Guineas ace Mother Earth the star of the show as new season kicks off at Curragh

Last year's 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth is the guest of honour at the first Flat turf fixture of the year as she makes her eagerly awaited reappearance in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (3.41) at the Curragh.

If she starts the new campaign the way she began last year's then victory should be a mere formality. At Newmarket, she showed a smart turn of foot under Frankie Dettori to see off Saffron Beach and she went on to add another Group 1 to her CV in August when digging deep to land the Prix Rothschild at Deauville.

Mother Earth's tenth and final outing of her Classic campaign was at Sha Tin in December when she flew home to take fourth behind Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile and Aidan O'Brien reports her to be in rude health ahead of her return to action.

He said: "We're very happy with Mother Earth. She's done very well over the winter and it looks like it's going to be nice ground at the Curragh as well. We're looking forward to getting her started back."

The biggest danger to Mother Earth would appear to be Insinuendo, winner of the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes and representing Willie McCreery, who won the race last year with Epona Plays.

McCreery said: "Insinuendo is in good form. We'll see how she gets on but she is doing well at home. The ground will be fine, we're happy with how she is and this is a good place to start for the year. It's great to get the season going again."

Insinuendo: reported to be in good shape for her reappearanceCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Emphatic Answer will be asked a big question here but Joseph O'Brien expects a big run from the improving four-year-old filly. He said: "I'm very pleased with her. She was lovely and progressive last year and won over this course and distance. It looks a very hot race."

The opening 5f maiden (1.25), the first juvenile contest on turf this year, was won by Missing Matron 12 months ago and this time around Jim Bolger saddles the beautifully bred Finsceal Go Deo – a daughter of Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo who is also a half-sister to the Beresford Stakes winner Ol' Man River.

Among her nine rivals is the Acclamation colt Midnight Toker, who cost €330,000 as a yearling and represents the formidable team of champion jockey Colin Keane and Ger Lyons.

There is good news for Tote punters at the Curragh as the new Tote guarantee comes into force, which means the price of the winner will never be lower than the starting price with the bookmakers.

Ross Kierans, general manager of Tote Ireland, said: "We are really pleased to be bringing Tote Guarantee to Irish racecourses. This will ensure racing fans will always get the best of both – the SP or better – when backing winners with the Tote.

"Tote Guarantee has been available to online Tote customers for a number of months now and has proved very popular, we are therefore delighted to extend this offer to customers at the races. This is another important step in the renewal of the Tote, ensuring we offer the best value and a compelling pool betting offer for our customers."

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