Strong card at the Curragh

With only modest racing on offer today at the two British meetings, we shall concentrate on the much stronger fare at the Curragh and Deauville. Main event at the Curragh is the Group One Phoenix Stakes at 17.05 CET, always one of the best Irish 2yo races of the season. This race has been an Aidan O´Brien benefit so far this century; he has won it an amazing 11 times in the last 13 years and we expect him to win again today, when he saddles three runners. The unbeaten Power (Seamus Heffernan) is possibly the best of them, although After (Colm O´Donoghue) and Reply, ridden by his son Joseph, cannot be ignored. British raiders Lilbourne Lad (Richard Hughes/Richard Hannon) and Frederick Engels (David Brown/ Johnny Murtagh) look next best. We shall have a better idea of the chances of the filly La Collina (Kevin Prendergast/ Declan McDonogh) after the previous race, the Group Two Debutante Stakes for 2yo fillies, where Maybe (O´Brien/ Joseph) is one of the likelier sorts, as tha t one just beat La Colline last time. But the one to beat here could be Remember Alexander (Jessica Harrington/ Hughes), whose trainer won it last year.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Was - Purple - Shamooda
2. Race: Banimpire - Dunboyne Express - Mutahadee
3. Race: Jigalo - Silver Shuffle - Danehill Tapdancer
4. Race: Maybe - Remember Alexander - Teolane
5. Race: Power - Frederick Engels - Lilbourne Lad
6. Race: Allegra Tak - Foot Perfect - Queenie Keen
7. Race: Deacon Blues - Hitchens - Empowering
8. Race: Star Links - Jambalaya - Independent Girl