With Classics on the way, here's a snapshot of the Irish Flat season

Almost two months into the Turf season, and a week and a half before the Irish Guineas fixture, it is an apt time to assess how the season is shaping up for the leading Irish stables. In order of seasonal earnings following the weekend action at the Curragh, this is a snapshot of the campaign so far.

Aidan O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien: quickly out of the blocks at home and in BritainCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ireland's champion trainer has started briskly, two Guineas safely in the bag at Newmarket, two Group 2 wins at the Guineas meeting, a pair of Group 3 winners at Chester, and the Dee Stakes winner into the bargain. O'Brien has achieved several key early-season targets and has already moved past the £1 million earnings mark in Britain. At home, his horses have generally given the impression of being more forward than in the early stages of recent seasons, although we have not seen any fireworks yet. Even a one-two-three in the Derrinstown (an achievement replicated in last week's Chester Vase) was not especially informative. Two star four-year-old fillies have started well – Minding in the Mooresbridge Stakes – and the in-foal Acapulco in a Listed race at the Curragh on Sunday. On the juvenile front, the Scat Daddy colt Dali looked useful in stepping up from a Dundalk second to win at Naas, and Actress developed a similar profile at the Curragh on Sunday, improving from a debut second at Naas.

Ger Lyons

Ger Lyons: boasts a very healthy strike-rate of 23 per centCredit: Patrick McCann

Ger Lyons, whose seasonal tally has dipped below the 40 mark only once in the last nine seasons, had his best year with 65 winners in 2015. He has 23 on the board already this term. Perhaps a more significant figure is a strike-rate of 23 per cent, several points ahead of his typical seasonal percentage. His best performer Ardhoomey, a Group 2 winner at 5f last season, has had to settle for second behind two O'Brien-trained speedsters, Washington DC and Acapulco, on his first two appearances of the season.