Curragh - Sunday 4th October 2026
Runner-up on her debut at Naas, PIRATE ANNE BONNY can improve a place. Drawn on the stands side on that occasion, the Paddy Twomey-trained filly easily beat those that elected to race on that section of the track but found one too good on the far side. With the benefit of that experience, the daughter of Blackbeard should be hard to beat. Chattering Classes, who caught the eye staying on late when fourth over C&D on debut, shouldn't be far away. Leopardstown fifth Little Darling is another that should be capable of stepping up on her initial run, while newcomers Sweetly and Petticoat Bay also need monitoring in the market.
HMAS PERTH can open his account at the third time of asking. Runner-up at Doncaster on his most recent start, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had previously run well on debut when third in a decent maiden at the Galway Festival. Holding entries in several upcoming Group 1 features, the son of Justify can land this before having his sights raised. Wo Wo Never shaped with promise on his introduction at Gowran before running respectably in a Listed contest on his only subsequent start and this looks easier. Naas fifth Cracks And Sparks kept on well on that occasion having been slowly away, so better can be expected now. The well-bred Paraguay could also figure.
Last week's impressive Irish Cambridgeshire winner LOUGHREA gets the nod to complete the four-timer. Despite dropping back a furlong for this first start in Listed company, Andy Slattery's charge gives the impression he should be comfortable at this trip. Always travelling easily when winning over a mile here last time, the four-year-old has scope to improve further. Course specialist Big Gossey is an obvious danger. Runner-up in a Group 3 race over 6f here last month, Charles O'Brien's veteran should appreciate this extra distance, while King Cuan also enters calculations if his stamina holds out.
A close third in a valuable handicap here last month, JOHNNY SODA can register a fourth victory of the season. The Ado McGuinness gelding drops in class raised only 2lb, and the son of Cotai Glory looks set to play a leading role under Adam Caffrey. Truth Be Told remains of interest. A winner over 1m2f at Leopardstown on his stable debut back in May, he's gone close again since and looks on a workable mark. An easy winner at Killarney, Majestic King is not discounted despite his 10lb hike, while Noble Honour and Iamimmaculate also merit respect.
A runaway winner of this race 12 months ago, CARLA RIDGE can follow up. Far from disgraced when sixth in a better contest at Leopardstown in May, the Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained filly has been absent since. With the stable only recently back amongst the winners having been hit with a virus for much of the year, the daughter of New Bay has to be given maximum respect. While her lack of a recent outing is an obvious cause for concern, this race is likely to have always been the target. Royal Bay Cen should be all the sharper for a recent run at this venue while, Dancing Saxon is another with leading claims.
Recent course and distance winner APOTHIC RED can make it back-to-back successes. A lightly raced son of Saxon Warrior, the Tom McCourt-trained gelding led two furlongs out before staying on well to land a first career victory. Although 7lb higher now, the three-year-old could still be ahead of the handicapper. Arguably in front too soon last time, he can be delivered later on this occasion. Jon Riggens, who has dropped a long way in the handicap in recent times, shaped more encouragingly when third over course and distance on his latest start. Apache Outlaw has proven somewhat frustrating this season but should be ideally suited to the fast pace of a race of this nature.
REST YOUR MIND, who broke her maiden at the Galway Festival, ran well on handicap debut when fourth at Punchestown. That was over 1m1f and there is every chance this half-sister to Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share and 1m6f Group 3 winner Raise You will improve greatly for stepping up to this trip. Alfalfa bids to repeat last year's victory and shaped well on her first start of the year when sixth over 1m2f here last weekend. Sinbad My Dad and Maeve Brennan are a couple more to consider.
LADY MARY HEATH represents and in-form yard and has shaped as if there is a race within her. She ran well twice here in the spring, including when a close-up third over 7f, and should appreciate any juice in the ground. Furthermore, the daughter of Dragon Pulse goes well fresh and this could be a good time to catch her. Highbury See See won this off the same mark a year ago and he looks a major player under Sam Coen. Spacebound ran well in a higher grade on handicap debut here in June and handles soft ground.
