Curragh - Sunday 16th August 2026
Badly hampered before running on for third at Down Royal, MR MONTAUK then bumped into a handicap blot when second at Sligo. He's up in grade, but can make the most of bottom weight and his experience will be an asset. Banks Of The Boyne has shown improvement on his last two starts and split a pair of Joseph O'Brien-trained runners when second in a 7f nursery at Galway. Michael Mulvany's juvenile holds C&D nursery winner I Ready on that form. Away And Gone was sent off joint-favourite for her debut and has claims based on her fourth at Navan next time out.
THE PIPEMAN represents a respected stable and made a promising debut at Navan when runner-up in a 17-runner contest. He can come forward enough to take this, despite the fact that he has to give weight to most of his rivals. Heart Of You showed up well for a long way when fifth over 7f at Galway and may benefit from dropping back in trip. Kindacan is a sister to Clounmacon, who was a Listed winner over this trip three years ago for Johnny Murtagh. By Middle Park and July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns, and out of a 6f two-year-old winner, Coincidenza was bought for 200,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April.
A course winner over 7f last term, NEO SMART generally goes well at this venue and seems to be running into form. Fourth over C&D on Derby weekend, she filled the same position when finishing strongly in a slowly-run contest at Gowran Park last time. Second at Limerick in June, Tofino won this last year and is only 3lb higher for her repeat bid. Runner-up in two nurseries last term, Ella's Gold has been placed over longer trips on her last two outings. The pick of her form is on a soft surface, but she handled good ground when third over an extended 1m2f at Roscommon.
A race for middle-distance prospects and ZARAK PASHA may be able to go one better than at Galway where he chased home a Ballydoyle-trained winner over an extended mile. Thomas Chippendale was four lengths behind the selection in third and it will be a surprise if he doesn't get closer with that debut run under his belt. The O'Brien family have lots of interesting newcomers in the line-up, including Albany County, a Camelot half-brother to 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth, and Dancinginthecity, a Saxon Warrior half-brother to three useful middle-distance winners.
After a good run over a mile here on seasonal debut, THYER again ran with credit when third over 1m4f at Galway. Perhaps this intermediate distance will prove ideal for the five-year-old, whose trainer Maurice Ahern does well with a limited amount of runners. After a promising effort over C&D, Youcansaythatagain got off the mark at Down Royal and the well-bred son of Ghaiyyath is one to consider on handicap debut. Liberation Date had the inside stall when a creditable third over 1m1f here in June, but is posted wide this time. Blackjack Hills has to enter calculations on his narrow defeat over this trip at Leopardstown last month.
A BOY NAMED SUSIE only has a debut win at Killarney to his name, but his recent form has been top-class and he is sure to be sent off at prohibitive odds. A fine fourth to Constitution River in the Prix du Jockey Club, he posted another career best when reversing form with Chantilly runner-up Hawk Mountain in the Eclipse at Sandown, which was also won by Constitution River. That level of form puts him well clear of his four rivals and it will be a shock if he doesn't gain a confidence-boosting success. A fair fourth in a Leopardstown Group 3 over 1m4f last week, Omni Man is preferred to his 6lb lower-rated stablemate Cowardofthecounty for forecast purposes.
Trained on the Curragh, ARMOR SUPREME has shown a high level of ability in three runs in Britain. After a debut win at Goodwood, she was touched off in a Listed contest at York and was last seen when ninth in the Queen Mary. Her four-length defeat on that occasion is strong form, with that Royal Ascot Group 2 working out very well. Grayrobin is on a hat-trick and had Star Prospect (now 5lb better off) back in third when making all at Cork. An impressive debut winner at Naas, Concorde Landed was too free when fourth to a more experienced stablemate in a Listed race at the same venue and may benefit from the application of a hood.
BOLD OPTIMIST last visited the winner's enclosure after taking a C&D contest just over two years ago. He has slipped a long way in the ratings and, on his first start of the turf season, shaped with plenty of encouragement when second at Naas last month. Harry's Hill almost made the most of a declining mark when chasing home Mary Shoelaces here a month ago and, on these terms, can turn around form with the winner. Just in behind that pair was Happy Henry and he also makes the shortlist having shown a consistent level of form in similar contests this season.
