Curragh Sunday Preview - 28/05/23

The first selection of the afternoon on Sunday comes in the Fillies & Mares Handicap over 6f and the horse that takes the eye is the Edward Lynam trained Marsa.

A winner in August last year when tackling good to firm ground off a mark of 72, she then ran poorly at Bellewstown on ground that was too slow for her.

Sent to Dundalk over 7f she got back to winning ways in good style off the same mark and then over the same C&D off 4lb higher made it back to back wins.

Seen last time out at Dundalk again off a mark of 85 when a good third behind two experienced types, she now runs off 11lb lower getting back to turf and if handling 6f, she could be well handicapped.

One of the feature races on the afternoon at the Curragh is the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup over 10.5f and what a race we have in prospect.

A superstar for the yard over the last few years, winning four straight races in 2021 making a mockery of his handicap mark At Newbury and York off 90 and 105, he then finished that season at Newmarket when landing the Listed James Seymour Stakes by 1/2 a length from Majestic Dawn.

Back last term with bigger races on his plate he put in a unreal performance in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes to beat Mostahdaf by five lengths, but then went to Royal Ascot and could not chase down State Of Rest from the front in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 1m2f.

Running below par in the Group One Coral Eclipse at Sandown when fifth of six finishing four lengths behind the winner Vadeni, with Mishriff, Lord North and Native Trail just ahead of him.

He was not seen again until his final run of the season in October at Ascot in the Group One Champion Stakes and under a superb ride by Richard Kingscote he went on to defeat Adayar, My Prospero and Baaeed in a race for the ages.

Back as a five year old this term he made his seasonal debut in the Group One Prix Ganay over at Longchamp on ground slower than he would of liked he finished a good third behind a mud lover.

On quick ground having already had his first run of the season he has proved he has the ability and can go close.

Vadeni is the big danger for me but he did see him off fairly easily last time albeit he might have not been 100% fit.

Another nice event follows on Sunday with the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes over a mile and Insinuendo can bounce back to winning ways steeping back down to a mile.

A versatile horse who ran credibly at the start of last season between 8-10f when second to Mother Earth, Luxembourg and Above The Curve in group company.

She finished last term off in the UK at Ascot when a good third over 12f on British Champions Day in the Fillies' & Mares' Stakes behind Emily Upjohn.

Running in November in the Group Three Bahrain International Trophy when only beating three home, she came back this season over a mile at the Curragh when landing the Group Three Park Express Stakes with ease.

Stepped up to 1m2f last time out at the Curragh once more she finished just over three lengths back in fourth behind Visualisation in the Group Two Moorebridge Stakes.

She was ahead of Luxumbourg that day and now dropping back to a mile over this C&D having already won this season, she needs to be taken seriously.

The feature race of the afternoon on Sunday from Ireland is the second Classic race of the season with the Irish 1000 Guineas seeing 10 go to post.

There should be no stopping the favourite Tahiyra for Dermot Weld in this one with her only going to improve for her seasonal debut second in the Group One English 1000 Guineas.

The three year old daughter of Siyouni, Tahiyra has been seen just twice on the world stage to date, making her debut at Galway in emphatic style when bolting up by lose to six lengths, she was then saved for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

Taking on the proven superstar Meditate, she travelled into the race beautifully before breezing past the Aidan O'Brien trained filly to win with any amount in hand.

A star was officially born after that performance and this season she was given her first start in the English 1000 Guineas when looking the winner 2f out but just being out battled by the determined mare Mawj just had to settle for second.

Maybe not 100% fit that day she will be for this and with this event much weaker she should get back to winning ways.

The group action continues at the Curragh with the Heider Family Stables Group Three over 10f and Drumroll for Aidan O'Brien holds the leading form.

Making a superb debut at Navan on heavy ground in March when beating a nice type in Time Tells All for Dermot Weld, he then went to the Curragh at the start of May and finished a close second to stablemate Paddington in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes.

Paddington is Aidan O'Brien's best chance in the Irish 2000 Guineas and with strong form behind him, he holds big credentials in Listed company again.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the 1m6f Handicap and Zanndabad for trainer Tony Martin could have a say off a mark of 95 back on the flat.

Tried over the jumps since moving over from France and running to good effect when seventh on hurdles debut behind Tekao at Leopardstown and then backed that up with a better fourth behind the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle second Byker.

Fifth on his final start at Gowran Park when being set up for the Boodles at Cheltenham, he unfortunately did not sneak in when well backed ahead of the race.

Dropped back to the flat for this event off a mark of 95 having been running well on the level in France, he could be interesting.