A strong maiden where the pair of Aidan O'Brien newcomers make plenty of appeal. Petticoat Bay's dam was a Group 2 winner but it is Sweetly who is the stable first string on jockey bookings. She is a full-sister to this year's Irish Derby winner for the same yard. She may just need this initial experience though and may find PIRATE ANNE BONNY who placed over 6f on debut too speedy. She showed a willing attitude at a stiff track that day and is a potential improver now stepped up in distance. Chattering Classes also finished well over C&D first time out and should be able to gain a place here.
HMAS PERTH sets the standard on his runner up effort in the UK last time. That run has been boosted as has his debut effort which proved he handles a soft surface so he gets the verdict. The Windhover was green and met trouble but flew home on debut over 6f. Stepping up in trip he looks a huge threat along with Wo Wo Never who placed behind a Group 1 winning stablemate on debut.
Veteran Big Gossey is the obvious place to start given his fine record at the track. He came clear with a progressive rival at a higher level here last time and will have no issue with the step back up in trip on favourable easy ground. However he could be vulnerable to an improver and Irish Cambridgeshire winner LOUGHREA fits the bill. He had lots in hand and showed plenty of speed that day so the drop in trip won't be an issue while the form has taken a significant boost in the British version. Maiden winner Sindagan is another who isn't fully exposed and he ran well in a hot handicap last time. His previous attempt at this level is worth marking up and he could go well at a bigger price.
Listed winner CRISTAL CLERE returned to form at that level last time and is potentially thrown in back in a handicap. The longer trip is no issue and he's suited by plenty of cut so could outclass this field. The unexposed Noble Honour may have been a bit flattered by the rating she achieved when shedding her maiden tag last time but her previous handicap form reads well so her mark looks fair. She can pose the biggest challenge ahead of the consistent Iamimmaculate who proved his stamina last time.
ROYAL BAY CEN ran a big race on his first outing since the spring at a higher level last time behind a progressive rival. She has already won a Listed race after moving from France and is open to further improvement for her new yard on favourable easy ground. She is picked to defeat Dancing Saxon who progressed through handicaps before proving herself up to Group company recently. She will appreciate the likely stiff test dropping in trip and can fill the places with the consistent Fregada who probably made her challenge too soon at a stiff track in a Listed contest last time.
An open race can go to C&D winner JON RIGGENS who has returned to form of late and his last run is worth marking up as he conceded first run to the front pair. He remains well treated on his old form and will have no issue with the easier surface. He is chosen ahead of Noble Nation who has an absence to overcome but was in excellent form when last seen in the spring. He returns off a generous mark and will be suited by the step back up in trip with the softer ground also in his favour. Gerrit's Gem is yet to win this term but he's now just 2lb above his last winning mark despite returning to form on his last few outings. His last run is worth marking up as he fared best of those racing on his side of the track so he also looks ready to strike.
Unexposed maiden winner REST YOUR MIND ran well on her handicap debut from a poor position and is expected to improve again for this further step up in distance. She's proven with give in the ground and is chosen to defeat veteran jumps performer A Wave Of The Sea who has been in good form over fences of late. He hasn't been seen in this discipline for a number of years but is on a dangerous mark judged on his old efforts and is unexposed over this trip. Last year's winner Alfalfa is only 2lb higher this term and shaped well over an inadequate 10f on his reappearance. He should come on for that outing and looks a huge player.
Andrew Slattery holds a strong hand here with Highbury See See and CHERRY HILL GIRL. The former was a touch unlucky when runner up last time and remains on his last winning mark despite a 2lb rise. It is his stablemate who looks the first string though having shown a consistent level of form in her short career. She has been kept off since the summer in search of easy ground and looks on a lenient mark returned to handicaps so gets the verdict. Loingseoir is another who will appreciate the return to a soft surface and the dual winner of this race proved he retained his ability over the summer. He has to be respected off a much reduced mark.
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