The Irish Flat season is a matter of weeks away, with the opening day of the season kicking off at the Curragh on March 15, where the €100,000 Irish Lincoln takes centre stage. There will be Classic clues aplenty on April 12, when the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas Trials, along with the Ballysax Stakes, a key Derby trial, takes place at Leopardstown. TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin has had a look at some of the under-the-radar three-year-olds who could have a big role to play that weekend and indeed for the rest of the season below. Bamako Beach Bamako Beach: was sold by Eoin McDonagh at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale | TattersallsSands Of Mali colt out of Joyous (Assertive)Form: 2Trainer: Michael O'CallaghanThere can be few colts housed outside of the powerhouse Irish stables that boast such an exciting profile. Picked up for 72,000gns at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, he is a fine advertisement of the calibre of animal that his trainer Michael O'Callaghan seems to unearth from that sphere year in, year out. There was a huge amount of encouragement to be taken from Bamako Beach's debut second over 7f at Naas last September, where he was only just mowed down in the dying strides by a stronger stayer. On that evidence, Bamako Beach could develop into a classy prospect over a mile this season, and it is interesting that connections have handed him an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He can be expected to start in a Guineas trial and is potentially very smart. Alphecca Joe Murphy snr and jnr have a lot to look forward to with Alphecca | TattersallsSioux Nation filly out of Nepali (Ire) (The Gurkha)5311Joe MurphyJoe Murphy provided us with one of the feel-good stories of the entire Flat season in 2025 when Cercene supplied the veteran trainer with a breakthrough success at the highest level and Alphecca could well be capable of carrying on the mantle and keeping the stable in lights this term. An impressive maiden scorer over a mile at Killarney on her third start, she put away a decent field for the valuable Irish EBF Auction Series Final at Naas in the style of a filly capable of taking a step up in grade this year. A Guineas trial would be a natural starting point and, even if she wasn't Guineas class, her current mark of 89 would be good enough to get her into the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. There could be some big targets to aim at with her.The Publican's Son Beau Liam colt out of Annie Walker28Joseph O'BrienThe Publican's Son came from an impossible position to post an unbelievably taking debut second in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes before blotting his copy book when bombing out in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. There are reasons to suggest it could be wise to put a line through that Middle Park effort, not least for the fact the horse was sourced at an American Breeze-Up Sale at Ocala last March and was asked to cram a lot into a short space of time between being prepared for the breeze-ups, acclimatising into a new stable in Ireland and ultimately taking in Group 1 races. The impression he created on debut was a big one. Starting from a completely clean slate this season, one can expect him to have a big year over sprint distances. Long-term, he could even be a Commonwealth Cup candidate. Black Caviar Gold Black Caviar Gold: a smart prospect for Paddy Twomey | Racingfotos.comHavana Grey filly out of Perfect Outing (Outstrip)3411Paddy TwomeyBond Thoroughbreds rode the crest of a wave last year with Maranoa Charlie among others and few horses in the black and yellow will excite quite like Black Caviar Gold. Trained by Paddy Twomey, the daughter of Havana Grey went from strength to strength last term, culminating with victory in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh on the fourth and final start of her juvenile campaign. The manner in which she saw out the seven furlongs would give her every chance of getting the mile this season.MontrealSea The Stars colt out of Muwakaba (Elusive Quality)31Aidan O'BrienIt wouldn't be difficult to comprise a list of 10 horses to follow from Ballydoyle alone but, if there is one horse who is underestimated with a view towards some of the big races this season, perhaps it is Montreal, who can be backed at odds as big as 20-1 for the Derby. Well-supported to win a 1m maiden on debut at Leopardstown, Montreal was slowly away and never managed to land a blow. However, he went some way to illustrating why the market spoke so favourably about him on debut when bolting up by eight lengths over the same course and distance a fortnight later. A last minute withdrawal from a Group 2 contest at the Irish Champions Festival, Montreal remains untested beyond maiden company. However, he made a lasting impression at Leopardstown and it will be very interesting to see where he fits in this year. He looks a lively Derby outsider at this juncture at least. Whatchadoin Starman colt out of American Spirit (Rock Of Gibraltar)7335513-22Josh HalleyAn extremely likeable horse, he has opened up more options to connections by filling the runner-up spot over a mile the last twice at Dundalk. That latest effort came on Friday behind a highly-touted filly in Blanc De Blanc and, while he was ultimately no threat to that Classic entrant, there was reason to believe Whatchadoin has a lot more to offer. For starters, he is a fine, big colt with great depth and scope for improvement. Secondly, he has only one eye, which could go some way to explaining why he has taken nine runs to start fulfilling his potential. For that reason, he can also be forgiven what at times appears to be a gawky head carriage. The handicapper is likely to have a say for his Patton Race second but Whatchadoin strikes as a horse who can be competitive in premier handicaps this season. With fitness from an all-weather campaign on his side, he could run well in something like the Madrid Handicap at Naas in just a few weeks' time. Thundering OnFrankel filly out of Thundering Nights (Night Of Thunder)42 Joseph O'BrienSharpoor Mistry does not have many horses in training but few people will have trouble remembering his Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Thundering Nights, who is the dam of Thundering On. Unfortunately, Thundering Nights is listed as having passed away, which would place added emphasis on what Thundering On might be able to achieve for the owner-breeder. Judging on the Frankel filly's staying-on second behind Sugar Island in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh towards the back-end last season, Thundering On has a very bright future. She should be a formality to win her maiden and could even develop into an Oaks filly. Minella RockettJohn Nallen [left] and Matt Hall | TattersallsNew Bay colt out of Ebalista (Selkirk)0432-John NallenMinella Rockett might not be a black-type horse but he is well capable of winning plenty of prize-money for John Nallen, who is better associated with nurturing Gold Cup and Grand National winners. The son of New Bay has shown maiden-winning potential for Nallen and it should only be a matter of time before he opens his account. He could develop into a nice handicapper and may even end up in something like the lucrative Gowran Classic later this season.Loch Gamhna Australia colt out of Cascella (Iffraaj)03-Martin HassettOn that note, there is a distinct lack of those middle-distance types scattered around the smaller stables, presumably because they are highly tradable to abroad when they achieve form over seven furlongs or more. Undoubtedly, Martin Hassett would have tabled offers for Loch Gamhna, who looked a potentially interesting type when third over seven furlongs at the Curragh last October. Connections are understood to have decided to roll the dice with the Australia colt and, at a minimum, he should be up to increasing his value this season. There are lots of options available to him.Kilashee WarriorSaxon Warrior filly out of Ascended (Dark Angel)441Eddie and Patrick HartyKilashee Warrior's form stacks up well and she rates an interesting filly for a father-and-son team who continue to make waves on the Irish Flat scene. The daughter of Saxon Warrior out-ran her 50-1 price tag when not a million miles off getting black-type when fourth in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown at the Irish Champions Festival and followed up on that effort with a pretty straightforward maiden success at Thurles. She is lightly-raced and is another filly who can be expected to line out in a Guineas trial in the early parts of the season.The post Under The Radar: 10 Irish-Trained Three-Year-Olds To Follow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.