Blue De Vega makes welcome return

Exciting three-year-old colt Blue De Vega makes his season's debut at the Curragh today.

Trainer Michael O'Callaghan gave the three-year-old an entry in Saturday's QIPCO 2000 Guineas, but felt today's assignment, in the Listed Power EBF Tetrarch Stakes (15.00) was a better starting point. If Blue De Vega performs well the French or Irish 2000 Guineas could be on his agenda.

As a Group Three winner he carries a 3lb penalty in this afternoon's seven-furlongs race, and gives weight to his seven rivals they include Round Two, a Listed winner last season, and Awtaad, who has the benefit of a recent run. Colin Keane rides Blue De Vega, who is owned in a partnership by Qatar Racing, Sheikh's Khalifa and Suhaim, and Mohammed Al Kubaisi.

The Ger Lyons-trained Ainippe adds spice to the Curragh card in the Gr.3 Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes (15.35), also over seven furlongs and restricted to fillies and mares. Ainippe won twice in this grade last year, when she also finished third of nine in the Gr.1 Matron Stakes.

‚"She is ready to run and in great form,‚" says Lyons ahead of the filly's season's debut.

Deep Challenger, who runs in a one-mile maiden (17.20) for Lyons at the Curragh, and home-bred Heartless, Andrew Balding's candidate for a fillies' handicap (17.25) at Bath, complete runners for the team today. Heartless is a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach.