14:00 Sister Rosetta
Experience might prove beneficial in what looks a good opening fillies’ maiden over 7 furlongs at the Curragh this Sunday afternoon, where SISTER ROSETTA gets the thumbs up to get off the mark for trainer Ger Lyons.
She was slightly green when finishing second here on debut and caught the eye, racing wide throughout and coming from off the pace to run a very creditable race behind winner Aunty Birdy. Her closing sectionals in the last two furlongs read well and natural improvement from a first to second start can be expected to see her go extremely close to victory.
Only two horses from that maiden have raced since within the past three weeks, with High Heels finishing second at Gowran Park and Aliyza sixth at Dundalk last weekend – while Snowfall also returns here and does battle with our selection again. Loch Lein from the Jessica Harrington team looks one of the main dangers on debut, with Donnacha O’Brien’s April Showers and Dermot Weld’s Emaniya other newcomers with nice pedigrees and high-class entries for later this season.
As always, any market moves for those runners are worth noting. But, Sister Rosetta gets the vote following her eye-catching run on debut here three weeks ago.
15:10 Frenetic
A small field of six fillies take part in this year’s renewal of the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes, where Aidan O’Brien is looking for his seventh career victory and saddles both More Beautiful and Mother Earth.
More Beautiful returns from a four week break having finished in mid-division when sent-off a short price favourite for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and is the mount of Declan McDonagh today. It’s not a surprise that Wayne Lordan has decided to ride Mother Early having guided her to group success at Naas earlier this month, seeing off today’s rival Sussex Garden by 4 lengths.
However, this race comes down to her rematch with the Ger Lyons-trained FRENETIC who remains unbeaten following two impressive victories already this season. She was showing plenty of ability at home before breaking her maiden on debut at Navan, beating Mother Earth under a hands and heels, front-running ride from jockey Colin Keane.
The daughter of Kodiac dropped down to 5 furlongs and was even more impressive when racing on her own on the stand-side rail, producing an electric turn off foot to win the First Flier Stakes.
That form has been enhanced since with Jim Bolger’s Eastern Voice breaking his maiden at Cork last weekend and the extra furlong on Sunday shouldn’t prove a worry as she develops into a very intriguing juvenile for the rest of the season – she remains unbeaten will see off Mother Earth yet again.
15:45 A’Ali
Former champion Colin Keane has been the go-to jockey for the British raiders in Ireland over the past few weeks and takes the ride on the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained A’ALI in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes.
The 2019 Norfolk Stakes winner was a cracking juvenile and secured success in the Prix Robert Papin and Flying Childers before disappointing in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last November. He made his seasonal return at Newcastle before getting the better of Liberty Beach in the Group 3 Charge at Sandown two weeks ago.
That was a good performance, coming off a strong pace under Frankie Dettori to win cosily by a length over the John Quinn-trained Liberty Beach, who previously finished third to Battaash in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Another strong pace will help our selection, who receives 4lbs from the ever-improving Make A Challenge from the stable of Denis Hogan.
The five-year-old disappointed in the Greenlands, but returned to winning ways in the Midsummer Sprint Stakes here nine days ago and looks a horse that just can’t get his head in front in group company.
The other factor to note is the excellent record for British raiders here, with the last four winners, Stepper Point, Mecca’s Angel, Caspian Prince and Havana Grey all trained in the UK.
16:15 Lemista
Fleeting and Miss O’Connor where not declared which leaves a total field of eight runners for the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes where LEMISTA gets the verdict for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane.
There’s very little between her and the Jessica Harrington-trained One Voice on official ratings, but the Lyons filly looks to have better form in the book in my opinion.
The daughter of Raven’s Pass broke her maiden at Gowran Park last October in a race where the second, third, fourth and sixth horses have all won since to boost the form this season. She surprised some when winning the Park Express Stakes on her seasonal return, where more fancied stablemate, Even So finished third and later took the Naas Oaks Trial earlier this month.
The Lyons team followed up by finding the Listed Victor McCalmont Stakes back at Gowran Park an ideal race for her, before afterwards suggesting the Oaks this weekend as her next target. Shane Lyons has compared her to star mare Who’s Steph in terms of ground preference and suggested the slow side of good or even worse would be perfect conditions – so any rain fall would be a welcome positive to enhance her chances this Sunday.
The decision to bypass the Oaks and run here looks a good call, and hopefully she’ll continue to show her battling qualities to see off One Voice.
The Jessica Harrington filly took the Blue Wind Stakes at Leopardstown and is the main danger, while Snapraeceps, Ridenza and Lovelier should have an interesting battle for third place.
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Curragh’s tips summary:
14:00 Sister Rosetta
15:10 Frenetic
15:45 A’Ali
16:15 Lemista
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Grab racing previews from the UK, Ireland and the rest of the globe here
- Placing bets is easier than ever with Paddy Power News’ live odds banners
- Horse Racing tips: Paul Jacobs has your Lucky 15 for the weekend’s racing action
- Horse Racing tips: Our 3 fine fancies for Chantilly on Sunday
- Horse Racing tips: Timeform’s 8 excellent selections at York on Sunday
- Horse Racing tips: Jason Weaver’s best bets at York Newbury & the Curragh on Sunday include this 16/1 fancy
- Horse Racing tips: Timeform’s 3 nifty wagers at Newbury on Sunday