17:45 Curragh

Sunday 13 September 2026

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Northfields Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 17:47 | Winning time: 2m 5.03s

(11)

Adelaide River^t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Scott McCullagh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 103

40/1

Placed in Group 1 company and won a Group 3 when trained by Aidan O'Brien in 2023. Failed to win in Australia subsequently but returned to action for new yard (in a tongue tie) with a good third in Curragh Group 2 in May. Down the field both starts since.

Form: 270-305

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(5)

Eastwatch^p1⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Sam Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 99| D

33/1

Ran a cracker when 1½ lengths second of 25 to Ribee in Irish Lincolnshire here (1m, heavy) on reappearance but disappointed over C&D next time and then struggled with a hike in grade the time after. Bit disappointing on hurdling debut last time and cheekpieces now go on.

Form: 165-278

(8)

Fixation^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 98| CD

11/1

Improved when winning over C&D in June, suited by a well-run race. Left poorly placed at Galway next time but quickly resumed progress when scoring in 8-runner handicap at Gowran (12.5f, good to firm) in August. Low mileage 4-y-o who can make an impact despite an 8 lb rise.

Form: 2-27101

(17)

Summer Is Tomorrow^v⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J M Sheridan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102| D

17/2

Dual winner at 2 yrs who has gradually found his feet this season, improving for the fitting of a visor and winning 7-runner minor event at Gowran in July. Handicap mark is now 9 lb higher than when last seen in a similar event but he's in very good hands.

Form: 469221

(7)

High Degree^b1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF| D

7/2

Responded to first-time cheekpieces when winning 8-runner handicap (6/4) at Pontefract (1¼m, good) last month and ran well when runner-up at Goodwood 2 weeks later. First-time blinkers go on and he's a very interesting runner for this yard.

Form: 235212

(6)

Lord Massusus^b,t⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 88| C

40/1

Course winner. Fitted with blinkers and made most of good opportunity when winning 7-runner minor event at Galway (8.4f, soft, 5/1) 5 days ago, cosily. This is tougher under a 7 lb penalty.

Form: 780501

(21)

Orandi^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A J Martin| OR: 95| C

40/1

Winner of last year's Irish Lincolnshire and he was right back to his best after a low-key start to the year when landing the BMW Mile Handicap at Galway in July. Seemed unsuited by return to 7f there just 5 days later.

Form: 007810

(14)

Perry Mason⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: Maurice Ahern| OR: 95| CD

28/1

Goes well here, winning in March over C&D and then landing a 20-runner handicap (1¼m, good to firm) in May. Unsuited by the trip on both of last 2 starts. Can bounce back here.

Form: 143156

(15)

Amadeus Mozart⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| C

13/2

Won sole juvenile start here on debut. Best effort when ½-length second of 16 to Lost Boys in Royal Ascot handicap in June. Not ideally placed when fourth in listed race at Gowran (1½m) following month. His Ascot form looks strong and is likely to have the race run to suit back at this trip.

Form: 1-27224

(22)

Ribee^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: M Mulvany| OR: 94| C

33/1

Enjoyed a fine 2025 campaign and improved again as he completed the hat-trick in decisive fashion in a valuable 1m event here on return in March. Has turned in some creditable efforts since but arrives on the back of a below-par effort in the Irish Cambridgeshire at this venue.

Form: 152750

(19)

Iron Fist^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93| D

22/1

Ended 2025 with a pair of 1m/1¼m wins and bettered that form when placed in large-field handicaps at Cork in April and over C&D in May. 7/1, good fifth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f) 29 days ago, despite pulling hard early. Hood goes back on. Each-way claims.

Form: 1-02305

(2)

Sky Captain¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

8/1

Winner of a Roscommon maiden (1½m) on debut last summer and acquitted himself well since, finishing runner-up on each of his 3 subsequent outings. Not seen since the end of May and looks interesting on first start for new yard but drop in trip not sure to suit.

Form: 12-22

(10)

Manton Bay¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 97

10/1

Gained reward for a string of solid efforts this year when winning 8-runner minor event at Killarney (1m, good) last month and backed up that effort just 8 days later when 3 lengths second of 17 to Loughrea in Irish Cambridgeshire here. The handicapper hasn't taken any chances.

Form: 328212

(20)

Pierre Royal¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 91| BF| C

10/1

Built on return/yard debut when winning at this course over 1m in June. Has remained in good heart since, latest effort when third in Irish Cambridgeshire. Place claims again.

Form: 6-61243

(4)

Lips Freedom^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A Kinirons| OR: 90

28/1

Twice a winner in handicap hurdles since last seen on the Flat, though never involved at Galway last time. Listed winner on the Flat in Italy earlier in his career but hasn't shown enough in this sphere of late to fancy him here. Tongue strap kept on.

Form: 5250/50-

(9)

Apercu^b²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Oliver| OR: 87| CD

80/1

C&D winner who's made the frame at Cork and Down Royal this year. Ran poorly on last 2 outings and is hard to make a case for returned to the turf.

Form: 480270

(18)

Retracement^p⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Jamie Powell| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| CD

25/1

Won C&D handicap in the mud last autumn. Has gradually worked his way back this year, good fourth of 11 in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good to firm) in first-time cheekpieces in July, having to pick way through. Would appreciate any rain.

Form: 410-674

(1)

Alphonsus Liguori⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90

9/2

Shown plenty in 3 outings, runner-up on debut at Gowran before winning at Killarney and Cork, completing a straightforward task in latter of those. Should appreciate this longer trip and though he's difficult to assess from what we've so far seen, this opening mark may well underestimate him.

Form: 211

(12)

God Of Power¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 90

20/1

Confirmed his debut promise at the second attempt when winning a 7f Limerick maiden on return. Has maintained his form since but needs improvement to strike a blow here.

Form: 9-12432

(23)

Genuine Article^b,t³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Crosse| T: G Keane| OR: 79

80/1

Successful at Galway last season but operating below that level this season, fourth of 10 in handicap at Laytown (7f, good, 13/2) 3 days ago. Significantly up in trip and blinkers go back on but races from out of the handicap.

Form: 050074

(16)

Johnny Soda¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Reese Holohan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 85

33/1

Progressive sort who registered a third win of the season in 1m handicap at Killarney in July. Backed that up when runner-up at Galway just over 2 weeks later. Found it tougher from out the weights last time and faces a similar scenario here.

Form: 571120

(13)

Kai Lung⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 79

20/1

Flat French recruit who made a winning start for Willie Mullins in Naas maiden hurdle back in January. Rather lost his way since, also on Flat spin at Galway in July, and has questions to answer at present whilst he also races from out of the weights.

Form: 3/2212-8

Non-Runners

(3)

Bay Colony¹³¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: J A Stack J: Gavin Ryan

Forecasts

High Degree (7/2), Alphonsus Liguori (9/2), Amadeus Mozart (13/2), Sky Captain (8/1), Summer Is Tomorrow (17/2), Manton Bay (10/1), Pierre Royal (10/1), Fixation (11/1), Kai Lung (20/1), God Of Power (20/1), Iron Fist (22/1), Retracement (25/1), Bay Colony (25/1), Perry Mason (28/1), Lips Freedom (28/1), Johnny Soda (33/1), Eastwatch (33/1), Ribee (33/1), Orandi (40/1), Lord Massusus (40/1), Adelaide River (40/1), Genuine Article (80/1), Apercu (80/1)

A competitive handicap can go the way of sole British raider HIGH DEGREE given he has held his form really well this season. Amadeus Mozart and Alphonsus Liguori are a pair of interesting 3-y-os who can make their presence felt, with Fixation another to consider.