1:10 JOHN SISK & SON IRISH EBF (C & G) MAIDEN 1M

Sydney Opera House will likely be favourite on his third start. The son of Australia finished fourth to Cruciatus on his debut over seven furlongs at this track before going on to finish second to Madhmoon over a mile at Leopardstown, that horse looking a classic contender already. However this could well turn out to be a very good maiden and stern opposition could be in the offing from stablemates Japan, a 1.3m guineas purchase making his debut, and Norway, a brother to Ruler Of The World. The last-mentioned has the advantage of a racecourse experience, which was a useful effort to finish fourth in a good maiden won by Jessica Harrington’s Klute.

That colt was another first-time-out winning juvenile for Harrington who has had a great season with her two-year-olds. Here she unleashes Mr Secretary, a €225,000 Sea The Stars colt, who warrants a lot of respect on account of his trainer’s good record.

SELECTION: NORWAY

Next best Mr Secretary

1:40 FLAME OF TARA IRISH EBF STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M

Banduic Eile is trying to break her maiden in this Group 3 contest but she has the standout piece of form and so looks the one to beat. Jim Bolger’s half-sister to Twilight Payment put up a huge run to finish closest to Skitter Scatter in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes last Sunday. A replication of that effort over this slightly longer trip should do the trick.

Just Wonderful was sent off favourite in the Albany Stakes but was disappointing. She got her career back on track with a third to Marie’s Diamond in the Anglesey Stakes, a six-and-a-half furlong contest at this track. On a line through the runner-up of that race, the Ger Lyons-trained Viadera, who struggled when last of nine in the Debutante Stakes, this daughter of Dansili has a bit to find with the selection but the step up in trip may allow her to do so.

Another to consider is Chynna, a British raider who was also seen to good effect last weekend when finishing third in a Group 3 event. Her trainer Mick Channon is no stranger to success at the Curragh.

SELECTION: BANDUIC EILE

Next best Just Wonderful

2:15 JOHN SISK & SON HANDICAP 1M 2F

This 26-runner field is a difficult heat to decipher but it might be worth taking a chance on oldies Castle Guest and Vastonea. Castle Guest peaked at a rating of 100 and runs here off 69, while Vastonea hit a high of 96 and runs here off 67. Conceivably, they are both well past their best but they each ran well to finish third and second respectively in a handicap won by the progressive Sheila’s Hope at Leopardstown, suggesting both could be hitting form. Slight preference is for Castle Guest, who came from further back in the field at Leopardstown and who has produced some of his best efforts over this course and distance.

A more conventional selection would be Joseph O’Brien’s Perfect Tapatino, an unexposed type who ran third on his debut for the trainer having made the move from Damien English’s yard.

SELECTION: CASTLE GUEST

Next best Vastonea

2:50 SNOW FAIRY FILLIES STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M 1F

Three-year-olds have beaten their elders in nine of the previous 10 renewals of this race and, although on many occasions they had a numerical advantage, it is a telling statistic. The two to concentrate on from the classic generation look to be Desert Diamond, intriguingly sent over by Sir Michael Stoute, and Irish Oaks third Mary Tudor, trained by Willie McCreery.

Mary Tudor brings the best piece of form into this race, having finished just less than two lengths back from Arc favourite Sea Of Class last month, but she steps back down in trip now after that career-best effort on her first run at 12 furlongs.

With regard to the trip, Desert Diamond might hold too many gears and, on a straight line of form, the daughter of Dubawi looks rock-solid. She hammered the reopposing Snowy Winter by six lengths on her previous run at York, with Archie Watson’s filly going on to beat three of today’s other rivals (Hence, Dynabee and Beach Wedding) in the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park.

Of the older horses, I’m So Fancy is very much respected. She was trying to give weight away to the top class Magical over this course and distance on her previous run and her latest effort was a fine performance to finish fifth in a Group 1 event at Deauville, taking on the likes of Urban Fox, Bateel and the progressive winner Nonza.

SELECTION: DESERT DIAMOND

Next best I’m So Fancy

3:25 JOHN SISK & SON ROUND TOWER STAKES (GROUP 3) 6F

Could Be King is another maiden trying to break his duck in a Group 3 race but he ran really well to finish fourth to Anthony Van Dyck in the Group 2 Futurity here last Sunday. That piece of form is to be respected, considering he is technically dropping down a level, but if you read Simon Rowlands’ Time Will Tell column earlier in this paper (A10-11) you could not be anything but excited about seeing Ten Sovereigns again. The No Nay Never colt basically stole the show at the Curragh last weekend when he ran out a seven-length winner of his maiden, running seriously fast in the final three furlongs. He could easily announce himself as a classic contender with a similar performance today.

Mia Mento won first time out for Thomas Mullins and she is an intriguing runner, having subsequently been bought by Phoenix Thoroughbreds. Servalan is also respected, making a first appearance since finishing sixth at Royal Ascot.

SELECTION: TEN SOVEREIGNS

Next best Servalan

4:00 TOTE IRISH CAMBRIDGESHIRE 1M

A wide-open Irish Cambridgeshire with nothing in the 22-runner field really sticking out as a major contender. Terzetto was made favourite with bookmakers during the week. She is an unexposed Godolphin filly for Mick Halford and comes into this off a comfortable win with the promise of more, competing off a mark of 97. But there are other horses further down the list worth consideration.

Firmament, a perennial fixture in the big mile heritage handicaps in Britain, is a very interesting runner for David O’Meara. He produced arguably his best performance of the season when chasing third to Poet’s Society at York. Rated as high as 109 for much of last season, he runs off 99 today and, provided he gets a bit of luck, he should be bang there again.

Of the three-year-olds, Lethal Power appeals. Johnny Murtagh’s colt has run to a good level all season, winning comprehensively at Leopardstown on his penultimate run before finishing a close second over this course and distance last time out.

On that occasion, the son of Acclamation had to make his own running and he might be better served coming from further back today, running off a strong pace.

Lucius Tiberius is respected returning to handicap company while Charcor is unexposed and could improve.

Last year’s winner Elusive Time also deserves a mention, returning to the scene of his finest hour off just a 1lb higher mark, while it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Omran produce a better performance over this distance for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane.

SELECTION: FIRMAMENT

Next best Lethal Power

4:35 JOHN SISK & SON NEW STAND HANDICAP 6F

Urban Beat is the most interesting runner for the final contest on the card. Johnny Murtagh’s three-year-old has won on both of his starts this season but hasn’t been seen since May 12th. Whether he picked up a knock, or indeed he is a horse who needs soft ground, is unknown but he was a non-runner for a Group 3 event which might give an indication of the regard in which he is held. A mark of 97 should be within his compass if he can continue his rapid progression, but it is a concern that he has not raced for 112 days.

A more solid option is Natalia Lupini’s Blairmayne, who has a good record at the Curragh. His third placing behind St Brelades Bay over this course and distance was a good run and, prior to that, he ran fourth behind Intisaab in the valuanble Scurry Handicap here on Irish Derby weekend. That was a very good effort, considering he was competing from 8lb out of the handicap.

SELECTION: BLAIRMAYNE

Next best Urban Beat