Irish St. Leger at the Curragh

the two U.K. meetings today are not really worth bothering with, we shall concentrate on the big Irish Meeting at the Curragh, featuring the Irish St. Leger at 16.50 CET. The big difference between this race and the proper version run yesterday at Doncaster, as that the Irish race is open to older horses - and the only 3yo entered, Galileo Rock, won´t run as he ran third at Doncaster yesterday. So we have the ridiculous state of affairs, a "classic" without a single 3yo runner!

Royal Diamomnd, now trained and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, won the race last year and has an obvious chance of landing the double, especially with Murtagh in great form, and he seems very confident. He also won the main trial for this from Voleuse de Coeurs (Dermot Weld/ Chris Hayes) and Ernest Hemingway (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien); they meet on the same terms but it was quite a tight finish, and Ernest Hemingway defeated him earlier in the season, so there is not much between them. It would certainly be a great achievement for O´Brien, who also saddles Chamonix (Seamus Heffernan) if he could win this after yesterday´s Doncaster success, but there are other dangers lurking.

One is Ahzeemah (Saeed in Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa), who won the Lonsdale Cup last time. Then there is the globetrotting Red Cadeaux (Ed Dunlop/ Gerald Mossé) who is being aimed at the Melbourne Cup (as is Royal Diamond). Saddler´s Rock (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh), winner of the Goodwood Cup last year and a 3/4 brother to Galileo Rock, would be a popular winner as the Oxx stable has been badly affected by a virus and has hardly had a winner all year; however this trip is probably too short, and we would rather wait to see some revival in the stable´s fortunes. The one we like best is Dermot Weld´s other runner Pale Mimosa, and as she is the choice of stable Jockey Pat Smullen, the stable probably think that she can hold Royal Diamond. She has been brought along very carefully and her only 2013 start was when easily winning the Saval Beg 3 months ago, form which certainly gives her a chance here.

The other Group One on the card is the National Stakes for 2yo´s over a mile at 17.25. Toormore (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) is the only British runner and the obvious form choice; he has won both is starts and at Goodwood defeated yesterday´s Group two winner Outstrip. However Aidan O´Brien has 3 riunners here and must fancy his chances; Joseph rides Giovanni Boldoni, who made his debut a week ago on the all-weather at Dundalk but has been entered in all the top races. Even more unconventional isJim Bolger, who runs his debutant Fiscal Focus (Kevin Manning); Bolger could probably walk on water if he felt so inclined, and this is definitely a race to watch, but not to bet on.

Whatever happens in these races, the O´Brien´s should not go home empty-handed as Darwin - who ran in the U.S. last year- looks a good thing to win the Group Three Solonaway Stakes at 16.15, and the very promising Dazzling can take the listed race for 2yo fillies an hour earlier.