Hi all,
There’s a decent card at the Curragh this evening. Indeed, it wouldn’t be out of place on a Saturday. The feature race is the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes (5:30). There’s also a good undercard with a Listed race and two Premier Handicaps, albeit the latter two races haven’t attracted big fields.
Curragh
6:00 – Sky Bet Junefest Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 5f
There was plenty to like about Iva Batt’s win at Cork two weeks ago. The handicapper has raised her 3lb for that success which doesn’t look harsh and she won’t be far away again.
Notoriously Risky has run well on all three starts this season and would go close if reproducing her ¾ length 2nd of 11 at Naas two starts back.
Swiss Ace was 5th in that Naas race and has 6 lengths to find with Notoriously Risky on that running. However, that was colt’s first start for 9 months and he does get the first-time blinkers today.
Sister Rosetta broke her maiden tag at the 6th attemptwhen showing plenty of dash to win a Dundalk maiden back in November. Likely needed the run when a 5 ½ length 6th of 9 in a Navan Listed race 38-days ago. Likely to go well on her handicap debut for the inform Ger Lyons yard.
1pt win – Iva Batt – 4/1 – Gen
6:30 – Sky Bet Orby Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 2f
Bolshoi Ballet backers will be hoping that stablemate Lough Derg can give another boost to the Derrinstown Derby Trial form. He was a 6-length runner-up in that race and reproduction of that running would see the colt go close here.
Patrick Sarsfield improved from handicap company to win a Group 3 at Leopardstown last summer and ended last season with 1 ¼ length 2nd of 8 in a Group 2 at Longchamp. Won first time up in 2020 but the 5-year-old must give weight for age and 3lb penalty to some potentially improving 3-year-olds.
Bolivar looked like he can hold his own in this sort company when 2nd of 12 at Naas on his final start last season. The 4-year-old has only had five career starts so is open to more progress although drying ground would be a bit of an unknown for his seasonal return.
O’Reilly a winner of Leopardstown maiden on his seasonal reappearance, improved further for the step up to 1m 2f when runner-up to Kyprios at Cork last time. Might be seen to better effect over further but he’s going the right way and should progress with racing.
Nicest wasn’t disgraced when a 5 ¾ length 3rd of 7 in the Cheshire Oaks on her return after an 8 months absence. The more the ground dries out the better her chance and the daughter of American Pharaoh should also be suited by today’s drop back in trip. Lightly raced and she could still prove to be a Group filly this season.
Verdict: Lough Derg looks the most likely winner. However, I am going to take him on with O’Reilly & Nicest.
1pt win – O’Reilly – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Nicest – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:05 – Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 6f
Shanroe return to the flat after three starts over hurdles over the winter. He was a 3 ¼ length 4th of 16 in the November Handicap at Naas on his last start on the level. The handicapper has dropped the 7-year-old 3lb. He may prove better over a bit further but should go well here.
Shoshone Warrior won a Leopardstown maiden last summer for Aidan O’Brien and put in a career best on RPR’s when a ½ length 2nd of 18 at the same venue in a valuable handicap (1m 5f) last September. Poor run in the Irish Irish Cesarewitch on soft ground and has since switched to Joseph O’Brien. Will probably be seen to best effect on good ground.
Powerful Ted was ¾ length behind Shoshone Warrior at Leopardstown. The 6-year-old returned from a 7 month lay off to finish 3rdof 11 over hurdles at Kilbeggan 40-days ago. The return to the flat is a positive and he looks capable of winning a good handicap pot this season.
Verdict: Despite being a 7-year-old Shanroe could be open to more progress having just had then four starts on the flat There shouldn’t be much between Shoshone Warrior and Powerful Ted on last season’s Leopardstown running. Both have chances and it will be interesting to see how fit the former is on his debut for a new yard.
1pt win – Shoshone Warrior – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Powerful Ted – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Cheers
John