13:25 | Curragh | Sunday 15th March 2026

50 Expert View: Sold for 120,000 GBP as a yearling; colt by high-class sprinter Mehmas; full-brother to Shelton, very smart at 1m; dam fair sprinter Raas; probably effective 5f; doesn't look stable first string on jockey bookings.

Form Snapshot: Full brother to Shelton, won at 7f.

2 (4)

Equus Victor

b c ; Blackbeard - Dancing On Air

4/1 5

Shane Foley

Daniel Murphy

Star rating: 4

2 9-7 -

59 Expert View: Sold for 90,000 guineas as a yearling; colt by top-class sprinter Blackbeard; half-brother to Bellissime, smart from 6f to 7f; dam very useful miler Dancing On Air; probably effective 5f; bred to be precocious; likely type.

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Bellissime, won twice at 7f and 1m.

3 (5)

Force Noir

b c ; Persian Force - Princess Rose

11/10 2.1

D Egan

Robson Aguiar

Star rating: 5

2 9-7 -

60 Expert View: Sold for 130,000 euros as a yearling; colt by high-class sprinter Persian Force; half-brother to King Of Scotia, very useful at 6f; dam very useful sprinter Princess Rose; probably effective 5f; stable first string; go well.

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Over The Guns, won four times between 6f and 1m 4f.

4 (3)

Granite Mountain

br c ; Arizona - Bunditten

100/1 101

Billy Lee

K Smith

Star rating: 2

2 9-7 -

49 Expert View: Sold for 4,000 euros as a yearling; colt by top-class miler Arizona; half-brother to Rajasinghe, high-class at 6f; dam smart sprinter Bunditten; probably effective 5f; good jockey booked; market can guide.

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Bundestag, won four times between 7f and 1m 1f.

5 (1)

Lamar River

b g ; Invincible Army - Abend

100/1 101

Darragh O'Sullivan (7)

D O'Sullivan

Star rating: 2

2 9-7 -

48 Expert View: Gelding by high-class sprinter Invincible Army; half-brother to Copper Bay, fair at 6f; probably effective 5f; yard quiet; best watched.

Form Snapshot: Dam unraced.

6 (8)

Lars Soldier

b c ; Soldier's Call - Amber Dawn

100/1 101

Wesley Joyce (3)

M Mulvany

Star rating: 1

2 9-7 -

47 Expert View: Sold for 3,500 euros as a yearling; colt by top-class sprinter Soldier's Call; probably effective 5f; yard quiet; best watched.

Form Snapshot: Dam unraced.

7 (9)

Ruler's Control

b c ; Territories - Reinette

16/1 17

Luke McAteer

Jack Foley

Star rating: 2

2 9-7 -

48 Expert View: Colt by high-class miler Territories; half-brother to Bonnie Princess, moderate at 6f; probably effective 5f; stable has had recent 2yo winners; watch betting.

Form Snapshot: Dam a lightly raced maiden.

8 (7)

Ballinea Star

b f ; Space Blues - Jeanne Girl

16/1 17

Mikey Sheehy

Robson Aguiar

Star rating: 3

2 9-2 -

50 Expert View: Sold for 26,000 euros as a yearling; filly by high-class miler Space Blues; half-sister to Gangster Granny, useful from 1m5f to 1m6f; dam very smart sprinter Jeanne Girl; probably effective 5f; stable holds stronger claims

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Gangster Granny, won twice at 1m 4f and 1m 6f.

9 (6)

What A Girl Wants

b f ; Persian Force - Hoodna

10/3 4.33

Rowan Scott

Robson Aguiar

Star rating: 4

2 9-2 -

54 Expert View: Sold for 90,000 guineas as a yearling; filly by high-class sprinter Persian Force; half-sister to Dubai Dominion, very smart at 7f; dam very smart sprinter Hoodna; probably effective 5f; market can guide.

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Evening Saigon, won at 5f and 6f.

2025: (7 ran) Power Blue ( 7 ) , Age 2 , Wgt 9-7 , SP 5/2 - D Egan / A Murray

Forecast: 11/10 Force Noir , 3/1 What A Girl Wants , 4/1 Bull Shark , 9/2 Equus Victor , 16/1 Ruler's Control , 20/1 Ballinea Star , 66/1 Granite Mountain , 66/1 Lamar River , 66/1 Lars Soldier

Last Updated: 14 Mar 2026 23:45:37

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D Distance
C Course
Hcp Today’s Official Rating or Higher

G Going
HG Headgear
Cl Class
S Surface

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Other Information

BF Beaten favourite last time out
MM Horse is within the top 10 steamers for the day
MM Horse is within the top 10 drifters for the day
ATR Horse is being backed by one of our tipsters

