CURRAGH Sun: We’re back on the Flat from the Curragh on Sunday, where the going is likely to be heavy.
⭕ An eight-race card begins with a 6f maiden (1:25pm). Only two of the six that line up have raced before, with Thia the pick of those, but there are three newcomers here that are of strong interest. Aidan O’Brien sends out Democracy and River Tiber, while Dermot Weld saddles Jalaybee. Of them it’s 480,000gns yearling River Tiber that gets the tentative nod, with this son of Wootton Bassett being related to plenty of 6f winners.
⭕ More relative guesswork is needed in the following 5f fillies’ maiden (2:00pm), with seven of the eight runners making their debut. Paddy Twomey’s Jenni, a daughter of Mehmas who is related to some quite useful sprinters including The Mackem Bullet, catches the eye. She’s from a yard that can ready one first time and could be worth watching closely on debut.
⭕ Another maiden (2:35pm), this time over 1m2f, comes up next. Time Tells All created a good impression on debut, when finishing a narrow second over a mile at Naas last month. He proved he can handle heavy ground that day and, being by Sea The Stars, should have no problem with this step up in trip. Dermot Weld’s runner still holds an entry in the Derby and he can gain a first success here at the main expense of Deakin.
⭕ The Group 3 Alleged Stakes (3:10pm) over 1m2f sees the return to action of several of last season’s best three-year-olds. Point Lonsdale won the Chesham at Royal Ascot and two Group races over 7f, before finishing second in the National stakes behind Native Trail here at the Curragh. He now steps up beyond a mile for the first time, but there’s reason to believe that could bring about more improvement from this full brother to high-class stayer Broome. Aidan O’Brien’s runner looks to have most to fear from last season’s Irish Derby runner-up, Piz Badile, who has no stamina concerns, but might find ground conditions testing enough on his return.
⭕ Seven line up in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes (3:45pm) over 7f, and this looks more open than the previous contest. It could be worth concentrating on the two recent European recruits, Goldana and Mea Domina. The first mentioned was a Listed winner in Germany last season before joining Joseph O’Brien and should be monitored for confidence in the market ahead of her Irish debut. Mea Domina, a Listed winner in France, ran a good race on her debut for Paddy Twomey in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown two weeks ago. She led that day and finished a good third, finding only the high-class Homeless Songs and Buckaroo too strong. A drop back to 7f should suit her and she could make her race fitness tell.
⭕ Plenty look to hold chances in the 6f handicap (4:20pm), and a key form line here could be the race where Laugh A Minute beat Swift Flight over 5f at the Curragh last month. Swift Flight didn’t enjoy a good passage in that contest, only seeing daylight late on, but once he was in the clear, Ken Condon’s runner rattled home to good effect. That effort suggested a step back up to 6f, a trip he isn’t fully exposed at, looked worthwhile and he gets a handy 3lb pull at the weights with Laugh A Minute too.
⭕ In the following 6f maiden (4:55pm), perhaps Run Ran Run can get his head in front after narrowly missing on both his two starts to date. He stayed on strongly but the line just came a moment too soon at Naas last month and he deserves to go one better. Heavy ground suits and, if they go a strong gallop, this son of No Nay Never can pick up the pieces.
⭕ The finale (5:25pm), a handicap over 6f, looks the trickiest race of the day, with 23 set to go to post. A chance is taken on the lightly raced Let’s Believe, who finished well for fourth over 5f, on only her third handicap run at Navan last time. Richard Brabazon’s mare remains on a mark of 47 after that and should appreciate this step up in trip.
