Hi all,
A cracking Friday evening card at the Curragh is the highlight of a busy day of racing both sides of the Irish Sea. The highlights of an eight-race card at the Curragh are three Group 3’s, two of them juvenile contests, and the 27 runner Paddy Power sponsored Irish Cambridgeshire. I have had a look some of the Curragh races and one at Thirsk.
Curragh
4:45 – Manguard Plus Irish EBF Flame Of Tara Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) – 1m
Albula created a good impression when winning a Naas maiden (1m) 25-days ago. Back in 4th that day was Magical Lagoon who was much shorter in the betting that day. Both fillies are open to further improvement and I would expect the winner to uphold the Naas form. It’s worth noting Magical Lagoon does hold a Group 1 entry and trainer Jessica Harrington has saddled the winner of the race twice since 2014.
Aidan O’Brien has saddled the winner of this race three times in the past ten years. He saddles the once raced Kiss You Later and newcomer Lullaby. The first named finished 7th on her racecourse debut here over 7f last month. Today’s longer trip will suit her and I expect her to have improved plenty for that experience. Interesting that Aidan throws in Lullaby in here for her racecourse debut. It will be a tough ask for the daughter of Galileo to win but if she did, would be a very smart filly.
We haven’t seen She’s Trouble since she won a maiden here over 6f, 96-days ago. She had the useful Agartha back in third that day. She’s gets the first time cheekpieces today and is another open to improvement for the step up in trip. The ground was heavy when she won her maiden so she must prove she’s as effective on today’s quicker ground.
5:15 – Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 1f
Champers Elysees is top on official ratings and the one to beat if back to her best form of last season. Has yet to hit form on four starts this season and it’s her first start beyond 1m but she should stay today’s 1f longer trip.
Shale was a high-class juvenile winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes here last September. Another who has yet to recapture last season’s best form but a 4 ½ length 6th of 8 last time in the Group 1 Pretty Polly here was a small step back in the tight direction for the 3-year-old.
Oodnadatta was another useful juvenile last season and she finished a 2 ½ length third to Shale in last season’s Moyglare Stakes. She likely needed her seasonal reappearance in the Pretty Polly and then unseated her rider at the start next time. Came with a promising run two out but possibly didn’t see out 1m 2f on yielding ground when a 3-length 4th of 12 behind Earlswoof here last time. Drop in trip looks a plus and she’s well suited to a sound surface. Her trainer Jessica Harrington has won the race three times in the past ten years.
The remaining fillies need to find plenty of improvement to win. I Siyou Baby steps into pattern company for the first time and is bidding for the four timer, after two wins in handicap company. She has 21lb to find with Champers Elysees on Official Ratings but is going the right way and her improvement may not have levelled out yet.
5:45 – Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes (Group 3) – 6f
Ladies Church looked a useful juvenile when winning at Naas last month. The daughter of Churchill only had to be pushed out to in that day and remains open to further improvement for her step up to 6f. Acts well on a sound surface and won’t be far away.
Tom Dascombe brings over Sam Maximus who comes into the race with the best form. A quick ground Haydock winner on his racecourse debut. He’s since gone onto run a cracker in finishing ½ length behind Lusail and Asymmetric in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket before finishing a length 4th of 10 in Group 2 at Deauville (soft) last time. A return to a sounder surface looks a positive for the colt.
Sacred Bridge has won all three starts. She beat Agartha on her racecourse debut at Naas and has continued to improve with each run. Looked a smart filly when winning a valuable sales race at Naas last time and deserves her place in Group company.
Cowboy Justice won a maiden over 7f here 19-days ago. Like most of these he holds Group 1 entries in the big autumn juvenile contests. He looks an excellent prospect and it’s Interesting that Jessica Harrington drops the colt back in trip here against what looks some speedy 2-year-old’s.
6:15 – TRI Equestrian Handicap – 6f
Goodnight Girl comes into the race on a long losing run but is a useful handicapper when at her best as she showed when a ¾ length 2nd of 17 over C&D (good to firm) in June. She’s 2lb higher than that day but a capable apprentice takes off a handy 5lb.
Both Lord Dudley and dual course winner Pretty Boy Floyd come into the race in good form and should be there or thereabouts again.
