!

Preparations for the Galway Races are in full swing and we’d like to give Tote customers the chance to win 2 tickets to Ladies Day on Thursday 3rd of August.

To be in with a chance to win just enter the competition below before Midnight, Tuesday 25th of July.

Video: The Tote Show: Episode 2

This week’s edition focuses on the Darely Irish Oaks and Tote Scurry races at the Curragh.

The Darley Irish Oaks & Tote Scurry

The Irish Oaks is the feature Group One race in Ireland this weekend and there’s a strong British challenge as Enable and Coronet bid to give John Gosden a second win in the contest. Enable looks as close to unbeatable as they come but won’t be much of a price. She hosed up, from Alluringly, in the Cheshire Oaks and beat that rival again by even further in the Epsom Oaks just three weeks later. If she exhibits the same level of form then it’s just a matter of who fills the places. Coronet won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot after finishing fifth at Epsom and is the likeliest biggest danger.

My Racing Story: Michael Higgins – Irish Injured Jockeys Fund

Being the general manager of the Irish Injured Jockeys means that some days can turn quite challenging but others can become quite rewarding. No two days are the same in this job but it’s great to see the charity moving forward quicker than we ever could have hoped since the Irish Injured Jockeys was set up in 2014. 

Video: The Tote Show : Episode 1

The Tote Show – Episode 1

My Racing Story: John Tuthill

Being a breeder and watching a filly that you have kept to race go and win a stakes races on her last racecourse appearance is a dream scenario and it was wonderful to live that dream with Penny Pepper at the Curragh last month.

I had bred Penny Pepper and sold her as a yearling but unfortunately her owner took ill and I got the opportunity to buy her back, so I did, and put her into training with Kevin Prendergast and she is now retired and in foal to Dragon Pulse, who I also bred. In this case things most certainly worked out, it doesn’t always work out but this was a real thrill. 

Sandown: The Coral Eclipse

The Group One Coral Eclipse takes centre stage this weekend at Sandown and Cliffs Of Moher bids to give Aidan O’Brien his sixth win in the contest, and first since 2011 when So You Think scored under Seamie Heffernan. Ballydoyle also run Taj Mahal, under Derby-winning jockey Padraig Beggy, but it’s the mount of Ryan Moore that’s likely to go off favourite. There’s a school of thought that he didn’t quite get the Derby trip so coming back to ten furlongs should be right up his street.

My Racing Story: Rachel Blackmore

From my point of view, the decision to turn professional and become the first ever female jockey in Ireland to do so, was a no brainer, but I really never dreamed it would go this well and riding out my claim at Wexford last Wednesday capped off an incredible few months.

When I was riding as an amateur I was riding in point-to-points and bumpers but I just wasn’t really getting going so I had nothing to lose to turn conditional when I had a yard behind me like Shark Hanlon’s that said they were going to support me. It was just great that it completely went the other way and changed my career. I did say to Shark that I never thought I would ride out my claim so it was a big deal to do that and nice to have a winner for Shark on Wednesday as well. 

Andrew Slattery – Q&A

Co. Tipperary trainer Andrew Slattery won the Tote Rockingham in 2016 with Sors and he is set to take his chance in the race again this weekend at The Curragh. Andrew answers some of our questions ahead of the biggest weekend in Irish racing – Derby Weekend.

Sors won the Tote Rockingham handicap last year, he’s entered again on Sunday at the Curragh. What kind of form is he in?

He’s in great form, he’s had a few runs, and this has been his aim all year. We hope we get a good draw and the rest will up to him on the day. Killian Leonard rode him last year to win this race and he will ride him again on Sunday. It was always the plan to have Kilian ride him if he lined up and we feel Sors weight on Sunday coupled with Killian’s claim will help his chance. He’s rated 94 so he’ll have a chance again.