Big Gossey is one of the most experienced runners in the field this weekend, as she makes her 48th start under rules this weekend. She certainly performs well at Curragh, and that was evident on her previous start as she won a big field handicap over six furlongs by over a length from Never Shout Never.
However, she is winless in seven starts in stakes company, and she could be vulnerable this weekend.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/11/23 | CUR | 7 | Hy | 9-5 | 1 |
| 27/10/23 | DUN | 5 | St | 10-0 | 7 |
| 14/10/23 | NAA | 6 | Sft/Hy | 9-7 | 3 |
| 06/10/23 | DUN | 5 | St | 9-7 | 4 |
| 24/09/23 | CUR | 6 | Sft | 9-7 | 2 |
Go Athletico is the runner for Adrian McGuinness this weekend. This gelding has been in strong form since joining the stable, and has finished in the top two in each of his previous three starts.
He stepped up to six furlongs on his latest appearance, but he was edged out by just two lengths from Moss Tucker when second in the G3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes over course and distance. However, a strong showing is likely on Sunday.
Darren Bunyan & Ger O’Leary’s runner in the race this weekend is Pretty Rebel. The six-year-old mare will be looking to produce another solid effort on her return to the track after previously finishing just over two lengths behind Tenebrism in the Cork Stakes in April.
She has won just four from 25 career starts, and is winless in three efforts in stakes company. But, she could have place claims this weekend.
Twilight Jet is a runner for Michael O’Callaghan this weekend. The four-year-old was a good winner over five furlongs on his latest start, beating Lokada by a neck in the Abergwaun Stakes.
He returns to six furlongs this weekend after previously finishing sixth in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes and seventh in the G2 Greenlands Stakes.
Ocean Quest is the runner for John Harrington this weekend. The three-year-old has been competitive in high-quality company throughout the season, most recently G3 Ballyogan Stakes over six furlongs at Naas.
On that day, she finished over three lengths clear of Aussie Girl. Ocean Quest was also fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup and was only beaten a head by The Antarctic over six furlongs in the G3 Goffs Lacken Stakes.
Aesop’s Fables is a runner for Aidan O’Brien in the race this weekend. The three-year-old has won twice from nine starts on the turf, and has won once from eight in stakes company.
A return to six furlongs should bring out improvement in the colt, as he has finished down the order in both the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes and G1 Flying Five Stakes over five furlongs in recent months.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/10/23 | LON | 5 | GS | 9-11 | 3 |
| 24/09/23 | CUR | 6 | Sft | 9-5 | 3 |
| 10/09/23 | CUR | 5 | Gd/Y | 9-5 | 8 |
| 25/08/23 | YOR | 5 | GF | 9-11 | 16 |
| 20/05/23 | NBY | 6 | Gd | 9-2 | 3 |
Shartash is a runner of Jonny Murtagh this weekend. The three-year-old has won two from ten career starts, but was a course and distance winner against Blackbeard in 2022.
However, he has struggled to reach the same heights this season. Most recently, he finished last of eleven and 70 lengths behind Moss Tucker over course and distance in the G3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
Donnacha O’Brien’s runner in the race this weekend is Wodao. The three-year-old was well beaten when ninth of eleven in the G3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes on his previous start, while he also finished back in eighth in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes over course and distance in July.
It appears hard to make a case for this runner based on those efforts.
Clever And Cool is the runner for Jim Bolger in the Group 3 this weekend. The three-year-old will be looking to get back on track after finishing a distant tenth of 12 in the G1 Matron Stakes on her previous start.
However, she has some excellent form over shorter distances than a mile, having previously edged out Matilda Picotte to land the G3 Fairy Bridge Stakes. She returns to six furlongs for the first time since finishing eleventh of 15 behind The Antarctic in the G3 Goffs Lacken Stakes in May.
