Irish St. Leger at the Curragh

the Doncaster race is not the only St. Leger run today, there is also the Irish equivalent at 16.20 CET at the Curragh. This race was the first "classic" to be opened to older horses and they have dominated in recent years. All eyes will be on the magnificant Yeats (Aidan O´Brien/ Seamus Heffernan), four times winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and the best stayer to run in Europe this century. However he is definitely vulnerable, and the ground, drying out in fine weather but still soft, will be against him. These conditions suit the ex-German Schiaparelli (Saeed bin Suroor/ Olivier Peslier) and he has a great chance of giving Godolphin their first European Group One of the season. Profound Beauty (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) is a big danger, especially in view of his trainer´s excellent record in the race, as well as Alandi (John Oxx/( Mick Kinane), whose jockey prefers to ride here than at Doncaster, and All the Aces (Michael Jarvis/ Philip Robinson). The only 3yo in the field is Moon Indigo (Joseph O´Brien), but he is presumably acting at the pacemaker for stable-companion Yeats. However the O´Brien runners fare here, the Ballydoyle trainer must have a good chance of taking the Group One National Stakes for 2yo´s over 7 furlongs at 16.50, a race usually won by the Irish champion juvenile. O´Brien has 3 of the 6 runners here with jockey bookings suggesting that Alfred Nobel (Heffernan), who has won his last 3 races, is his main candidate, but Kevin Prendergast´s Kingscote (Declan McDonough) and Jim Bolger´s Chabal (Kevin Manning) look dangerous. Also at the Curragh, ex-German Lady Marian should win the Group Two Blandford Stakes for fillies and mares over 10 furlongs at 15.45; she was only just touched off in a Deauville Group One last time and has Chinese White (Weld/ Smullen) to beat.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sioduil - Irish Heartbeat - Six Of Hearts
2. Race: Lady Marian - Roman Empress - Chinese White
3. Race: Yeats - Alandi - Profound Beauty
4. Race: Alfred Nobel - Kingsfort - Chabal
5. Race: Ferdinand Magellan - Jan Vermeer - Crystal Gal
6. Race: Raise Your Heart - Shela House - Kitty Hawk Miss
7. Race: Mister Tee - Wrong Answer - Rock Jock