Grammata was a strong finishing 3rd of 19 in the valuable Scurry Handicap here over 6 ½ f two starts back. However, she was very disappointing at Naas 25-days ago. Each way claims if back to her best here.
Dandyville has won two of his last three starts. The 3-year-old showed a good attitude to get up on the line at Naas last month. Has been raised 8lb for that success which makes life tougher but he’s going the right way and a stiff 6f on a sound surface are his optimum conditions.
1pt win – Dandyville – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
6:45 – Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire (Premier Handicap) – 1m
Ante post favourite Toshizou returned from a 4-month absence with an eyecatching ½ length 4th of 13, on his handicap debut, over C&D 19-days ago. The 3-year-old didn’t get the clearest of passages, two out that day and would have finished closer if he had. He’s lightly raced, open to more improvement and is high on the shortlist if stall 18 isn’t an inconvenience. His stablemate Music To My Ears hasn’t built on the promise of her C&D win and head 2nd of 17 here over 7f last summer. However, she’s now 4lb below that latter effort and is very well suited to a strongly run race.
First reserve Turbulence was ½ length in front of Toshizou last time and would be a contender again if getting a run here.
Eagles Flight was 2 lengths further back in 6th but wasn’t well placed in a steadily run race. A stronger gallop will see him to better advantage and he’s not easily discounted.
Moddy Poddle comes into the race seeking a four timer after a good win at Killarney just 8-days ago A 7lb rise for that win in a deeper race makes life harder although Siobhan Rutledge does take off 7lb. Given her present form the 3-year-old is a very strong contender, if this race doesn’t come to quick.
I have feeling there is a big performance to be had from Big Baby Bull off his present mark. The 5-year-old shaped nicely for this when runner-up at Gowran Park 16-days ago. He won a 7f handicap here last summer off 1lb higher and reproduction of that run would see him in the mix, although stall 30 is off-putting.
Lust made all to win a 7f handicap here 97-days ago. She could improve for a return to a mile but quick ground would be an unknown for the 3-year-old.
Zozimus was running well in the spring over 1m 2f. The drop to a mile looks a good move and he looks on a handy mark but he does have a 138-day absence to overcome.
Pierre Lapin has had just the one start since joining the Ado McGuiness yard from Roger Varian. Looked an exciting prospect as a juvenile winning both starts including the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Lost his way last season but there was encouragement to be gleaned from his stable debut at Naas last month.
Johnny Murtagh saddled the Ebor winner on Saturday and he’s got a live chance of another big win with Carrytheone. The 4-year-old has only had the five starts but has already won twice over C&D with the last of those wins coming 335-days ago. Has a long absence to overcome here and is 6lb higher than for his last win but there should be more to come from him as a 4-year-old and if he’s ready roll looks the one to beat.
Verdict: Toshizou ‘s claims are clear to see. Eagles Flight will appreciate the forecast strong gallop. However, preference is for Carrytheone & Moddy Poddle each way with Sky Bet paying a generous 7 places.
1pt each way – Carrytheone – 10/1 @ Sky Bet (paying 7 places 1/5 0dds)
1pt each way – Moddy Poddle – 16/1 @ Sky Bet (paying 7 places 1/5 0dds)
7:45 – Bord Na Mona Recycling Apprentice Handicap – 7f
Parkers Hill has improved with each of his three starts this season and is now 1lb below his last winning mark. Best form has come at 6f and his stamina for a stiff 7f is still to be proven but at least he’s in form, goes on a sound surface and on a good mark. Yard had a winner at Bellewstown this week. He can get the better of 11 race maiden She’s In The Game who’s knocking on the door having finished runner-up on her last three starts, including here over 6f two weeks ago.
1pt win – Parkers Hill – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Thirsk
2:40 – Woven shaped with promise on his first three starts for new trainer Michael Dods. Looked as good as ever when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 18 at York in May, off 2lb higher. Probably found 7f stretching his stamina at Newcastle time. Return to sprinting will be more to his liking and the harder they go up front the better his chance. Looks set for a good run and rates the pick ahead of previous C&D winner Rathbone who ran as well as ever when runner-up to Great Ambassador at Newmarket 13-days ago.
1pt win – Woven – 10/1 @ Bet365 or 7/1 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power
Cheers
John