RACING:Dundalk's all-weather circuit has been awarded a new Listed race, the Patron Stakes, which, it is planned, will be a Guineas trial over seven furlongs. The new contest will be run on April 5th this year.

Horse Racing Ireland confirmed the new race yesterday, along with a number of amendments to the Listed programme, which include the deletion of the Curragh’s Loughbrown Race as a Guineas Trial. Instead, a new Loughbrown Stakes will be a two -mile race for three-year-olds and up, run on September 29th at the Curragh.

HRI’s director of racing, Jason Morris, said yesterday: “The creation of the Guineas trial at Dundalk is due recognition for the high quality of horses that have been running on the all weather surface there, while the new Loughbrown Stakes will provide a first black type opportunity over a distance beyond 14 furlongs and is ideally located in the calendar after the Irish St Leger and before British Champions Day.”