MR MONTAUK has been progressive since handicapping and, having run to form when beaten just over three lengths in second at Sligo last time, can open his account with Joseph O'Brien's yard having won this twice in recent years. Banks Of The Boyne shaped well again when runner-up in a Galway nursery and, with further improvement likely, can go close again for another stable that has won this a coupe of times. Shesthedevil found the jump into Listed company too much when well beaten at Naas but had shown useful form previously and is interesting dropping into calmer waters for her handicap debut.
THE PIPEMAN shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up by a couple of lengths on debut at Navan and, with natural improvement likely, looks a strong contender in this big field maiden. Williamsburg showed some promise of his own when fifth at Leopardstown at a big price and can improve for that experience here, while Coincidenza is one of the more interesting newcomers taking part in this having cost 200,000gns as a breeze-up purchase by Ten Sovereigns, with Oisin Murphy a notable booking for Donnacha O'Brien.
COMFORT LINE has been consistent and shaped well when fourth at Leopardstown last time, despite stepping up to 9f. Back over a mile from the same mark, he can go close again. Ella's Gold has been knocking on the door with several placed efforts and, with first-time cheekpieces fitted, can make another bold bid from just 1lb higher than her recent third-place finish at Roscommon over 10f. Neo Smart is also on a competitive mark, being back on the rating he scored on over 7f here last year, and can be competitive again if building on his latest Gowran Park effort, when close fourth beaten only a couple of lengths.
ZARAK PASHA built on his debut when beaten just three parts of a length at Galway and, with further progress likely, sets a strong standard in this maiden for Joseph O'Brien. Albany County is an interesting newcomer for Ballydoyle having cost €420,000 as a Camelot colt and being a half-brother to top-class 8f performer Mother Earth, while his dam was high-class at 9f, so could contend on debut. Palazzo Serristori is another well-bred newcomer for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore, being by Justify and a full-brother to the useful Totally Justified, so he could also have a say, though it's the already race Thomas Chippendale that Wayne Lordan has opted for out of the yard's runners.
YOUCANSAYTHATAGAIN improved on his debut when getting off the mark by almost a length at Down Royal and, having already shown he stays this 10f trip strongly, looks a strong contender to follow up on handicap debut. Guinelot also arrives after winning a maiden at Ballinrobe and, with this trip well within range, can go well again on what is also his first start in handicaps. Thyer has been consistent and was only beaten by little more than a length in third at Galway last time, so a 2lb rise should not prevent another bold showing.
A BOY NAMED SUSIE confirmed the promise of his unlucky French Derby run when finishing a very good second in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse from 20/1 at Sandown last time. He sets the standard on the balance of form in this small field for Donnacha O'Brien, and has the benefit of Oisin Murphy being booked on board here. Omni Man shaped better when previous outings when fourth in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown and can go well again if building on that effort for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, while that yard's other runner, Cowardofthecounty, has been in generally good form in Group and Listed company since winning a high-grade handicap but needs to find a little more returning to this level.
ARMOR SUPREME drops back into this grade having competed well at a high level, finishing four lengths back in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, and had shown good form at this level previously, winning a novice at Goodwood on debut before running up in Listed company at York. Clearly, a smart 5f performer with a good attitude, she looks the one to beat with Rossa Ryan travelling over for this, his only ride of the afternoon. Concorde Landed was below expectations when fourth in the Listed Marwell Stakes at Naas but is entitled to improve with a first-time hood and can give this level another chance after a promising debut. Grayrobin has shown plenty of promise, winning at Cork to complete a double last time, and can take another step forward now tackling Listed company.
BOLD OPTIMIST has been in good form and was only beaten half a length at Naas last time, with just a 2lb rise to contend with. He remains very competitively weighted on the pick of his older form and looks to have a big chance here. Harry's Hill also arrives in good form after going close over C&D last time and can go well again from just 2lb higher, while Mary Shoelaces is a three-time C&D winner who returned to form with a narrow success here and can be competitive again despite now being on a career-high mark.
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