Curragh review and free video replays: Push The Boat out impresses and Big Mojo wins again

Big gets his Mojo back

Big Mojo (5/4 favourite) opened his account for the season in the FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes.

Mick Appleby's star was dropping back to Group 3 company for the first time since April 2025 and made the most under Tom Marquand, beating Bucanero Fuerte by a length and a quarter.

The complexion of the race didn't change a great deal with Bucanero Fuerte holding a narrow lead from Big Mojo with Bodhi Bear back in third and James's Delight racing in behind.

James's Delight did close when switched but never quite got on terms with the front two (beaten half-a-length into third) while Big Mojo only mastered his rival well inside the final furlong but was well on top at the line having done so with Marquand able to ease his mount down in the final strides.

It was a first winner in Ireland for Appleby who told Racing TV: "That's great, he's got the job done. I bet he still had plenty left in the locker there.

"He's got his head in front again now and hopefully he'll go on from this and we'll find another group race for him.

"There was such a draw bias at Newmarket that day [in the July Cup], anything drawn on the stands' side that day had no chance whatsoever so we just put a line straight through that race.

"We thought this wouldn't be that tough a race but in hindsight I think it was, every horse in the race had a chance so I was coming here hopeful but whether we would win or not I didn't know.

"He's been in great form and hopefully he'll bounce back. That [Sprint Cup] is probably the plan."

Big Mojo was cut from a general 33/1 to a best of 20/1 for the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

No stopping The Boat

Push The Boat Out (16/1) made a fine start to his career in the Follow Us On Instagram @ GuidenstownStud Irish EBF Maiden, winning by a length and a quarter from Marco Polo with New Bond Street three parts of a length away in third.

The market suggested victory was not unexpected as Push The Boat Out opened at 22/1 on course while the booking of Colin Keane could also have been viewed as a positive and trainer Michael O'Callaghan revealed that the result didn't come out of the blue.

"He's a horse that we've held in high regard from the moment we got him," he said.

"I was hoping that he might be one to settle the nerves today and he's duly gone and done that. Saying that, I did have him slightly undercooked because he's very natural at home. He jumped, travelled, showed a lot of natural pace and went and quickened up well. Colin was quite taken by him and said he should have no problem stepping up into stakes company.

"I don't think he'll have any problem going another furlong. I'd say he jumped and travelled so strong today because he does find things very easy and he was a little bit on the fresh side and today will bring him forward.

"I think he could be a high class stakes horse. He's very fast, I don't know if he's going to stretch out to a mile but he probably is bred to being by Kodi Bear. We'll see how he is in the morning and make a plan, see what's between now and the National Stakes and go from there."

Keane completed a double when partnering Rosie Frith (11/2) to a narrow success in the Sheehy Motors Volkswagen Handicap.

As easy as one, two, three

Ibelieveicanfly (13/8 favourite) fulfilled the promise of her debut when leading home a one, two, three for trainer Aidan O'Brien in the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race.

Ibelieveicanfly ran races full of promise on her first two starts but didn't settle at the Curragh last time out when fourth.

There were no such problems for Ryan Moore this time around as Ibelieveicanfly, wearing a hood for the first time, swept past the front-running Exceptionally - who was then passed by Speckles - to win by five lengths and half-a-length.

Speaking after the win of Shakespeare (see below), O'Brien said: "The two of them are massive, big, powerful horses.

"Both of them had nice introductions first time but were still green the second time and things didn't work for either of them the second time but we were very happy with them. Today they were ready to learn.

"She got caught back in a very slowly run race and then she charged and was a bit too keen the last day.

"They're after winning their maidens now and can step in anywhere and it's lovely that they're after having three runs before they step into group class. The two of them are in the could be anything category I'd say.

"She's very pacey. She can go and make the running herself and she'd have the race over very quick but mentally, going forward for the long term, the right thing is to teach her to relax which is why the hood was on her today, to let her relax and settle into the race.

"Hopefully, the next day the race doesn't have to be as strong for her and she'll accept going a little bit slower but she's a lot of quality."

Third time lucky

Moore and O'Brien doubled up when Shakespeare (8/15 favourite) justified decent market support in the Guidenstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden.

Shakespeare looked far happier back at the Curragh having been turned over at Leopardstown on his second start, winning by a length and a half from Benown (33/1) but it wasn't all plain sailing.

Shakespeare jumped well under Moore and had an easy lead until joined by Supreme Lord who was backed at double figure prices. The latter came under pressure at the two pole with Moore still motionless on Shakespeare.

However, Shakespeare still looked to be learning on the job and his rider had to give him a couple of fairly sharp reminders to focus his mind and he appeared to have plenty left in the tank as he crossed the line.

"Ryan just moved up alongside Dylan [Browne McMonagle] at Leopardstown at halfway and all he wanted to do was run off the bend because he was too green," he said of Shakespeare's second outing.

"The last twice he was dropped in so he was ready to go forward today and that's what Ryan did and it was a no nonsense ride really."

When asked if both juveniles would be in the mix for Irish Champions Weekend, O'Brien replied: "I think so, for all the races and after having three runs it's lovely.

"The two of them have a lot of quality at home and we always thought the two of them were very good."

Chris Hayes completed a quickfire double in the last two races on the card aboard Mint Man (5/1) and Kalir (6/1).

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