Curragh Saturday Preview - 21/05/22

The first selection of the afternoon comes in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes over six furlongs and we have taken a liking to the Aidan O'Brien trained Blackbeard.

The two year old is a well bred son of No Nay Never that cost 270,000gns and has won both his starts to date over 5f on both the all weather and turf.

Making his debut at Dundalk in April, he got off the mark in good style, running a bit green but getting the job done late on.

That run showed promise that improvement would come and it did last time out on turf debut over 5f at the Curragh in a Listed event when beating a smart rival in Crispy Cat by a short head.

The step up to 6f will suit and having not lacked pace in both his runs he could turn out to be a special horse.

Another smart event on the Curragh card on Saturday is the Group Two Greenlands Stakes over six furlongs and it is hard to look past A Case Of You for Aidan McGuinness.

A horse that has really come into his own over the last few years notching two Group One wins in two different countries and if at the top of his game, he wins this comfortably even under a penalty.

A winner of the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye at the back end of last term he then went to Del Mar and was a good fifth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Starting his season this term in February when winning a prep event at Dundalk, he then went to Meydan and finished a good second in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

That put him spot on for his second Group One win in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, seeing off 16 smart rivals to take the event.

Not seen since then he returns down in class for this event and although this may be a stepping stone for bigger races this term, he should have too much class.

The feature race of the afternoon comes in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh and it is always a special race.

We can't look past the favourite Native Trail in this one with the Charlie Appleby trained animal an unbeaten two year old in all four of his starts last term and having shown his class on both his three year old starts, he has obviously trained on.

As last year's champion two year old, he landed four races including a maiden at Sandown, the Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, his first Group One in the National Stakes at the Curragh and he round the season off by taking his second top flight race in the Dewhurst Stakes.

Hoping he would be just as good or event better as a three year old he returned in his prep run for this event over the Guineas course and distance in the G3 Craven Stakes and having taken a little time to get going he powered away from a nice horse in Claymore.

Sent off favourite last time out for the English 2000 Guineas he flew home late, but was just beaten by stablemate Coroebus and finished a superb second.This event looks much easier and if still improving should win this with ease.

At an each way price, or betting without the favourite in the 2000 Guineas, Atomic Jones for Ger Lyons looks a decent player at around 33/1.

Seen three times to date, winning on debut at the Curragh over 7f back in June 2021, he then made it back to back victories when seeing off the second favourite for the Derby Stone Age in the Group Two Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

Making his first start this season at Leopardstown again but now at 1m2f, he didn’t stay the trip aswell as others finishing a tame fourth in a Group Three Derby Trial.

Back at a mile he has enough back form to hit the frame and having had a run he should be spot on for the event.

Next up is the Listed Orby Stakes over 1m4f and at a price Raise You for Joseph O'Brien could spring a suprise at his odds.

The six year old who was previously with Andrew Balding has really improved since his move to Ireland and now O'Brien looks to have found his ideal trip.

Having been running over a mile last season and running well but ultimately getting beaten for pace, at the end of last term the handler stepped him up in trip to 12f.

Over course and distance in October, on his first try at the trip he went on to land the Amateur Riders Derby by six lengths, staying on emphatically.

The step up by half a mile bought massive improvement and being very unexposed at the trip could see him progress again, albeit this is tougher.

In the final event of the afternoon we have a selection in the 1m2f Premier Handicap and it sees the Johnny Murtagh trained Mashoor looking to go close.

The four year old son of Kingman has been fairly respectable in the majority of his races, having been with Sir Michael Stoute before this season and last year he got off the mark on seasonal debut at Nottingham.

He was then second in a Novice Stakes at Chelmsford over a mile and rounded off last term stepping up to 10f and running to a decent level in handicap company.

Making his debut for Murtagh at Cork this season he was a strong fourth of 17 in a big fielded handicap off a mark of 86.

Now only 1lb higher, he holds every chance.