Curragh Sunday Preview - 22/05/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 12:40
11(5)
Chris Hayes

Tanaiyla

J: Chris Hayes
T: D K Weld
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-2
OR: N/A
Days: 29

The first selection on Sunday afternoon is the six furlong Fillies' Maiden and the horse that takes the eye is the Dermot Weld trained Tanaiyla.

The daughter of Siyouni has been seen once before which is more than the majority of the field and she was a bright second behind a nice type for Aidan O'Brien.

Should come on for that run and if handling soft ground could be tough to beat.

Best form in the race.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 13:10
3(11)
Colin Keane

Pirate Jenny

J: Colin Keane
T: G M Lyons
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-6
OR: 88
Days: 236

Next up is the Fillies' Handicap over six furlongs and Pirate Jenny for Ger Lyons could be tough to beat on handicap debut for a thriving yard.

The three year old daughter of Exceed And Excel has been seen twice to date, finishing a good second at Navan in August behind a nice type for Aidan O'Brien and then next time out got off the mark at Cork on softer ground.

Given a mark of 88 for her handicap debut she could be much better than that and holding some leading form heading into the event, with Colin Keane on board, she must be feared.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 13:40
8(5)
Shane Crosse

State Of Rest

J: Shane Crosse
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-5
OR: 120
Days: 21

The first big race of the day is the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup and at the current odds, State Of Rest looks a bigger price than he should be.

The four year old colt for the Inform Joseph O’Brien team should go close in this off the back of his last three runs and he could be a class above this field.

Last year the colt really sprung into gear at the back end of the season, winning over in America in the Grade One Saratoga Derby over a similar trip to this.

He then made it back to back globetrotting wins when taking the Grade One Cox Plate in Australia, which is an extremely hard thing to do for a British/Irish trainer.

Back this season in the Group One Prix Ganay at Paris Longchamp he landed the hat-trick in very taking style.

Having his first run on home soil since June 2021, he is a class horse that should make it four Group Ones in a row in four different countries.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 14:10
8(5)
Shane Crosse

Twilight Spinner

J: Shane Crosse
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 108
Days: 20

Another nice event on the card is the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes over a mile and the horse that took the eye is the Joseph O'Brien trained Twilight Spinner.

The four year old filly started her career with David O'Meara in England and on her three runs won twice at Ripon and Haydock on soft and heavy ground over 6f, the latter run when bolting up in the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes.

Moved to O'Brien in the summer of 2021 he made her debut for the yard at the Curragh over 6f and was a good second behind Art Power in a Group Three.

Put away after that and returning this season she made her seasonal debut at Cork in a Listed event over 6f and finished third behind two nice types, maybe just needing the run.

She improved massively for that last time out when getting off the mark for the season on her first try at 7f, in a good Group Three and she won very easily.

There is every chance she will improve again for the step up to a mile and she just edges it for us with her progressive nature very eye-catching.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 14:45
13(3)
Ryan Moore

Tuesday

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 109
Days: 21

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group One Irish 1000 Guineas and we have picked out two horses who we think can go close.

The first is the Aidan O'Brien trained three year old daughter of Galileo, Tuesday who has been labelled one of the Ballydoyle maestro's most exciting filly for the season and in her three runs to date has shown enough to make you think she has a big Grade One in her.

Making her debut as a two year old at the Curragh when second to the bright Discoveries for Jessica Harrington, she was put away and has been seen twice this term.

Getting off the mark on seasonal debut at Naas over a mile, she was last seen in the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket when staying on well up the rail under Frankie Dettori to grab third.

It looks as though this event is a prep ahead of the Epsom Oaks but holding some of the leading form In the race she has every chance.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 14:45
11(7)
Tom Marquand

Purplepay

J: Tom Marquand
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 106
Days: 211

At a bigger price is the William Haggas trained Purplepay who makes her first start for the British trainer, who could not be in better form heading into the weekend if he tried.

What makes this filly an attractive bet at around 9/1 is the rain that is set to fall in Ireland will be right up her street, with the three year old doing her best work in France on very soft ground.

Bought by Lael Stud having won three of her five events in France she looks a very nice prospect for a thriving yard.

She was last seen finishing a close third in the Group One Criterium International Behind Angel Bleu and Ancient Rome.

That is some strong form and being proven at the trip she could cause an upset.

Curragh - May 21 2022
Curragh 15:50
4(5)
Ben Coen

Miss Mirabell

J: Ben Coen
T: J P Murtagh
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-6
OR: 94
Days: 11

The final selection of the afternoon for the Curragh comes in the Fillies Handicap over a mile and the Johnny Murtagh trained Miss Mirabell could go close.

Making her handicap debut in this event off the back of two runs to date, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand made her debut on soft ground at Gowran when finishing fifth and needing the experience.

Having learnt a lot for that run she got off the mark last time out over the same course and distance, bolting up by five lengths in a Fillies & Mares Maiden.

She makes her handicap debut off a mark of 94 and she looks a class act.