Goffs Million races at the Curragh

These big sales races may be controversial because of the way they distort the statistrics, but they certainly offer attractve prizes and at the Curragh today we have the two most valuable of all, the Goffs Million races, each worth 985,000 euros to the winner. While last year they were run as a colts´ and a fillies´ race, this time they are both open to both sexes and we have one race over 6 furlongs at 16.20 CET and the other over a mile at 17.30. Npt surprisingly they have attracted huge fields, Richard Hannon is a specialist in such events and last year won both of them.He is double-handed in ths sprint race with Full Mandate (Mick Kinane) and Lucky General (Richard Hughes), but on form Beethoven, one of 3 Aidan O´Brien entries and the choice of stable jockey Johnny Murtagh, and Walk on Bye (Tommy Stack/ Wayne Lordan) can be preferred. In the mile race Azmeel (John Gosdn/ Mick Kinane) stands out after winning both his starts so far in excellent style. Crystal Gal (Kevin P rendergast/ Declan McDonogh) and Lord High Admiral (O´Brien/ Murtagh) are both undefeated after just one start, but the main danger looks to be Shakeaparean (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), so it is quite likely that the lion´s share of the prize-money will go to England. There are also two group races on the card, both worth far less. Corcovada (dwatd Harty/ Fran Berry) is the form choice for the 7 furlongs 2yo fillis race at 15.45, but it is significant that Murtagh rides David Wachman´s Picture Perfect, behind her last time, in preference to two Aidan O´Brien runners, while the Bersdford Stakes over a mile for 2yo´s at 16.55 looks between St.Nicholas Abbey (O´Brien/ Murtagh), Passion for Gold (Saeed bin Suroor/ Alan Munro) and Layali Al Andalus (Johnston/ Fanning). There isd also jumps racing in Ireland today at Clonmel.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sioduil - The Tooth Fairy - Irish Heartbeat
2. Race: Picture Perfect - Corcovada - Bikini Babe
3. Race: Walk On Bye - Gibraltar Blue - Full Mandate
4. Race: St Nicholas Abbey - Passion For Gold - Reiteration
5. Race: Azmeel - Shakespearean - Lord High Admiral
6. Race: Gan Amhras - Dohasa - Worldly Wise
7. Race: Majestic Concorde - Elyaadi - Silverhand