Curragh Saturday Preview - 26/06/21

The first race of the day on Saturday at The Curragh is the Listed Dash Stakes over six furlongs and the horse we are siding is Loch Lein for Jessica Harrington.

The three year old filly is getting bags of weight off the field and seems to be one of the more likely improvers in the race off the back of her age and what she has done to date.

As a juvenile she showed plenty of potential, finishing third on debut over 7f behind the superstar Oaks winner Snowfall and the next time out finished a closer second this time behind the French 2000 Guineas and Derby winner St Mark's Basilica.

Without them to contest she got off the mark on her final 2yo start taking a 6f event by six lengths.

This season she started her campaign off in the 1000 Guineas trial over 7f at Leopardstown and it was clear she needed to go back in trip and not up.

She was then sent down to 5.5f in a Listed race and she was outpaced from along way out, but last time back at 6f she gave the best performance of her season when a close fourth in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes.

Now finding her distance she should improve for that run and go close at a decent price.

Next up is the Premier Fillies Handicap over seven furlongs and Marbling for Ger Lyons is a horse that will not be far away if fully tuned up.

The four year old daughter of Kingman has come over from France this term having ran to a fair level last term, winning on her second to last start.

She was last seen in October for Andre Fabre finishing a close up fifth at Saint Cloud on heavy ground and with the best of her runs coming on a sounder surface she should enjoy this good ground.

Could be will in with the handicapper for her first Irish start.

The first black type race of the day is the Group Two Railway Stakes over six furlongs and Mr Zempf for Ger Lyons will not be far away.

The two year old won on debut at The Curragh on the same card as Point Lonsdale who has gone to frank that form, with the juvenile being equally as impressive.

The son of Dark Angel was seen in a decent six furlong event and showed clear ability and pace to see off what looked a decent field by close to three lengths.

Having swerved the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and he is only going to improve for that run and is thought of very highly at home.

One to watch.

The feature event on the card is the Group One Irish Derby and this year we think the British will take home the glory with Hurricane Lane having a big chance for Charlie Appleby.

The three year old son of Frankel made his debut last term at Newmarket in a decent Novice Stakes over a mile on heavy ground and he ran out an easy winner.

Saved for this season, he was stepped up in trip on seasonal debut in a good Conditions Stakes over 10f and again ran out a good winner, doing his best work near the finish.

The form of that race does not look bad with the second since placing in a better event and the fourth placed runner since winning.

He also backed up this form line last time out when landing the Group Two Dante Stakes at York, staying the 10.5 furlongs well.

He saw off smart runners Megallan and High Definition that day and was sure to head to the Derby having plenty of stamina in his family.

The colt managed to finish a good third in the Classic event behind Adayar and Mojo Star, with the form of those runners working out and the Irish Derby looks an slightly easier contest.

The Group Three International Stakes over 1m2f sees a good field of runners head to post, but by far the stand out performer seems to be True Self for Willie Mullins.

The eight year old mare just seems to keep finding special performances and if performing to her best in this should be a class above.

This term she has been seen twice landing the Neom Turf Handicap at the Saudi Cup meeting and then last time out finished a close up third in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup behind Helvic Dream and Broome.

Broome has since franked the form with a good performance at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes and getting her beloved good ground she looks the one to beat.

The Listed Celebration Stakes over a mile is always a nightmare for punters but we believe to found the winner in State Of Rest for Joseph O'Brien.

The three year old ran six times last year showing good form on both good and soft ground and if being fully ready for this first event he could be a big player.

Last season the colt ran well in defeat finishing a good fourth in the 17 runner Ballyhane Stakes and he backed that up with another nice third in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

He was last seen back at Town Moor over a mile for the Group One Vertem Futurity Stakes finishing fifth behind the likes of Mac Swiney and One Ruler and if being better a year older he could be interesting.

The penultimate event of the afternoon at The Curragh is the Premier Handicap over a mile and Bucky Larson for Ger Lyons looks intersting.

The six year old has been a frequent runner in these types of events during his career and off a mark of 92 could be dangerous in this field.

The gelding was seen in October running at Dundalk and off the back of that in November over the same course and distance he got back to winning ways.

Up 4lb for that run he made his seasonal debut at Leopardstown over 9f and finished a fair fourth and having now blown away the cobwebs and also dropping to his preferred mile he should be in the frame.

The final event in Ireland sees the two mile Handicap and Dewcup for Ted Walsh could be a live contender back on the flat.

The six year old has been tried over both spheres in his career, winning some nice races as a hurdler and also running in some even better races.

He was last seen finishing a fair third over a shorter trip at Ballinrobe and now getting back to two miles off a mark of 77, having been a 137 rated hurdler, he looks chucked in.