2 group races at the Curragh

The card at the Curragh, as is often the case on a Sunday, is much stronger than the British cards today, with two group races. Main feature is the Beresford Stakes for 2yo´s over a mile at 17.20 CET, a race in which John Oxx often runs his best juvenile. This time he relies on Akeed Mofeed (Johnny Murtagh), most impressive when defeating Athens (Aidan O´Brien/ Colm O´Donoghue) at Leopardstown last time. Athns has since won, but his stable companions Furners Green (Joseph O´Brien) and David Livingston (Seamus Heffernan) are probably more of a danger. However Akeed Mofeed looks a solid favourite. The C.L.Weld Park Stakes at 16.10 is for 2yo fillies over 7 furlongs, and O´Brien, Jessica Harrington and Dermot Weld each saddle two runners, whole Newmarket raider Kinetica (Sir Mark Prescott/ Colin Hayes) is also a threat. Obviously Weld would love to win the race named after his father and we make Madhmoonah (Pat Smullen) the selection.

Epsom stages its final meeting of 2011 today with a card mainly comprised of handicaps. Two trainers who are in good form at the moment are Brian Meehan and Roger Varian, and we expect them to score with Colour Scheme (Shane Kelly) at 16.35 and Dubawi Sound (Neil Callan) at 16.00 respectively.

Mark Johnston is usually the trainer to follow at Musselburgh and he has several chances today; but he has no runners in the main event, a mile handicap for fillies at 17.30, which could go to Metropolitain Miss (Mick Channon/ Franny Norton).

There is also N.H. racing from Clonmel in Ireland today, with the usual large fields. But there are only 6 runners in the main event, a novice chase over 3 miles at 17.35, which looks wide open. At these weights we just prefer Action Master (Dessie Hughes/ Ben Cooper).

Curragh - betting forecast:
1. Race: Lanett Lady - Nephrite - Mississippi
2. Race: Murura - Bonnie Acclamation - Blue Dahlia
3. Race: Princess Sinead - Remember Alexander - Coral Wave
4. Race: Hujaylea - Bancnuanaheireann - Defining Year
5. Race: Akeed Mofeed - Furner`s Green - David Livingston
6. Race: Sun Disc - Boulay - Melodie D`Amour
7. Race: Ansaab - Eva`S Time - Ansgar