13:40 | Curragh | Saturday 22nd August 2026

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Cliffs Of Malta, won at 1m 3f. Well beaten at 66-1 behind Crystasia when 15th of 16 on his racecourse debut at Punchestown over 2m (yielding) in May.

2 (9)

Desert Swing 21

b g ; Make Believe - Neigh Lass

63 Expert View: Moderate debut beaten 9l in a maiden at Galway on debut; improvement needed up to 10f.

Form Snapshot: Full brother to Suspicion, won twice at 1m. Beaten 9l behind Rest Your Mind at 16-1 when 9th of 12 on his racecourse debut at Galway over 1m (yielding) earlier this month.

3 (8)

Zarenakarena 19

b f ; Ribchester - Abeja

250/1 251

Jamie Powell

E & P Harty

Star rating: 2

9 4 9-10 -

59 Expert View: Moderate debut well beaten in a maiden at Naas only start; type to do better when handicapping.

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Areana, won twice at 1m 2f. Beaten 12l behind Never The Same at 100-1 when 9th of 17 on her racecourse debut at Naas over 1m (good) earlier this month.

4 (11)

Giordano 78

ch g ; Cotai Glory - Rose Tinted Sand

400/1 401

Ronan Whelan

Dermot Kilmartin

Star rating: 2

9 3 9-8 -

44 Expert View: Poor debut well beaten in a maiden at Fairyhouse only start; off a short-break; hard to make a case for.

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Rogue Invader, won at 7f. Well beaten at 80-1 behind Antigua when 9th of 13 on his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse over 1m 2f (good) in June.

5 (5)

Handani 16

b g ; Medaglia d'Oro - Haparanda

2/1 3

Chris Hayes

D K Weld

Star rating: 4

2-2 3 9-8 -

G HG

90 Expert View: Confirmed debut level tried in cheekpieces when second beaten 3l in a maiden at Leopardstown latest; trainer in form; effective 8/9f, acts on yielding and good; debut form franked emphatically including at Group level, 10f should suit now.

Form Snapshot: Placed in both starts. Beaten 2 3/4l by Hard Promises when second of 14 at 7-2 on his latest outing at Leopardstown over 1m 1f (good) earlier this month.

6 (6)

Let's Smash It 16

b c ; New Bay - Smash

8/1 9

Ben Coen

Robson Aguiar

Star rating: 3

2-33 3 9-8 83

86 Expert View: Ran to form down to 9f when 4l third in a maiden at Leopardstown most recent run; stays 9f, didn't quite get 11f, acts on good and AW; this trip might suit, could be vulnerable.

Form Snapshot: Placed twice in three starts. Third of 14 behind Hard Promises beaten 4l at 10-1 on his latest outing at Leopardstown over 1m 1f (good) earlier this month.

7 (2)

Lord Darragh 10

b g ; Alkumait - Goldspun

14/1 15

Luke McAteer

Rory Anthony Devine

Star rating: 3

62 3 9-8 -

86 Expert View: Improved from debut up to 10f when second beaten 2l in an auction race at Gowran Park latest; stays 10f on good to firm; chance in this with more to come.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in two starts. Beaten 1 3/4l by Rock Of Claremont when second of 12 at 33-1 on his latest outing at Gowran Park over 1m 1f (good to firm) earlier this month.

8 (7)

Montevetro 151

ch g ; Mehmas - Halla Na Saoire

100/1 101

Seamie Heffernan

D Hogan

Star rating: 2

23 3 9-8 -

68 Expert View: Touch disappointing 7l third in a maiden at Wolverhampton most recent run; stays 10f, acts on AW; possibly flattered on debut.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in two starts. Third of 4 behind Royal Standard beaten 7l at 5-4 on his latest outing at Wolverhampton over 1m 1f in March. Having his first run for a new stable today, previously with Charlie Appleby.

9 (1)

Royal Ballet Blue

b c ; Elzaam - Ardwinna

80/1 81

Adam Caffrey

Jack Foley

Star rating: 2

3 9-8 -

53 Expert View: 18,000 euros Elzaam colt; half-brother to De La Hoya, moderate at 6f; not easily fancied on debut.

Form Snapshot: Dam unraced.

10 (12)

The Austrian 82

b g ; New Bay - Snow Pixie

18/1 19

Shane Foley

Mrs J Harrington

Star rating: 2

7 3 9-8 -

77 Expert View: Some promise on debut beaten 9l in a maiden at Gowran Park on debut; off a short-break; effective 10f on yielding; improvement likely for good yard.

Form Snapshot: Half-brother to Snowcapped, won twice at 7f and 1m. Beaten 9l behind Confused at 16-1 when seventh of 15 on his racecourse debut at Gowran Park over 1m 1f (yielding) in June.

