16:00 Curragh

Saturday 25 August 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:2515:3016:0016:3517:10

Curragh Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 59.64s

(5)

Count D'Orsay³⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 77

33/1

Relatively consistent in three maidens without success. Some 24lb to find with the joint top-weighted pair so looks an impossible task.

Form: 663

(2)

Indigo Balance¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 101| C

9/4

6f debut winner here back in May subsequently struggled in the Coventry at Royal Ascot but he wasn't disgraced when fourth of five here latest in the Group One Phoenix Stakes. Drops to minimum trip for the first time in much lesser contest.

Form: 104

(6)

Nicaro¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack

10/1

Came in for support despite taking on previous winners when fourth of six on debut over 6f here earlier this month. Showed pace there so 5f should suit but massive step up required to play a part here.

Form: 4

(10)

Bailly²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| D

9/2

5f Bellewstown maiden winner beat the same rival under a penalty subsequently at Down Royal when an odds-on favourite. Plenty of speed and worth this step up in class but will need to improve to win.

Form: 511

(9)

Fantasy²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| D

10/1

Navan maiden winner has subsequently struggled in Group Three's here over 6½f and at Goodwood over 5f. Looks stable second string and probably battling for a place at best here.

Form: 525159

(4)

Gossamer Wings⁴³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

2/1

Navan maiden winner went down by a short-head in the Queen Mary to a subsequent Group One second. Disappointed herself since upped to 6f and possibly one hit by the O'Brien bug. Queen Mary form stands out so huge chance if she bounces back.

Form: 73124

(1)

Mid Winster¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen| T: A Slattery| CD

14/1

Built on a promising debut when winning what looked to be a decent maiden here over C&D showing plenty of speed. Big step up in class but open to further improvement so could go well at a price.

Form: 61

(7)

Yolo Again^p¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 83| D

20/1

Navan maiden winner has some 7L to find with Gossamer Wings on Queen Mary form and two fair efforts since not suggested she is improving enough to turn that round.

Form: 931043

Non-Runners

(8)

Recon Mission⁵¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: M O'Callaghan J: L F Roche

(3)

Tenax¹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: J P O'Brien J: K J Manning

Forecasts

Gossamer Wings (2/1), Indigo Balance (9/4), Bailly (9/2), Fantasy (10/1), Nicaro (10/1), Mid Winster (14/1), Recon Mission (14/1), Tenax (14/1), Yolo Again (20/1), Count D'Orsay (33/1)

The form of the Queen Mary has worked out well so GOSSAMER WINGS run at Newmarket last month was a little disappointing but that was at a time when Aidan O'Brien's string were really struggling with a virus so that could be an excuse. If she returns to Royal Ascot form this would look a very winnable race so she gets the vote. Indigo Balance wasn't disgraced at Group One level here so she surely has to be involved at this level. Bailly has a bit to find with the aforementioned duo but she is relatively unexposed at this point.