Catrine back as Irish turf season opens

Now five, the Ger Lyons-trained Queen Catrine runs in the Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes (15.50) over a mile, and while the going is likely to be soft, she encountered similar conditions when third in the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac as a juvenile.

Queen Catrine was trained by Charlie Hills at that time, but made her debut for Lyons in October when winning a Listed race at Naas under Colin Keane. He is back in her saddle tomorrow when she faces ten rivals.

Also running for Qatar Racing at the Curragh in a seven-furlong handicap (16.25) is the Lyons-trainedRestive and Newsman from Johnny Murtagh's stable. Keane and Connor King take the rides.

Sumbal returns to action at Saint-Cloud tomorrow when he lines up in the Gr.3 Prix Exbury. Trainer Francis Graffard reports the four-year-old has strengthened through the winter, and the seven-runner race looks an ideal opening opportunity, albeit he starts from the outside stall. Pierre-Charles Boudot is in the saddle, and Olivier Peslier rides Qatar Power for Freddy Head in the Listed Prix Camargo. Qatar Power, a three-year-old filly, is owned in partnership by Qatar Racing and Umm Qarn Farm.

Earlier today the Chris Waller-trained Hursley ran in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney, but finished unplaced. Jockey Craig Williams reported: "An outside barrier in a slow run race made it really hard for him."