The first selection of the day at the Curragh on Sunday comes in the Irish Maiden over six furlongs and Forceful Speed for Adrian Murray could be tough to beat if building on his debut.
Costing 260,000gns as a yearling the son of New Bay was a head second on debut over five furlongs here in March and now going up a furlong has to be feared.
Best form in the field, albeit a lot of them haven't run.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/10/23 | LEI | 10 | GS | 9-5 | 4 |
| 01/10/23 | EPS | 12 | Gd | 9-10 | 1 |
| 19/09/23 | RED | 10 | Gd | 9-8 | 1 |
| 25/06/23 | PON | 10 | GF | 8-9 | 1 |
| 02/04/23 | DON | 10 | Sft | 9-1 | 5 |
The second selection of the afternoon in Ireland is the Maiden over six furlongs and Lord Abama for for Mick Halford could be tough to beat off the back of his debut run.
The three year old colt was a £46,000 yearling related to the talented Profitable and on debut was a smart fourth of 17 on soft ground over this course and distance.
He was behind a nice horse in New York City who has since come out and bolted up seven lengths in a 5f Maiden and that looks to be some of the best form on offer.
The first big race of the day is the Group Three Alleged Stakes over 1m2f and we think the value lies with the Joseph O'Brien trained Gear Up.
The four year old was a nice horse for Mark Johnston, winning his first two starts as a two year old including the Group Three Acomb Stakes.
He was then seen finishing fourth of five in the Group Two Royal Lodge and then when stepped up to 1m2f landed the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France.
Last year he made his seasonal debut in the Group Two Dante Stakes and was fifth behind Hurricane Lane who was a smart winner.
He lost his way in his last three runs for Johnston going up in trip and it didn't suit in the Derby, King Edward VII Stakes and Bahrain Trophy.
Now with O'Brien and back down to his preferred trip, he can spark a revival
The other Group Three event on the card is the Group Three Gladness Stakes over seven furlongs and at a price Emilie Gray looks a player.
The Dermot Weld trained filly by Dubawi showed some decent form last season when winning a seven furlong maiden by close to nine lengths and then backed that up in a Handicap when a neck second.
She was then seen in a Listed race in very soft ground at Longchamp before last being seen in a Group Three at the Curragh over a mile when well beaten by Mother Earth on seasonal debut.
She will strip much fitter for the pipe opener and should go close.
The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the six furlong handicap and Hightimeyouwon for Dermot Weld should not be a million miles away.
The six year old has some very consistent form of late, winning a 20 runner handicap at Cork over seven furlongs off a mark of 84 and then off 3lb higher was fourth of 26 in another good handicap.
Dropped down to 6f off 88 he was a close second in a 19 runner event and then when last seen over course and distance again, this time off 92, he was as consistent as ever to finish third of 22.
He has some big fielded handicap form, is largely consistent and off the same mark of 92 has to be feared.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/10/23 | DUN | 7 | St | 8-13 | 2 |
| 12/09/23 | LAY | 7 | St | 12-4 | 3 |
| 24/08/23 | LEO | 7 | Gd | 9-9 | 1 |
| 12/08/23 | CUR | 8 | Gd/Y | 8-9 | 7 |
| 12/07/23 | FAI | 7 | Gd | 8-9 | 9 |
Finally, in the Irish Maiden over 1m2f it sees Aidan O'Brien field three strong challengers and we are going for the unraced Waterville, who could be a monster according to the Ballydoyle maestro.
The €280,000 son of Camelot has a superb pedigree with plenty of stamina within it and with the yard in flying form and liking this horse, he is worth following.