90 Official Rating
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v/b/h Visor / Blinkers / Hood
es/ec Eye Shield / Eye Cover
p Cheek Pieces
t Tongue Strap

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WS This horse received Wind Surgery prior to this run
WS2 This was the horse's second outing after receiving Wind Surgery

2 Horse is due to go xlb down in future race
2 Horse is due to go xlb up in future races

Bookies best price percentage = 122.12%

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Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

Newly-licensed Robson De Aguiar runs four in this season's opener and his yard might win it for the fourth consecutive year with FORCE NOIR, who is first string on jockey bookings. Sold for 68,000 euros and 130,000 euros respectively as a foal and a yearling, he is a half-brother to five winners, including a Listed victor, and while he encounters testing ground, he will know his job. Stablemates Bull Shark, a half-brother to a Group-placed winner, and What A Girl Wants, a half-sister to four winners, were also each purchased from Tally-Ho Stud and could be capable. Equus Victor is out of a winning mare who has produced a black-type performer and is stallion Blackbeard's first runner.

Top Tip: Force Noir (3)
Watch out for: Equus Victor (2)

FORCE NOIR looks the pick of his stable on jockey bookings and can make a winning debut here. He is related to the formerly useful 2yo Persian Force so is bred to be precocious. The same can be said of Equus Victor who is by the top class 2yo sprinter Blackbeard so should be suited by this test. He represents a yard which can get them ready first time and has a top jockey booked. He can fill the places with stablemate of the selection What A Girl Wants who is by the same stallion so should also be ready early in her career.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Soft	7	Power Blue	7	2	9 7	-	A Murray (35 miles)	David Egan	5/ 2	1:04.51
2024	Heavy	8	Arizona Blaze	6	2	9 7	-	A Murray (35 miles)	David Egan	5/ 4	1:08.60
2023	Soft - Heavy	11	Bucanero Fuerte	6	2	9 7	-	A Murray (35 miles)	Kevin Stott	3/ 1	1:05.83
2022	Yielding	9	Ocean Quest	6	2	9 2	-	Mrs J Harrington (3 miles)	Shane Foley	11/ 2	1:05.27
2021	Soft - Heavy	8	Missing Matron	5	2	9 2	-	J S Bolger (31 miles)	Rory Cleary	16/ 1	1:05.87
2020	Soft - Heavy	7	Poetic Flare	5	2	9 7	-	J S Bolger (31 miles)	Kevin Manning	2/ 1	1:04.71
2019	Yielding - Soft	11	Red Epaulette	4	2	9 5	-	M O'Callaghan (3 miles)	Leigh Roche	7/ 2	1:04.54
2018	Soft - Heavy	9	Pride Of Pimlico	3	2	9 5	-	B W Duke (27 miles)	Ronan Whelan	20/ 1	1:06.10
2017	Soft - Heavy	11	Moonlight Bay	2	2	9 0	-	K Prendergast (3 miles)	Chris Hayes	4/ 1	1:03.70
2016	Yielding - Soft	12	Mister Trader	9	2	9 5	-	D Bunyan & G O'Leary (3 miles)	Leigh Roche	25/ 1	1:04.49
2015	Heavy	11	State Of Emergency	7	2	9 5	-	M O'Callaghan (3 miles)	Emmet McNamara	10/ 1	1:06.10
2014	Soft - Heavy	9	Beach Belle	2	2	9 0	-	K Prendergast (3 miles)	Chris Hayes	7/ 2	1:05.36
2013	Heavy	7	Saburo	4	2	9 5	-	J S Bolger (31 miles)	Kevin Manning	5/ 4	1:08.97
2012	Yielding	8	Dawn Approach	6	2	9 5	-	J S Bolger (31 miles)	Kevin Manning	EVENS	1:06.23
2010	Soft	11	High Award	12	2	9 3	-	T Stack (73 miles)	Wayne Lordan	9/ 2	1:06.71
2009	Soft	12	King Ledley	5	2	9 3	-	K Prendergast (3 miles)	Declan McDonogh	4/ 1	1:03.23
2008	Heavy	8	Cool Tarifa	1	2	8 12	-	J G Burns	Fran Berry	6/ 1	1:10.09
2007	Heavy	16	Sammy The Snake		2	9 3	-	B W Duke (27 miles)	D J Moran	12/ 1	1:09.50
2006	Heavy	16	Drayton	3	2	9 3	-	T Stack (73 miles)	Wayne Lordan	11/ 4	1:12.40

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	2	2
2024	1	1
2023	1	1
2022	3	4
2021	4	7
2020	2, 1	1
2019	6	2
2018	3	6
2017	2	2
2016	10, 5	10

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
5f	0:56.96