Curragh preview: September bids for Debutante

After making a big impression on her racecourse debut at Leopardstown in June, Aidan O'Brien's filly lined up in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and ran out an authoritative winner over subsequent Group Three scorer Nyaleti.

September is a best priced 11/2 favourite for next year's 1000 Guineas and tests the water at Group Two level this weekend.

"September hasn't run since Royal Ascot but she seems in good form and we've been happy with her," said O'Brien.

The daughter of Deep Impact is one of three Ballydoyle representatives in an eight-strong field, with impressive Silver Flash Stakes winner Happily and Cork maiden victor Magical also in contention.

"We were delighted with Happily at Leopardstown and we think she has come out of the race well. She might need the run for experience, because they'll go on then after that," the trainer added.

"It's a Group Two and hopefully they'll go forward from there. The ground should be lovely. Hopefully they won't get too much rain."

Jim Bolger saddles course scorer Dawn Delivers, who was third behind Happily in the Silver Flash late last month.

Dawn Delivers is one of two Godolphin-owned runners along with Mary Tudor, who was runner-up to Magical at Cork on what was her racecourse debut for trainer Willie McCreery.

McCreery said: "She ran a cracking race down in Cork and has come on a lot from the run. It's a huge step up for her, but I think she'll do herself justice."

Joe Murphy's Shekiba steps up in class after winning at the Galway Festival and Brendan Duke's maiden Feisty Katerina completes the line-up.

O'Brien fields three in Futurity

Aidan O'Brien is triple-handed as he bids to extend his tremendous recent record in the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Ballydoyle handler has saddled 10 previous winners of the seven-furlong Group Two, with Giant's Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Gleneagles (2014) and this year's dual 2000 Guineas hero Churchill (2016) among those on the roll of honour.

This year's representatives all seemingly need to improve to score at Group Two level, with none of the trio having won their most recent starts.

Rostropovich opened his account on his second appearance at Gowran Park, but was a disappointing odds-on favourite at Naas last time.

Berkeley Square won nicely at Tipperary before finishing well-held in a Group Three, while Coat Of Arms has been placed in maidens the last twice.

"We run a few in the Futurity. Rostropovich was disappointing the last day but we think he might improve," said O'Brien.

Ger Lyons saddles a major contender in Camelback, who steps up in class following successive wins at Leopardstown and Naas.

Lyons said: "He'll have to behave himself. He's a nice horse, but mentally he's not there yet. He's short of that class, but he's there and it will be another step in his education."

The Jim Bolger-trained Theobald sets the standard after filling the runner-up spot in the Anglesey and Tyros Stakes on his last two appearances.

Joe Murphy's twice-raced maiden Swiss Cottage completes the line-up.

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Slattery has Emadee primed

Andrew Slattery is confident Emadee can take a step up in class within her stride in the Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Curragh Stakes.

The daughter of Zebedee made a successful start to her career at Naas last month when edging out subsequent winner Brick By Brick by a short-head.

She has far more on her plate this weekend at Group Three level, but Slattery expects her to be up the task.

He said: "It's a big step up, but I'd be expecting a very good run from her. She's improved a lot from the run in Naas. She worked last Tuesday and looked the part, so we're looking forward to seeing what she can do.

"The question mark would be the ground. It was nearly good to firm when she won in Naas and there's rain around, but Declan McDonogh feels she'll like a bit of cut in the ground. We'll find out on Sunday.

"If she handles the ground, I think the rest of them will have had enough of her by the time they've finished with her."

Emadee features in a field of eight two-year-old sprinters.

Aidan O'Brien's Declarationofpeace is fitted with a tongue-tie and blinkers just a week after finishing seventh of eight runners in the Phoenix Stakes.

The Ballydoyle handler's son, Joseph, saddles True Blue Moon, who was sixth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and occupied the same position in the Railway Stakes here last month.

"He ran well in Ascot and we think coming back to five furlongs will suit him," said O'Brien.

"He's in good form and we're hoping he'll run a good race."

The Willie McCreery-trained Raramauri dips her toe in the deep end after opening her account at Tipperary last week.

McCreery said: "She won well the other day and we've been happy with her since.

"It's a huge step up for her, but there is a bit of rain forecast and I'd say the ground might have changed by Sunday.

"That will suit her."

Fozzy Stack's pair of Goodthingstaketime and Sirici, Wolfofbaggotstreet from Johnny Murtagh's yard and the Ger Lyons-trained Treasuring are the other contenders.

Just five runners go to post for the Qatar Airways Royal Whip Stakes, with Joseph O'Brien saddling recent Listed third Reckless Gold.

He said: "He's in good form, he likes soft ground and likes the Curragh, so hopefully he'll run well."

The field is headed by Roger Varian's British challenger Central Square and he is taken on by Reckless Gold, Jim Bolger's Qatari Hunter, Dermot Weld's Shamreen and John Murphy's Massif Central.