Hi all,
Irish Champions Weekend switches from Leopardstown to the Curragh for today’s action. There are no less than four Group 1’s on an eight race card. Add in a couple of big field handicaps that bookend the card and you have the makings of cracking afternoon. I’m beginning today’s preview with a look at the four Group 1’s on the card.
Curragh
Irish St Leger (4:35)
It’s the final Classic of the Irish flat season with the latest running of the Irish St Leger (4:35). Just five have been declared which is a disappointing turnout.
Mind you top stayer Kyprios is set to make a belated seasonal reappearance in the race. The 5-year-old was unbeaten on six starts last season. Four of those successes came in Group 1’s including the Ascot Gold Cup and the Irish St Leger. He’ll no doubt improve for his 344 day absence, but I think connections will be disappointed if he doesn’t make a winning return to action.
I’m still hoping Aidan O’Brien will consider him for next months Arc. His biggest rival this afternoon is likely to be Elder Eldarov, but he hasn’t really kicked on since winning last year’s St Leger.
Flying Five Stakes (2:55)
Highfield Princess will bid for back to back wins in the race. She faces Bradsell who beat her at Royal Ascot and finished ¾ length behind her in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last time. There shouldn’t be much between the pair once more although this stiffer 5f should suit Bradsell.
Art Power is a perfect 4-4 at the Curragh. He’s tended to come up short in Group 1 company in the past but at this venue he always needs respecting.
The final two Group 1’s are for the juveniles and they look fascinating contests with next season in mind.
Moyglare Stud Stakes (3:25)
Some of the best juveniles we’ve seen this season are set to line-up for this 7f contest which has been won by the likes of Tahiyra, Love & Minding in recent seasons.
Ylang Ylang is probably the best 2-year-old filly we’ve seen this season and looks a worthy favourite. Mind you she faces a serious rival in Vespertilio. The latter was beaten by Ylang Ylang in a Group 3 at Leopardstown but has improved again to win a Group 2 over C&D 22 days ago.
Porta Fortuna improved to win the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and was a respectable runner-up when taking on the boys in the Phoenix Stakes (6f) here last month. Interesting on her first start at 7f.
Fallen Angel impressed when winning running out an easy winner of the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket 29 days ago. Like the three fillies above she’s open to
Red Viburnum is the most fascinating of the nine runners. The daughter of Frankel had clearly been showing plenty at home as she was set off 9/4 for her racecourse debut over C&D 29 days ago. She ran green when asked for her effort 1f out that day. However, once the penny dropped, she picked up well to finish a ½ length 3rd of 11. She could improve significantly today and is one to keep on side.
Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (4:00)
City Of Troy has looked the best juvenile we’ve seen this season and is worthy short priced favourite. He’s unbeaten on both career starts, and we could well be seeing a future Classic winner in action.
Favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas & Derby he looks to have scared of his rivals as he faces just five rivals, and they include stablemate Henry Longfellow. The latter was a surprising declaration for the race.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien had suggested he and City Of Troy would be kept a part this season. He’s talented colt and second favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas. Like City Of Troy he’s unbeaten on both career starts.
Bucanero Fuerte is actually 1lb head of City Of Troy on Official Ratings but he’s had two more starts than the favourite. The son of Wootton Bassett improved to win the Group 2 Railway Stakes here (6f) and then the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. There’s a good chance he can improve for the step up to 7f and if the ground does ease, he will give City Of Troy a race.
1:50 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Bold Lad” Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 6f
Plenty of old favourites are set to line-up including Summerghand and Mr Wagyu. Summerghand should give his running if he gets a sound surface. Mr Wagyu has been struggling for consistency this season and was behind Summerghand at York last time. I’m going to desert him today and if he pops up here, I will just take on the chin.
Fresh caught the eye when a 2 ½ length behind Summerghand at York last time. I thought he was going to go for yesterday’s 7f handicap at Ascot, a race he won 12 months ago. Instead, James Fanshawe brings him here. A strongly run 6f will suit the 6-year-old and he won’t be inconvenienced by any ease in the ground. He’s handicapped to win and he’s high on my shortlist.
Of the home challengers Heavenly Power, Big Gossey and Master Matt are respected.
Heavenly Power’s two career wins have come over C&D on soft ground, but the 5-year-old produced a career best on RPR’s on good ground when a neck 2nd of 13 to stablemate John Riggens over C&D 3 weeks ago. He’s been nudged up 2lb but should be in the mix if stall 1 isn’t an inconvenience.
