Curragh 16 July 2016

Going: Good to Yielding (Yielding in places)
 
 
Sunny spells

Forecast: Sunny spells
Temperature: 12.3° - 20.2°
Rainfall: 0.09mm
Wind: 15.5 mph SW

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

14:55 Curragh (IRE) (2YO only)

Darley European Breeders Fund Maiden

7f

Winner €10,763 - 13 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Aidan O'Brien has saddled five of the last seven winners of this race and he appears to have three solid chances this time around. Taj Mahal, a full-brother to the top-class Gleneagles, was disappointing on his debut over this C&D but surely has more to offer, although it could be worth focusing on the newcomers. Both Capri and LANCASTER BOMBER hold Group entries and are exciting prospects going forward, but the latter shades the verdict being closely related Mull Of Killough, who won his maiden over this trip before going on to better things. Arcada improved from his first to second start and can go close if taking another step forward, while Beast, Lightening Fast and John Honeyman are others to note.

2

15:30 Curragh (IRE) (3YO plus)

Killashee Handicap

7f

Winner €15,375 - 11 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Plenty in with chances and a tentative vote is for ISHEBAYORGREY, who wasn't winning out of turn at Limerick last time and can reverse a piece of Fairyhouse form with the reopposing The Eyes Have It now his confidence has been restored. The gelding by Clodovil ran a blinder to give the 82-rated Markhan weight and a beating last time and could be well treated reverting to handicaps on that form. Club Wexford hasn't won for over three years but connections will have garnered plenty of encouragement from recent performances, so he's noted along with the unexposed Not A Whisper and last year's winner Have A Nice Day.

3

16:05 Curragh (IRE) (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Kilfrush Stud Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)

5f

Winner €70,800 - 6 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

BRANDO gained compensation for his near miss in the Wokingham when landing Group 3 honours at Sandown last time. The early speed Kevin Ryan's charge demonstrated on the latter occasion was remarkable, with Tom Eaves looking around for dangers with just under 2f to run. Although he tied up a little in the closing stages, he won more cosily than the short-head margin suggested and he's expected to enhance his glowing reputation by seeing off two top-class Group 1 yardsticks in Sole Power (vulnerable to progressive sorts at this stage of his career) and Mecca's Angel (needs some cut to produce her best and disappointed in the King's Stand). G Force hasn't been with Adrian Keatley for long and is also worth monitoring closely in the betting, given he possesses back-class in abundance and is entitled to come on for his recent comeback spin.

4

16:40 Curragh (IRE) (Class 1) (2YO only)

Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3)

6f 63y

Winner €38,351 - 6 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

PSYCHEDELIC FUNK ran an excellent race at Royal Ascot when third behind Caravaggio and Mehmas. The latter has since boosted the form by winning the July Stakes at Newmarket in convincing style and this son of Choisir can regain the winning thread having looked one of the top two-year-olds when winning at Naas the time before. Peace Envoy has had plenty of racing which signifies his excellent constitution and he rates the main threat on paper having finished runner-up behind Medicine Jack over C&D in the Railway Stakes last month. Radio Silence was impressive on debut at Leopardstown last week and looks a player if his inexperience doesn't hold him back.

5

17:10 Curragh (IRE) (3YO plus)

Evoke.ie Scurry Handicap

6f 63y

Winner €59,000 - 19 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

GEORGE BOWEN returns to the scene of his finest hour where he took apart a competitive big-field handicap on Irish Champions Weekend over C&D. The son of Dark Angel is 5lb higher than that success but still looks feasibly treated with Declan McDonagh an eye-catching jockey booking. The dangers are headed by Downforce, who is currently in a rich vein of form having won his last two starts and looks highly progressive, and Captain Power, who warmed up for this with a pipe-opener over C&D last month. He looks fairly handicapped on his win here last year, while Kibaar and Moviesta make appeal of those at bigger prices.

6

17:45 Curragh (IRE) (Class 1) (3YO only)

Darley Irish Oaks (Group 1)

1m 4f

Winner €228,000 - 11 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

EVEN SONG got the better of Ajman Princess (second), We Are Ninety (sixth) and Architecture (eighth) in the Ribblesdale, powering away to put the race to bed once she was in the clear. There could be further improvement to come from Aidan O'Brien's charge, who is a half-sister to Simple Verse, and she sets the form bar for the rest to aim at. The main danger to the selection may be 1000 Guineas sixth Turret Rocks, who didn't seem to handle the track or ground in the Oaks but is a likely improver on faster ground.

7

18:20 Curragh (IRE) (4YO plus)

Boodles Ladies Derby Handicap

1m 4f

Winner €18,450 - 9 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Modem continues to perform with admirable consistency under both codes and seems sure to be competitive after a sterling effort here last time over 2m when going down by the minimum margin in competitive handicap company. There may not much improvement to come, though, whereas the lightly-raced SUITOR ought to have plenty more to offer after just half a dozen career starts. He got better the further he went when breaking his duck at Newcastle and his shrewd handler, Brian Ellison, has booked Nina Carberry. Highly Toxic, Udogo and What's The Plot are noted, with the latter making most appeal of the trio.

8

18:50 Curragh (IRE) (3YO plus)

Kilsaran International Maiden

1m 4f

Winner €7,688 - 12 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

TWILIGHT PAYMENT earned an official rating of 100 thanks to his fine performance, when third, in the Queen's Vase over 2m at Royal Ascot last month. Prior to that the son of Teofilo had only been narrowly beaten by the promising Lustrous Light in a maiden at Navan, where he had Ex Patriot back in third. London also has the form to go very well, while De Coronado merits the utmost respect being a full-brother to the legendary Zenyatta. Another to make the shortlist is Nonetheless, who put in an encouraging display on debut and the step up in trip should be in her favour.

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