Ireland today

the best racing in the British Isles today, both on the flat and over jumps, comes from Ireland. Like Ascort and Goodwood, the Curragh is signing off for the season and stages 7 competitive races, some with huge fields. The 3 listed races are the classiest events. 17 lone up on the 6 furlongs race at 16.00 CET. Snaefell (Mike Halford/ Fran Berry) won a Group Three over this CD last time, but now has to give weight away all round, while Stewards Cup winner Genki (Roger Charlton/ Kevin Manning) is a dangerous raider from England, but for the winner we choose the Aga Khan´s Rayeni (Mick Kinane), whose team can hardly do anything wrong at present. Oxx also launches a strong challenge for the 1 1/2 mile race at 17.35 with 4 runners, the pick of them being the Aga´s Aliyfa (Kinane) but Aidan O´Brien is even more strongly represented with 6 (!) runners, headed by Trojan War (Johnny Murtagh) and Von Jawlensky (Seamus Heffernan). Jim Bolger should take the 2yo fillies race at 16.30, w here his runners Akdarena (Kevin manning) and Atasari (Danny Mullins) have the best form; O´Brien saddles Lady Lupus (Murtagh) here, but she has to improve dramatically to figure. There is also some good jumps racing at Limerick, where the Munster National over 3 miles at 17.50 is the main event. Church Island (Michael Hourigan/ Andrew McNamara) is the class act here but faces a tough task under top weight; Tony Martin´s two runners Green Mile (Ruby Walsh) and Aggies Lad (Robbie Colgan) would appear to have better prospects at these weights. The 2 miles 1 furlong chas at 18.25 is also a good race. German-bred Schelm (Ronnie O´Leary/ Paul Carberry) has a chance, but we prefer Archies Boy (Pat Flynn/ Davy Russell), winner of 4 of his 6 races, and British raider Cornas (Nick Williams/ Daryl Jacob).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Bass Rock - Bygone Age - Dinger Belle
2. Race: Rayeni - Genki - Snaefell
3. Race: Akdarena - Lady Lupus - Crystal Gal
4. Race: Theother Haaf - Our Nana Rose - Roshina
5. Race: Aliyfa - Trojan War - Roman Empress
6. Race: Shalambar - Colleoni - Fingers
7. Race: Is Feidir Linn - My Point Exactly - Dalkan