Irish Derby festival: five things we learned from day one

1. Future stars on show

The two-year-olds running in some of the stakes races over the next couple of days will do well to impress more than the winners of the opening two maidens on Thursday evening.

The Jessica Harrington-trained newcomer Windracer received a 33-1 quote for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas after a battling success in the opening fillies' maiden.

How Aidan O'Brien introduces his stars at the Irish Derby meeting

Even more impressive was the Ballydoyle colt Armory, who showed a blistering turn of foot after encountering trouble in running in the maiden for colts and geldings. Paddy Power introduced him at 20-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Investec Derby.

War Diary (left) holds off Sea The Lion at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

2. Brave Lion is still on the up

So near and yet so far! Sea The Lion was as brave as you would expect in his bid to win the Ragusa Handicap for the third year in a row, but just went down in a driving finish when beaten a neck by the unexposed War Diary.

It was a clear career-best effort on Racing Post Ratings and the Jarlath Fahey-trained handicapper appears to be getting better at the age of eight.

3. Sky is the limit for El Astronaute

What a month it has been for John Quinn, Jason Hart and owners Ross Harmon Racing with their Irish raids as their star sprinter El Astronaute followed up his Listed win at Cork two weeks previously by making all to land the €125,000 Rockingham Handicap.

Victory was never really in doubt either. There must be a chance that he will come back here for the now Group 1 Flying Five on Champions Weekend.

4. One for the notebook

It's about time for the annual 'spot the Dermot Weld horse for Galway' game to begin.

Kattani wins the mile maiden impressivelyCredit: Patrick McCann

Looking at the way Kattani came up the Curragh hill to land the mile maiden, the hill at Ballybrit will pose him no problems. It would be no surprise to see him appear in the big mile handicap at the festival in a month's time.

How to ride Galway by Pat Smullen and Barry Geraghty

5. A good atmosphere for opener

I suspect the Curragh chiefs will probably be happy enough with the crowd for the opening evening of the new-look three-day festival.

It was not bursting at the seams by any means but there was a nice crowd, plenty of room and plenty of comfort, and it was noticeable that there were plenty of families at the track on Thursday evening.

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