All roads lead to the Curragh for the weekend we’ve all been waiting for

Brought to you by Horse Racing Ireland

Nothing signifies the start of summer quite like Tattersalls Irish Guineas weekend, and the sun is nearly shining at this stage.

It's been a long winter, what with lock-ups, lock-downs, any sort of lock-out you can think of, and while all-weather racing has been a decent appetiser, in terms of Irish flat racing, the Classics are what we all live for. We're exactly where we want to be so, with the first classics of the year taking place in the home of Irish flat racing this weekend, as some of the best racehorses in the country head for the Curragh for the 1000 and 2000 Guineas as well as a string of other high-class contests. And you won't miss so much as a beat of it, not if you tune into RTÉ this Saturday and Sunday for some expert analysis, some shrewd tips, some insightful interviews, but most importantly of all, for the races that are guaranteed to light up a weekend in Kildare. [caption id="attachment_228066" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning, pictured here after they won the 2015 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas with Pleascach, are still one of the most prolific duos in the game.[/caption] There's no point in saying otherwise, the lack of crowds take away from the magic of these pulsating days at the races but just because you're not there in person doesn't mean you can't be there in spirit. HRI's social media channels will be jumping as soon as Wednesday, with plenty of video interviews to come. Ahead of this weekend Fran Berry visits The Master of Coolcullen himself Jim Bolger (below) to chat to him about how he got his start in racing, how he acquired his magnificent training grounds in Kilkenny, and to talk about his recent triumph in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Poetic Flare ahead of the upcoming Irish Guineas Weekend and more. Be sure to join in the fun this weekend as the action heats up. This weekend will also represent a significant milestone in the history of this iconic festival, as the 2000 Guineas celebrates its 100th birthday. 100 years of racing, the show is only getting better. The renowned two-day Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is the first Classic weekend of the Irish flat racing season taking place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd May at the Curragh Racecourse. Fans are encouraged to tune into the live TV coverage on RTE and Racing TV across the weekend and follow @HRIRacing on social media for exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and live racing action. For more information visit our website www.hri.ie