Following heavy rain on Saturday nd an updated weather forecast from Met Éireann, there will be a precautionary inspection at the Curragh at 7.30am on Sunday.
2:00 Cavalor Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Fillies Maiden 7f
A maiden won by dual Oaks heroine Snowfall in 2020, there’s every chance this could be a pretty smart contest given the quality of pedigrees on offer here. Ten Deep might be the one to side with for Paddy Twomey, fresh from a Killarney hat-trick. With the form of her Derby weekend fifth to Ylang Ylang boosted by smart Leopardstown winners Caught U Looking (three and a half lengths behind her in sixth) and Opera Singer (another length and a quarter behind in eighth), she should be right in the firing line here.
Mayfair, one of two newcomers for Aidan O’Brien, has the assistance of Ryan Moore and boasts a smart pedigree, being by Justify and out of Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Clemmie. Cases can be made for plenty of these on paper.
SELECTION: TEN DEEP
Next best: Mayfair
2:30 Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden 6f
This maiden could well be a more manageable assignment for the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Temple Of Hera after finishing a safely-held third to Railway Stakes runner-up Unquestionable on his debut here on Guineas weekend. The Magna Grecia colt fetched 140,000gns at the breeze-up sales and it’s possible that an ease in the ground might be okay for him. He has clear potential to step forward from his debut.
Kortez Bay, representing Sheila Lavery, finished behind him on that occasion before running a decent fourth back here on Derby weekend. He’s good enough to win a maiden. Plenty of respect has to go to the Paddy Twomey-trained Letsbefrankaboutit, though. A smashing son of Sioux Nation who cost €240,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale from Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm, it could be deemed slightly off-putting that he wears a tongue-tie on his rules debut but he looks smart.
SELECTION: TEMPLE OF HERA
Next best: Letsbefrankaboutit
3:00 Romanised Minstrel Stakes (Group 2) 7f
A tight affair with just 3lb separating the top six on official ratings. Jumbly, a 1,250,000gns purchase last November, was arguably a bit disappointing when fourth in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last time but dropping back to seven furlongs from a mile could suit well - especially on rain-softened ground. She’s won on good to firm and soft, so appears to be pretty versatile in that regard.
Irish 1000 Guineas fourth Tarawa looks an obvious player and is proven on soft surfaces, but a little more is needed from her after being turned over in the Listed Celebration Stakes here on Derby weekend, for all that it was a respectable showing. Conditions will be much slower now. Honey Girl is at her optimum trip and will handle the ground but doesn’t have the same attractive profile as some of these, while Power Under Me and Cosmic Vega have pretty solid profiles for this sort of test.
SELECTION: JUMBLY
Next best: Tarawa
3.30 Ryan’s Cleaning Services Handicap 1m 2f
Reverting back to slow ground should bring out the best in the Mick Mulvany-trained Duke Of Leggagh after a below-par showing at Naas in May. Freshened up since that run 11 weeks ago, having had a busy start to the season, he should be competitive in this grade if back on song.
Mr King has a nice profile for this after winning at Roscommon earlier this month and shouldn’t be far away, but Roaring Gallagher, helped by Conor Stone-Walsh’s 7lb claim, might be able to raise his game on his first start after being gelded.
He hasn’t progressed as hoped since winning on debut but this looks a suitable target to show if he has gone forward.
SELECTION: DUKE OF LEGGAGH
Next best: Roaring Gallagher
4.00 Michael John Kennedy Memorial Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 1m 1f
Johnny Murtagh is no stranger to winners on big weekends at the Curragh and the unbeaten Cadeau Belle rates a big player in this Group 3 contest after showing lovely improvement to go from winning a Gowran maiden on debut to landing a listed event at Navan last month, beating much more experienced rivals in the process. She has won on soft ground before and could find a little more improvement for stepping up to nine furlongs.
Cigamia, who was second to the selection when conceding a stone to that rival, is now 5lb better off and hails from a team who notched a Group 3 winner at Leopardstown on Thursday.
She should be on the premises again. Goldana, representing Joseph O’Brien, will appreciate the drop in class after finishing sixth in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time and is proven with an ease underfoot.
SELECTION: CADEAU BELLE
Next best: Goldana
4.30 La Celia Wines Handicap 5f
A sprint trip on soft ground appears to be the ideal mix for Cavallo Pazzo, who is an interesting stable switcher from Eoin Doyle to Joseph O’Brien. This four-year-old has very few miles on the clock and, provided he is sharp enough after a 109-day break, has the potential to win a race like this off a mark of 70.
Shoebox King arrives here in excellent nick after winning at Navan last weekend off 6lb lower. Conditions will be in his favour, for all that this looks a better race. Rockingham Handicap winner Harry’s Hill is down in class but faces much slower ground than when winning on Derby weekend. Jon Riggens is difficult to have full faith in after rearing as the gates opened last time but he is capable of scoring off his current rating.
SELECTION: CAVALLO PAZZO
Next best: Jon Riggens
5.00 QuinnBet Irish EBF Maiden 1m 4f
Stepping up to a mile and a half is bound to be a big help to the Jessica Harrington-trained Feathertop, who caught the eye when third on debut at Gowran over an insufficient nine and a half furlongs. The beautifully-bred winner, Maxux, is seemingly well regarded by connections and runner-up Sandy Creek won a maiden last week. Feathertop, a filly by Australia, shaped as though she’d sharpen up plenty for that initial experience.
The fact Dylan Browne McMonagle switches from Jupiter Rock to Ikigai Star, having ridden the former last time when beaten as favourite on Derby weekend, could be telling. He rode for another stable when Mikey Sheehy partnered Ikigai Star on his latest start at Roscommon too, so the move is interesting. Both colts are strong players for Joseph O’Brien and should be on the premises.
SELECTION: FEATHERTOP
Next best: Ikigai Star
5.30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap 1m
Mick Halford and Tracey Collins’ horses appear to be in fine shape, as evidenced by a double at Killarney earlier this week, and Vadiana must have a big say in the final race on Irish Oaks weekend. A well-related, ready maiden winner last year who ran creditably on her second start after a break at Roscommon last month, she has every chance of being better than her mark of 80 when all falls right. A mile here should suit fine, with the potential for very testing ground the main concern surrounding her.
Lady Arwen has looked comfortable with an ease underfoot and has form at the track so is worthy of inclusion on the shortlist. Green Sky is completely unexposed and should have a say if her lack of experience doesn’t count against her, while Fools Glory has place claims if not feeling the effects of her fine second at Killarney earlier in the week.
SELECTION: VADIANA
Next best: Lady Arwen