IRISH Cambridgeshire victories in recent years for Takashi Kodama and Ger Keane show that smaller trainers can put up a fight to the big yards in today’s Curragh feature, and locally-based handler Bill Farrell is hoping he can follow suit with big-race favourite State Actor this afternoon.

The €100,000 Paddy Power Supporting Cancer Trials Irish Cambridgeshire (4.35) is the main event on a strong card for the Curragh’s annual Pat Smullen Raceday. It’s hoped a healthy turnout can support the numerous fundraising activities for Cancer Trials Ireland taking place through the meeting, including the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race and Curragh To Curragh Cycle.

Farrell provided Smullen with one of his final winners at the Curragh when they teamed up for Kailee’s success in a fillies’ maiden at Irish flat racing headquarters in August 2017, and State Actor has been ante-post favourite for today’s mile contest since the five-day entries were published this week.

The Gary Davis-owned four-year-old has been a bit of a revelation for the Farrell yard in 2024. Improving from his sole start last year when a five-length third in a Dundalk maiden, he readily landed a maiden at this track in April before following up in the €100,000 QuinnBet Emerald Mile Premier Handicap at the Irish Guineas Festival.

Off 9lb higher, he finished a respectable fourth in another premier handicap on Irish Derby weekend when probably not having the race unfold ideally as 9/4 favourite. Colin Keane keeps the faith with the Raven’s Pass gelding off 3lb lower now.

Farrell, who trains a handful of horses, told The Irish Field: “He’s had a very good year but had a little bit of a blip the last day. On reflection, Colin thought he possibly didn’t move as well as he could have, and might have put his back out slightly coming out of the stalls or something like that. Maybe he might just not have been good enough either. We’re happy he’s in good form, though, and Colin wanted to ride him again, which is obviously a positive.

Conditions assessed

“We’re drawn a bit wide in stall 23. Hopefully that might help to keep him out of the traffic and with the nature of the track, fingers crossed the best horse will win. The ground was on the good side after declarations and I don’t think he’d like to see it turning any quicker.

“He’s been good to us so far and we can’t complain. He’s got a good pedigree and we’ve given him time to develop. It seems as though he’s been improving all the time without ever being drilled. Hopefully there’s still room for improvement with him, but, as they say, time reveals all.”

The aforementioned Ger Keane is responsible for another of the leading players this time around. Genuine Article, who has the benefit of James Ryan claiming 3lb off his already enticing weight of 8st 8lb, must be a big player if able to build on his Galway Festival second.

Last year’s admirable winner Coeur d’Or is back for more off 3lb higher than last year, Ryan Moore has been jocked up to ride Joseph O’Brien’s lightly raced Wigmore Street, formerly trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, while Vera’s Secret could be a dangerous contender after bolting up in a lower grade last time. In a 24-runner field, cases can be made for many - as it should be for one of the leading premier handicaps of the season.