Big Gossey lost any chance he had with a slow start when 2 ¾ lengths behind Heavenly Power last time. He did well in the circumstances to finish as close as he did. Needs to break on level terms to win but he won this race in 2021 and always needs respect at venue he goes so well at.
Master Matt has struggled on his last three starts on soft ground but is better judged on his head 2nd of 16 here over 5f in July. Now 2lb lower and is another worth considering.
2:25 – Moyglare ”Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 2f
Trevaunance arguably brings the best form into the race. The 4-year-old won a Group 2 at Deauville last summer and posted a seasonal best when a 4 length 4th of 8 in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last month. Drops in class here and must be respected in the first time cheekpieces.
I think Trevaunance should be favourite but the bookies have Jackie Oh and Araminta vying for market leader.
Jackie Oh improved to win a Group 3 (1m 1f) at Gowran Park 43 days ago and there should be more to come from the Aidan O’Brien trained filly now stepped up to 1m 1f. Her best form has come with plenty of ease in the ground so connections will be hoping the forecast rain has arrived.
English challenger Araminta has won three of her four career starts including a Listed race at Goodwood and a Group 3 at Chantilly 56 days ago. The 3-year-old has the physical scope to continue to improve and could be even better next year.
Lumiere Rock has been running consistently well this season. Arguably her best performances have come when finishing runner-up to Warm Heart in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and in the Group 2 at Deauville three weeks ago. The first time cheekpieces are applied and if they can elicit a bit more improvement she would go close here.
5:10 – Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes – 6 ½ f
Native American looked a nice juvenile prospect when winning at York in May. We haven’t seen the Richard Fahey trained colt since. However, he’s open to improvement and he’ll be hard to beat if returning in the same form.
Fellow English challenger Mercian Warrior may turn out to be his biggest rival. He’s shaped with encouragement on both starts and a stamina test over today’s intermediate trip could see the colt in an even better light. Yard won this corresponding race 12 months ago with Streets Of Gold.
Of the home contingent Lively Set made a promising racecourse debut when a ¾-length 4th of 8 in a Navan maiden 8 days ago. There’s more improvement to come from the filly and she should be in the mix.
5:45 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Northfields” Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 2f
Twenty three are set to go to post for an ultra-competitive handicap.
Coeur D’or had Crystal Black ½ length back in third when winning the Irish Cambridgeshire (1m) here 15 days ago. The winner is 3lb higher but a 5lb apprentice has been booked which negates the weight rise. The 7-year-old is going the right way and he looks worth another try at 1m 2f.
Crystal Black is 3lb better off with Coeur D’or and is entitled to be bang there and was a close-up third in this corresponding race in 2021 for his previous yard. Probably wouldn’t want the ground too much back up to 1m 2f.
Migdam ran well on first start for Aidrian McGuinness at Naas 14 days ago. That was the 4-year-old’s first start for 12 months and he’s the sort the trainer excels with. On handy mark on the best of his form for Sir Michael Stoute and should go well with Osin Murphy booked.
Take Heart is one of the least exposed runners in the line-up. The 3-year-old made it 2 wins from 4 runs when winning a Naas handicap 14 days ago. He’s up 6lb but was well on top last time and there should be more to come from him. His Naas success came on good to soft so any ease in th ground won’t concern him.
Like Take Heart Genuine Article comes into the race with an unexposed profile having just had the three starts. The gelding got off the mark on his second start in a Killarney maiden two starts back before finishing a 1 ½ length 3rd of 6 on handicap debut at Galway last month. Shaped at Galway like he needs a step up to 1m 2f and is considered from a yard that also saddles Coeur D’or.
Just An Hour won a Killarney maiden in May before running no sort of race when down the field on handicap debut in the Brittania Handicap at Royal Ascot. He’s been gelded since and is surely better than he was able to show last time.
Kingswood posted a career best on RPR’s when a ½ length 3rd of 6 in a Group 3 over C&D in May. He didn’t settle stepped up to an extended 1m 3f when a 2 ½ length 5th of 9 to Espionage in Listed race at Roscommon 68 days ago. The drop back to 1m 2f and a big field should allow him to get some cover and he’s one to not on handicap debut.
Betting Advice:
Curragh
1:50 – Fresh – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral and Big Gossey – 1pt win – 20/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
3:25 – Red Viburnum – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
5:10 – Take Heart – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Kingswood – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John