Eight flat races are to be staged in Ireland at the Curragh on Thursday, October 12.

Action takes place between 13.15 – 17.15, and there are superb numbers in terms of entries.

Ryan Moore, Billy Lee, Colin Keane – some world-class jockeys are on view, make no mistake.

13.50 – Kortez Bay @ 13/8

Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of jockey William James Lee – Billy Lee to the racing world. A terrific pilot who stands out even in the white-hot competition in such a country renowned for its outrageous talent in this sphere.

On Thursday I’m going for two, both ridden by Billy, and I’ll have a wee double too. Small stakes, but a bit of added fun.

First up then is Kortez Bay, who ran a scorcher last time at Naas over 6f and steps up a furlong here. This is a progressive 2-yr-old who already has an entry into next year’s Irish 2000 Guineas, and being by New Bay out of a Singspiel mare this trip is probably a bare minimum even now.

There are any number of dark horse threats that haven’t seen a racecourse yet but Kortez sets a high standard for me and can open his account for the Laverys.

17.15 – Keke @ 9/2

Another WJ Lee-ridden conveyance – a 3-yr-old son of crack Irish sprinter Dandy Man this time. If I had a fiver for the times I backed Dandy Man to win York’s Nunthorpe I’d be significantly better off, let’s leave it at that, but elsewhere he was mustard.

Keke has evidently inherited plenty, as he dotted up last time at Bellewstown in a career-best, on his 4th lifetime start. The 2nd that day has since gone in at Navan in a 20-runner affair, and indeed re-opposes today, so the form has a solid look to it.

Trainer Eddie Lynam uses Lee, and is in rude form himself. His sprinters including the ‘Power’ element in their names have been out and about with some success of late and he has the magic touch all right with the highly-strung speed merchants.

Here’s to a cracking afternoon of intriguing flat race action and one of Ireland’s finest hopefully making hay.