11 (4)

Will You Stop 24

b g ; Saxon Warrior - Roman Venture

14/1 15

Andrew Slattery

A Slattery

Star rating: 3

5348 3 9-8 80

D G

86 Expert View: Below form, didn't stay 12f well beaten in a maiden at Galway latest; in good form prior; effective at 8-10f, acts on yielding and good to firm; drop in trip a plus here.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in four starts. Well beaten at 11-1 behind Abbotsford when eighth of 18 on his latest outing at Galway over 1m 4f (yielding) last month.

12 (14)

Acula 19

ch f ; Sea The Stars - Red Stars

6/4 2.5

Dylan Browne McMonagle

J P O'Brien

Star rating: 5

4 3 9-3 -

91 Expert View: Promising debut when 2l fourth in a maiden at Naas; effective 8f on good; improvement likely now upped to 10f with her related to same connections' Group 3 winner Starford.

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Starford, won four times between 1m 1f and 1m 3f including a Group 3 race. Finished 1 3/4l behind Never The Same when fourth of 17 at 8-1 on her racecourse debut at Naas over 1m (good) earlier this month.

13 (3)

Saxony Charms 57

b f ; Saxon Warrior - Pleasantry

11/2 6.5

Billy Lee

A Oliver

Star rating: 3

35 3 9-3 -

CD G BF

88 Expert View: Yard won this last year; ran to similar level as debut beaten 3l in a maiden here last time; cheekpieces first time; off a short-break; effective 10f, acts on a sound surface; chance here granted further improvement.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in two starts. Finished 3 1/2l behind Wyman when fifth of 11 at 2-1jt-fav on her latest outing over this course and distance (good to firm) in June. She is wearing cheekpieces for the first time.

14 (13)

Sunatia (FR) 34

b f ; Night Of Thunder - Summaya

92 Expert View: Improved from debut up to 9f when second beaten 2l in a maiden here latest; trainer in form; stays 9f on good to firm; well bred, likely capable of better at 10f now.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in two starts. Beaten 2l by Star Performer when second of 7 at 50-1 on her latest outing here over 1m 1f (good to firm) last month.

2025: (10 ran) Slaney Drive ( 6 ) , Age 3 , Wgt 9-8 , SP Evens - Declan McDonogh / J S Bolger

Forecast: 9/4 Handani , 7/2 Sunatia , 4/1 Let's Smash It , 11/2 Lord Darragh , 7/1 Acula , 12/1 Saxony Charms , 16/1 Montevetro , 16/1 Will You Stop , 25/1 The Austrian , 50/1 Desert Swing , 66/1 Royal Ballet Blue , 100/1 Zarenakarena , 150/1 Giordano , 200/1 Ard Ri Na Heireann (Note: non-runners may affect prices)

Last Updated: 22 Aug 2026 10:14:07

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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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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

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2 Horse is due to go xlb up in future races

Bookies best price percentage = 121.63% | Standard bookmaker terms: 3 places, 1/5 odds

AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur. Read more

Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

HANDANI can make it third-time lucky. The Medaglia d'Oro gelding has been runner-up on both starts to date, including on his return at Leopardstown earlier this month. He had Let's Smash It behind in third when chasing home Hard Promises that day and should be able to confirm form with that rival. His trainer Dermot Weld has a strong hand, with Sunatia also carrying the late Aga Khan's colours. This Night Of Thunder filly ran a big race at a massive price here when chasing home Star Performer. That form got a boost with the winner going on to land a Listed race in fine style.

Top Tip: Handani (5)
Watch out for: Sunatia (14)

Dermot Weld is well represented by both Handani and Sunatia, with the pair each looking to have a chance after improving from start one to two. Stepping up to 10f will suit the pair, but it will really suit ACULA also. That one represents top connections and ran a race full of promise on her debut over 8f at Naas. She's related to 10f Group 3 winner Starford and looks open to masses of improvement. The Austrian is worth a mention also with him likely to leave his debut effort behind.

1-2-3 Selections

Acula (12)
Handani (5)
Sunatia (14)

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Good	10	Slaney Drive	6	3	9 8	-	32	16 days	J S Bolger (31 miles)	Declan McDonogh	EVENS	2:11.33
2024	Good	22	Fighter	10	3	9 8	-	80-3	63 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Ryan Moore	6/ 1	2:06.67
2023	Good - Yielding	12	Sumiha	1	3	9 3	-			D K Weld (3 miles)	Chris Hayes	13/ 2	2:12.38
2022	Good	14	Smooth Tom	1	3	9 8	-	8-2342	24 days	A Slattery (73 miles)	Andy Slattery	11/ 8	2:08.74
2021	Yielding	22	Golden Twilight	21	4	10 1	-	66	25 days	M Halford (3 miles)	Dylan McMonagle	14/ 1	2:11.99
2020	Good	13	Gold Maze	15	3	9 7	-	53-269	41 days	Mrs J Harrington (3 miles)	Shane Foley	6/ 5	2:08.14

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	1	1
2024	12	4
2023	2	3
2022	1	1
2021	6	6
2020	1	1

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
1m 2f	1:20.50