4 Group races at the Curragh

As is usual on a Sunday, the racing in Ireland is far better than the sport on offer in the U.K. and the premier Irish track at the Curragh has a very strong card today, featuring 4 group races. As is also usual, Aidan O´Brien fields a powerful team and could conceivably win all 4 of them. It is not clear which are his best 2yo´s and main classic prospects for next year, and he probably does not yet know himself, but Gleneagles is clearly very smart and can win the Group Two Futurity Stakes over 7 furlongs at 17.05 CET with son Joseph in the saddle. He has won his last two starts - both on the good to firm going which is also expected today- in good style and holds Convergence (Ger Lyons/ Colin Keane) on his latest form; Jim Bolger´s two runners could therefore be the main dangers,especially Parish Boy (Kevin Manning).

O´Brien also saddles 3 runners in the fillies equivalent race, the Debutante Stakes at 16.30, with Joseph rather surprisingly riding Qualify, winner of a Dundalk maiden only last week. The stable is so successful that anything seems possible, but we will oppose her with Beach Belle (Kevin Prendergast/ Chris Hayes) and Tigrilla (Roger Varian/ Pat Smullen). The latter is the only foreign raider in any of the principel races and was a Deauville winner last time; the trainer clearly means business as he has booked the best (in our opinion) Irish jockey and she is our selection.The O´Brien´s should in any case win the St.Leger Trial at 17.40 with Leading Light, clearly one of the best stayers in Europe, winner of last year´s St. Leger (the real one) and this year of the Gold Cup, in which 8yo Royal Diamond (Johnny Murtagh/ Niall McCullagh) finished well back. Royal Diamond won this last year and the Irish St. Leger itself in 2012, but we cannot see him ever beating Leading Light, who has only been defeated once (in the Arc!) since his debut. He has a 5 lbs penalty here for Ascot, but the only conceivable threat could be the 3yo Streetcar to Stars (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh) in receipt of 17 lbs.

The Royal Whip over 10 furlongs at 15.55 only has 5 runners but looks a fascinating contest, with two erstwhile 2yo champions in the field - Parish Hall (Bolger/ Manning), the 2011 Dewhurst winner, and the O´Brien´s Kingsbarns, winner of the 2012 Racing Post Trophy. For various reasons, neither has fulfilled that early promise, but KIngsbarns remains of great interest and receives weight from his rival today, who however won over this CD nicely a month ago and will be better suited by the ground. Perhaps the lightly- raced and-weighted 3yo Edelmira (Dermot Weld/ Smullen) can beat them both, although she is really bred to stay longer distances and is down in trip here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Elusive Ice - Local Flier - Greek Canyon
2. Race: Edelmira - Kingsbarns - Parish Hall
3. Race: Beach Belle - Qualify - Tigrilla
4. Race: Gleneagles - Hall Of Fame - Convergence
5. Race: Leading Light - Streetcar To Stars - Royal Diamond
6. Race: Grecian Tiger - John Constable - Carraroe Flyer
7. Race: Adjusted - Chicago Girl - First Sitting