Who To Follow At The Curragh On Saturday - 21/05/22

Curragh 13:10

1(2)

Blackbeard

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-5

OR: N/A

Days: 19

The first selection of the afternoon comes in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes over six furlongs and we have taken a liking to the Aidan O'Brien trained Blackbeard.

The two year old is a well bred son of No Nay Never that cost 270,000gns and has won both his starts to date over 5f on both the all weather and turf.

Making his debut at Dundalk in April, he got off the mark in good style, running a bit green but getting the job done late on.

That run showed promise that improvement would come and it did last time out on turf debut over 5f at the Curragh in a Listed event when beating a smart rival in Crispy Cat by a short head.

The step up to 6f will suit and having not lacked pace in both his runs he could turn out to be a special horse.

Form: 11View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
21/08/22	DEA	6	Gd	9-0	1
17/07/22	CHA	6	Gd	9-3	1
25/06/22	CUR	6	Gd	9-5	2
14/06/22	ASC	6	GF	9-3	4
21/05/22	CUR	6	Gd/Y	9-5	1

Aidan O'Brien is looking for a big day at the Curragh on Saturday and he starts in the opener with the Ballydoyle maestro fielding Age Of Kings and Congo River.

In the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes he has the talented son of No Nay Never with Blackbeard looking to make it a hat-trick of wins, he also fields Deneuve who is looking to stay unbeaten.

His only runner in this years Irish 2000 Guineas is the smart Ivy League, who will have to improve a great deal for the step up to this company.

Another nice runner for the yard is Wordsworth in the Listed Orby Stakes who is looking to get back to winning ways now down in trip.

O'Brien heads into the Curragh meeting sporting a strike rate of 29% for the last two weeks, managing to land 13 winners from his last 45 runners.

Two time Irish Champion Jockey Colin Keane has some nice mounts across the day starting in the opener on a debutant for retained trainer Ger Lyons.

One of his best chances on the day comes in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes with the yard thinking a lot of Tough Talks for owners Moyglare Stud.

In the Greenlands Stakes he sits on Power Under Me who is seeking a hat-trick as is also a course and distance winner and then in the feature 2000 Guineas, Keane rides Atomic Jones who looks to be a big each way price.

Other nice rides for the Irishman across the afternoon include Camorra in the Listed Orby Stakes, Ides Of August in the Premier Handicap, Torn in the 7f Handicap and Juyush in the lucky last.