Hi all,
There’s some good action at the Curragh on Sunday. The Irish Cesarewitch (4:15) headlines the card and has €600,000 in guaranteed prize money. The huge prize money on offer means a field of 30 are set to meet the starter. Besides the feature handicap there’s also Group 3 action with the William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes (3.05) and Weld Park Stakes (3.40). Art Power won last year’s Renaissance Stakes and is strong favourite to win the race for a second year running.
Besides the Curragh there’s also the Class 2 Universal Hardwear Supplies Bath Summer Series Stayers Final Handicap (3:50). Normally run at Bath but due to not been able to water that track the race has been moved to Ffos Las. At Epsom it’s the final fixture of the season with the feature race being the Class 3 Stanley Wootton Handicap (2.50).
In today’s preview I have had a look at the three big races at the Curragh.
Curragh
4:15 – Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap) – 2m ½ f
Ante post favourite Waterville was being talked about as being a Derby contender at the start of the season. He’s been backed like he’s a Group class stayer and it’s possible he is. He stays 2m well as he showed at Limerick two starts back and the ground shouldn’t be too testing for the son of Camelot. In a field as big as this can happily let him win at a best priced 4/1.
Trainer Willie Mullins has saddled the winner of the race three times since 2015 and he throws a few darts at the race.
Echoes In Rain took advantage good flat mark when winning the valuable amateur riders handicap (2m 1f) at the Galway Festival. Up 10lb for that success but could still be well treated on her high class hurdle form. Maze Runner finished runner-up and 1 ½ length behind his stablemate at Galway. He’s 5lb better off here and should go well. A winner over C&D two starts back, he finished third in last year’s from 17lb lower. Lot Of Joy won the Swedish St Leger last year and shaped with plenty of promise when a 6 ¼ length 4th of 20 to Echoes In Rain. Given she had a high draw to contend with she did well to get as close as she did. That was her first start for Willie Mullins and first for 9 months she might have needed it. Who knows how stall 32 will pan out though.
Yaxeni has touch of class and she comes into the race after winning a soft ground Listed race (1m 4f) at Galway last time. Stays 2m as she showed when winning the November handicap at Naas last season from 5lb lower. The softer the ground the better and if she gets it she’s a big contender. Azallya was 4 length second to Yaxeni at Galway. That was her first start for 4 months and may have needed the race. There shouldn’t be much between the pair here and she comes into the race fresher than most.
French Claim finished a 9-length 3rd of 8 to Westover in the Irish Derby and ran just as well when a 4¾ length 7th of 9 to Eldar Eldarov in St Leger at Doncaster last time. The ground looks ideal for the 3-year-old and on the evidence of finishing effort last time he should stay 2m.
Besides the favourite Waterville Aidan O’Brien also saddles Wordsworth. The 4-year-old makes his handicap debut off a 93-day break. A previous course winner he stays 2m and was placed in Group 1’s races over 1m 4f last season. Ryan Moore takes the ride because he can’t do the weight on Waterville.
Moore rode Cleveland last time when that one was 2nd of 8 to Gear Up in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last time. One mile four furlongs wasn’t enough of a stamina test for the Chester Cup winner, and he should go well for Joseph O’Brien, despite Moore opting for Wordsworth. Powerful Aggie was in excellent form last autumn winning twice at Killarney and Leopardstown and then ran Yaxeni to ½ length in the November Handicap at Naas. Hasn’t been seen at her best on three starts this season but the cheekpieces are on for the first time and maybe she’s a filly at her best at this time of year.
Shanroe was outclassed in the Irish St Leger last time, but he’s better judged on his 3 ¾ length 8th of 20 in the Ebor Handicap, off 4lb higher. The 8-year-old has yet to race beyond 1m 7f on the flat but he should stay and races like he could be suited by it. Like Lot of Joy, he’s been drawn out wide in stall 33.
Verdict: Waterville and Echoes In Rain have strong claims at the front end of the market but I’m looking for others at bigger odds. I’m not sure about the wide draws for Lot Of Joy and Shanroe. Wordsworth and Cleveland look to have similar claims. Of the pair I just prefer Cleveland despite Ryan Moore seemingly opting for Wordsworth. There shouldn’t be much between Yaxeni and Azallya on their running at Galway 19-days ago. French Claim should go well on handicap debut, and this has been the plan for the 3-year-old. Powerful Aggie hit form this time last season and isn’t handicapped out of this if bouncing back to last season’s best.
3:05 – William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes (Group 3) – 6f
Art Power was a runaway winner of this race and if he’s in the same form 12 months later will be tough to beat. Dexter Belle handled soft ground very well when winning the “Bold Lad” Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap) over C&D 14-days ago. The soft ground suited her that day. Has 22lb to find with the favourite on official ratings but if all eight runners stand their ground, she might get into the places.
3:40 – Weld Park Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Caroline Street put up a much improved performance when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 6 to the smart Auguste Rodin in a Group 2 at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. A reproduction of that run will see her hard to beat back against her own sex.
There are a number of promising and improving fillies in the field including Keep In Touch who got off the mark at the third attempt when winning Galway maiden (soft) earlier this month. She’s open to more progress and is worth her place in the line-up. Pandora Lovegood looked an improving filly when winning a Roscommon maiden and following up in a Galway nursery 57-days ago. Both those wins came on soft ground and if she gets her ground, she looks capable of getting into the money for an inform yard.
Betting Advice:
Curragh
3:05 – 0.5pts each way – Dexter Belle – 33/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:40 – 0.5pts each way – Pandora Lovegood – 16/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
4:15 – 1pt win – French Claim – 16/1 @ Ladbrokes, 1pt win – Azallya – 20/1 @ Bet365 and 0.5pts each way – Powerful Aggie – 50/1 @ Bet365 (paying 7 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John