Curragh Sunday Preview - 25/09/22

The first selection of the afternoon on Friday sees the Joseph O'Brien trained Dark Side look to get off the mark for Qatar Racing in the 7f Maiden.

Making his debut at Cork at the start of September on heavy ground he was a good second behind a nice Michael Halford trained Aga Khan horse.

Set to improve for that run on less testing ground he looks a very nice son of Zoffany that could progress.

Our next selection comes in the Auction Series Race over 6f and Freedom Falls for trainer Jack Davison has been given a big chance to get off the mark.

The filly made her debut in July this term at Gowran Park when fourth of eight showing some ability and then next time out at Down Royal in a similar race to this she was fourth again but much closer to the winner.

Dropped to 6.5f at the Curragh last time out she was fourth for third time in her career but in a much better race with winner Streets Of Gold a big talent.

This looks much easier and she should go close.

The first big race of the afternoon is the Group Three Renaissance Stakes over six furlongs and Art Power looks to have a big chance to get back on track in the race he won last year.

A superb horse over the years for Tim Easterby winning four races in a row at the start of his career including a big fielded handicap at Royal Ascot and the Group Three Lacken Stakes at Naas.

He then went to put up some superb placed/frame efforts as a three and four year old in races like the Sprint Cup Stakes, British Champion Sprint Stakes, Platinum Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.

He ended last year with a win at the Curragh in this race and then finished a good fourth in the British Champion Sprint Stakes again.

Seen twice this year when fourth over 7f at York in the Group Two Stakes behind Kinross who has franked the form but then chucked in a poor performance last time out at Haydock in the Sprint Cup.

Back into much calmer waters and being unbeaten in Ireland, he looks the one to beat.

The final Group Three of the afternoon is the Weld Park Stakes over seven furlongs and Caroline Street for Joseph O'Brien holds the leading form.

The daughter of No Nay Never made her debut at Leopardstown when winning nice over a mile in July but she was then sent into a decent Group Three at the Curragh and ran no race.

Putting that behind her she was last seen finishing a narrow second behind Auguste Rodin in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

That sets the form standard coming back in trip and grade and she looks tough to beat.

The big race of the afternoon in Ireland is the Irish Cesarewitch over 2m 1/2f and with 30 runners going to post we have picked out two that could go close.

The first and the smaller of the two priced horses is the Aidan O'Brien Waterville who has just snuck into the race off bottom weight and off a mark of 99 has more to offer.

Waterville was touted as Aidan O'Brien's Derby horse this season but having looked slower than first thought and taking to further trips, he now looks a big contender for this event.

Racing over 10f and 12f at the start of this season and hitting the frame in every race without winning, he then went to Limerick up in trip to 17f and got off the mark in taking style.

Dropped in trip to 13f last time out he was a valiant second to the smart Point King for Joseph O'Brien and still on a lenient mark of 99 he has to be feared.

At a slightly bigger prices is the Willie Mullins trained Lot Of Joy who joined the Closutton master this term and looks a very useful animal off a mark of 93.

A Swedish St Leger winner at the start of October last term he obviously holds some class and looks to be a prospect that could be used over hurdles aswell.

Making his stable debut at the Galway festival in the 2m 1/2 Premier Handicap he was a good fourth of 20 behind stablemates Echoes In Rain and Maze Runner.

He was giving the winner 5lb that day but now receives 4lb in a big weight swing and this mark of 93 looks there to be exploited.

At a double figure price he represents value for a yard that knows how to win these races.