Curragh Sunday Preview - 26/06/22

The first selection of the afternoon from the Curragh on Sunday comes in the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes over 6f and Statuette for Aidan O'Brien looks a potential superstar.

The two year old daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify is closely related to Group One winner Tenebrism and off the back of her debut has bundles of ability.

Having the first run of her career at Navan over 5.5f in May she went on to see off the talented Olivia Maralda by three lengths.

Missing Royal Ascot and aimed at this race, she should take all the beating if taking another step forward.

The first big fielded handicap event of the afternoon comes over six furlongs and Gordon Bennett for Richard Brabazon could be a big player.

The four year old has been a largely consistent horse throughout his career, getting off the mark on April last season over 6f at Navan and this term has progressively got better and better in big fielded events.

Needing his seasonal debut over 7f at Leopardstown when having a pipe opener, he then went to Cork over the same trip and was a better sixth off a mark of 73.

Last time out he was sent down in trip to 6.5f at the Curragh and was a dead heat second off a mark of 70 in a 30 runner handicap.

Now at his preferred 6f off the same mark, he holds every chance at a track he likes.

One of the trickiest events of the afternoon to call on Sunday is the Paddy Power Rockingham Handicap over 5f and we are siding with the Charles O'Brien Big Gossey.

The five year old is a bit of a veteran in these types of races and recently getting back to a more workable mark makes him interesting.

Three starts ago off a mark of 90 he went on to finish a good third of 13 over 6f at the curragh and then backed that up with a close up fifth over the same C&D.

Sent to Fairyhouse last time out the gelding was a neck second to Moss Tucker who he opposes again here and having been getting 4lb that day he now gets 6lb and he is almost double the price.

Each way chance and looks the value pick at his current price with handy 3lb claimer Danny Sheehy on board.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes over 1m2f and we are siding with the William Haggas trained Purplepay who will love the rain that is set to fall.

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 seen on her final start last term finishing a close third in the Group One Criterium International Behind Angel Bleu and Ancient Rome.

Given to Haggas this term she has been seen twice more, running at the Curragh over a mile in the Irish 1000 Guineas when running on well into sixth but not enjoying the good ground.

Last time out when sent back over to France at Chantilly she took the Group Two Prix de Sandringham with any amount in hand and the key to this horse is soft ground.

Big player up in trip having won over 9f before and should get the extra furlong.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon is the 1m4f Premier Handicap and we are giving a chance to the talented hurdler HMS Seahorse who looks to have plenty in hand off this handicap mark.

Finishing fourth at the Cheltenham festival in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, he was last seen finishing third behind Vauban and Fil Dor in The Grade One Champion four year old hurdle at the Punchestown festival.

HMS Seahorse raced on the flat five times before going over hurdles and now having his first run in a handicap off a mark of 82, he could be really well in.

The final event of the afternoon sees the Irish EBF Maiden over 1m2f and Nemean for Johnny Murtagh and the ex jockey looks to have a good one.

The three year old son of Kitten's Joy made a superb debut at Gowran Park over 9.5f when a close second behind a nice type for Joseph O'Brien.

He is only going to improve for the extra half a furlong and is worth taking a chance on.