16:50 Curragh

Sunday 2 July 2017

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:25

Comer Group International Curragh Cup (Group 2)

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 3m 3.33s

(6)

Elidor³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M R Channon| OR: 108| D

25/1

Has been running some of his best races recently, including a Listed win on his seasonal reappearance, but couldn't get involved in a Sandown Group 3 last time (2m, good to firm), and needs to get plenty from this step back down in trip.

Form: 9107-16

(4)

Forgotten Rules^h⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| BF| D

10/1

Won his first four races in 2014-15 but hasn't been the same force since finishing third in the 2015 Ascot Gold Cup. A return to that sort of form would be enough here but he has showed few signs of that return coming.

Form: 58/272-3

(7)

Stellar Mass⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 110| C| D

20/1

Very poor so far this season after a productive year in 2016; step up in trip seems to be more due to disappointment with his efforts over shorter as oppose to something that has been long in the planning.

Form: 1157-40

(3)

Wicklow Brave²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 115| CD

11/8

Irish St Leger winner last September who has also won a Grade 1 over hurdles since and seems to be thriving for his top jumps trainer. Slightly disappointing in a US Flat Grade 3 last month but should go very close here now back on home soil.

Form: 64310-4

(1)

Belgravia^b,t⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99| BF

3/1

Maiden winner who has run two fair races at pattern level so far but will need to prove himself on this ground in order to be considered a genuine contender.

Form: 7-3144

(5)

Rekindling²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

4/1

Group 3 winner earlier in the season who wasn't disgraced in the Dante at York before finishing down the field in the Epsom Derby. Interesting to see if this step up in trip can bring about any further improvement.

Form: 210-140

(2)

Wisconsin⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 94

7/1

Well behind Belgravia in an Ascot Group 2 and seems to have it all to do on ratings. Is the stable's second string on jockey bookings once again.

Form: 210

Forecasts

Wicklow Brave (11/8), Belgravia (3/1), Rekindling (4/1), Wisconsin (7/1), Forgotten Rules (10/1), Stellar Mass (20/1), Elidor (25/1)

Of all these horses' recent form, WICKLOW BRAVE's is by far the best. Willie Mullins' charge was responsible for the shock defeat of Order Of St. George in the Irish St Leger last September and has managed to back that up with victory in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle since. He was slightly below-par in America last month but most of his recent performances would have been easily good enough to win this race, which contains many once-promising horses whose form has tailed off, including one-time Ascot Gold Cup favourite Forgotten Rules, and, more recently, last year's Irish Derby third Stellar Mass.