Derby Festival kicks off

Curragh, Saturday 1 July: The Derby Festival at the Curragh, which runs until Sunday, starts today with an eight-race programme. The most valuable race on the card is the classic Pretty Polly Stakes (4th race/16.25pm/300,000 euros/2012m).

Above The Curve (Ryan Moore), an impressive winner in the Prix Corrida (Group 2), will start as favourite. Close on the betting market is Via Sistina (Jamie Spencer), who was other goods in the Dahlia Stakes (Group 2). Rosscarbery (W. Lee) is also among the mean. She won the Munster Oaks Stakes (Group 3). Never Ending Story (Wayne Lordan) took a respectable honours place in the Prix de Diane (Group 1), which needs to be confirmed. Insinuendo (Declan McDonogh) rehearsed here in the Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2) when third. She is even more likely to surprise than Stay Alert (Ronan Whelan), who finished fifth in the Middleton Stakes (Group 2).