Hi all,
The Irish Champions Weekend roadshow moves from Leopardstown to the Curragh. There are four Group 1 races on the eight-race card, including the Irish St Leger and what looks the hottest juvenile race in Europe this season.
All the action at the Curragh gets underway at 2:00pm with a 22-runner sprint handicap. Like yesterday I have looked at a few of the races on the card.
Curragh
2:00 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Bold Lad” Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 6f
Tide Of Time has been in good form over 5f this season winning at Navan in July and put in a another excellent effort when 3rd of 11 back at the same venue 8-days ago. Needs to prove he’s has good over 6f. Stablemate Romantic Proposal won the ‘Scurry’ here over 6 ½ f and wasn’t disgraced when 4th in a Listed race over C&D last time and another big run can be expected. Trainer Edward Lynam has won this race twice in the past 10 years.
English raiders always must be respected in Curragh sprint handicaps. The Richard Fahey trained Mr Lupton won a Group 2 over C&D last May before losing his form. Back to something like his best when 3rd of 19 in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month. Colin Keane is a positive jockey booking and he should be in the mix. Treacherous showed he could be as good on turf as the all-weather when winning the consolation Goodwood Stewards Cup 43-days ago. Up 8lb but you couldn’t rule out further progress from the 6-year-old.
Half Nutz made it 2-4 this season when winning at Naas 21-days ago. This is the 3-year-old’s trip and although he’s up 8lb for his last success he’s open to further improvement and can go well if there is plenty of juice in the ground.
Another 3-year-old in good form is Big Gossey. A winner over C&D, off 6lb lower, on his seasonal return. Found the drop back to 5f just too sharp a test when 3rd of 11 here 45-days ago. Still that was a good effort and the return to 6f is a positive. Has been dropped 2lb since that run and given he’s only had six career starts is open to further progress.
Verdict: Treacherous could turn out be the best of the British raiders. Big Gossey is capable of more improvement, goes well over C&D and should appreciate the drying ground.
1pt win – Treacherous – 8/1 – Gen
1pt each way – Big Gossey – 9/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
3:10 – Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) – 5f
Last year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye Glass Slippers has the best chance on form. Ran well to get within 2 ¼ lengths of Battaash in a Group 2 last time. The ground would have been plenty quick enough that day for the filly who is probably at her best with give underfoot.
At an each-way price I like the claims of Sonaiyla. The filly has really improved on her three starts this season. A winner at Cork on her seasonal return before winning a handicap here over 7f. Last time out she was denied by Glen Shiel in a Group 3 here over 6f 35-days ago. Looks interesting dropped back to the minimum trip and can get into the money.
1pt each way – Sonaiyla – 14/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
4:10 – Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1) – 7f
This looks the hottest juvenile race of the season and whoever wins it will probably end up being the seasons leading juvenile.
Lucky Vega won the Group 1 Phoenix Park Stakes here last month. An extra furlong today but should stay and is the one to beat on form.
Master Of The Seas has impressed on both his starts at Newmarket, including a Group 2 last time. More improvement expected and could give trainer Charlie Appleby a third successive win in the race.
Battleground has won his last two. The first of those wins came in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Before improving further to win the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Seems ground versatile and is going the right way.
Law Of Indices beat Lucky Vega two starts back before finishing 4th behind that one in the Phoenix Stakes. Doing his best work at the finish he will be suited by the extra furlong and could get closer to Lucky Vega today.
The likes of Mac Swiney, Military Style, St Mark’s Basilica & Masen are all open to improvement and add further spice to the race. Although they will have to have progressed considerably to beat the big three in the betting.
4:40 – Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1) – 1m 6f
Sovereign won last year’s Irish Derby and did as well as could be expected when runner-up to Enable in the King George last month. Another attempt at 1m 6f looks worth another go.
Fujaira Prince has returned from a 12 month lay off to win at Royal Ascot and last months Ebor Handicap in decisive fashion. Might be better off a longer break but worth his place in pattern company in what doesn’t looks the strongest of races.
Search For A Song won this 12 months ago. Last time out was doing her best work at the finish when 3rd of 6 behind Magical in the Tattersalls Gold Cup over an inadequate 1m 2f here last time. Yard struggling for winners at present but she should give it a good go to defend her crown.
Sovereign’s stablemate Passion, fifth in the Oaks and third in the Irish Oaks seemed to improve for the step to 1m 6f when winning a Group 3 at Naas three weeks ago. Unexposed over the distance and her improvement could continue.
The most intriguing runner in the field is the Willie Mullins trained Micro Manage. The 4-year-old won both his starts last season and returned to action with an encouraging 3rd of 7 in the St Leger Trial over C&D last time. Needs to have improved further to win this but could well do so and will be a lot sharper today.
5:50 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Northfields” Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 2f
Just a 22-runner handicap puzzle to conclude Champions Weekend.
Tauran Shaman threatens to win a race like this and is 4th of 18 at Galway can be marked up as he wasn’t best placed.
Johnny Murtagh saddles a couple of serious contenders in Wilderness & Sonnyboyliston. Wilderness won her first three starts this season and has finished runner-up on her last runs. Off the same mark as when beaten just a length at Naas three weeks ago. Sonnyboyliston made it two from three this season when winning a C&D handicap 57-days ago. Up 13lb for that success makes life tougher but he’s a handicapper going the right way and connections opt for the first time cheekpieces today.
Flaming Moon started this season over 6f but improved for the step up to a mile when beating 15 rivals here two starts back before finishing well from off the pace to take 7th in the Irish Cambridgeshire. Stamina not guaranteed for 1m 2f but shapes like he will get it. Is 2lb lower than last time and Joey Sheridan takes off a further 5lb.
Kipling, trained by Aidan O’Brien, broke his maiden tag at the fourth attempt when winning Navan maiden 15-days ago. That win came over a mile but he was at his strongest at the finish and is bred to improve further for 1m 2f. Handicap debut off what looks a decent mark.
Simsir won a Meydan handicap back in February, off 5lb lower. Lacked race fitness when last off five in a Limerick listed race back in June. Returned to form when runner-up to an improving filly in a Leopardstown 52-days ago. Plenty of ability but needs to be produced as late as possible.
Verdict: Kipling could be much better than his handicap mark but will need luck in the run. The Johnny Murtagh pair of Wilderness & Sonnyboyliston have both improved this season and remain contenders. Simsir has place claims and Flaming Moon would be a danger to all if he stays today’s extra two furlongs.
1pt win – Sonnyboyliston – 13/2 @ Coral
1pt each way – Wilderness – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John