16:20 Curragh

Saturday 22 July 2023

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Comer Group International Curragh Cup (Group 2)

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 3m 16.0s

(11)

John Alexander⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Nathan Crosse| T: L Comer| OR: 78

250/1

Fairly useful colt. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Tailed-off last of 8 to Aff Un Zo in Oleander-Rennen at Hoppegarten (15.9f, good to firm, 14/1) 69 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 703-158

(8)

Run For Oscar²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: C Byrnes| OR: 101| D

25/1

Useful gelding. 3/1, good third of 9 in minor event at Royal Ascot (21.6f, good to firm) 28 days ago. Significantly down in trip with more required in this tougher company.

Form: 0311-53

(6)

Sionnach Eile¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 101

22/1

Smart gelding. 14/1, 6 lengths seventh of 9 to Espionage in listed race at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Trainer going well so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 2711-97

(10)

Yashin⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 105| D

10/1

Smart gelding. 1 win from 1 run this year. 14/1, career best when winning 9-runner Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown (14f, good) 64 days ago by short head from Point King. Needs to take another step forward here though.

Form: 11064-1

(3)

Emily Dickinson³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF| C| D

6/4

Smart filly. Course winner. 11/1, creditable 4½ lengths fourth of 12 to Courage Mon Ami in Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (20f, good to firm) 30 days ago. Back down in trip. The form choice.

Form: 461-164

(5)

Rosscarbery²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 110| D

15/8

Smart mare. 4/1, good fourth of 9 to Via Sistina in Pretty Polly Stakes at this course (10f, good) 21 days ago, badly hampered. Significantly back up in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 1245-14

(9)

Gooloogong¹¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

8/1

Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 1 run this year. Won 12-runner maiden (5/2) at Navan (10f, heavy), keeping on well. Off 115 days. Significantly up in trip. Lively outsider.

Form: 5-1

(2)

Young Ireland¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Luke McAteer| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103

16/1

Useful colt. Winner at Cork in May. 22/1, very good 1½ lengths second of 9 to Espionage in listed race at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft) 18 days ago, having run of race. This demands a major career best though.

Form: 321442

(7)

Amusement⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: G M Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 99

11/1

Useful filly. Winner at Leopardstown in May. Creditable 1½ lengths fourth of 11 to Shamida in Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown (14f, good, 17/2) 9 days ago, staying on well. Has bit to find on form.

Form: 44-1444

Non-Runners

(4)

Okita Soushi²⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: M P Sheehy

(1)

Point King³²

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

Forecasts

Emily Dickinson (6/4), Rosscarbery (15/8), Okita Soushi (6/1), Gooloogong (8/1), Yashin (10/1), Amusement (11/1), Point King (14/1), Young Ireland (16/1), Sionnach Eile (22/1), Run For Oscar (25/1), John Alexander (250/1)

EMILY DICKINSON holds the clear edge on form so this course scorer is fancied to resume winning ways on the back of her good effort in the Ascot Gold Cup. Pretty Polly fourth Rosscarbery rates the chief threat to Aidan O'Brien's smart stayer with the progressive Okita Soushi and unexposed Gooloogong appealing as the pick of the rest for minor honours.