13:53 | Curragh | Saturday 29th August 2026

105 Expert View: Yard won this last year; improved from debut from when winning an auction race at Leopardstown by 1/2l last time; effective 7f, acts on good; big chance making this step up in grade for top yard.

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Iathus Danica, won three times between 1m 1f and 1m 5f. Won on her latest outing when 7-4fav at Leopardstown over 7f (good) last month, beating Star Glory by 1/2l.

2 (10)

Bellesque 22

b f ; St Mark's Basilica - Belesta

7/2 4.5

Declan McDonogh

J P O'Brien

Star rating: 4

213 2 9-2 92

D G

99 Expert View: Ran to form up in class 1 1/2l third in Churchill Stakes (Listed) at Gowran Park most recent run; wide draw; effective 7/8f, acts on good; can go well again taking another step up in grade.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 1m on good ground. Third of 6 behind Sergei Diaghilev beaten 1 1/2l at 10-3 on her latest outing at Gowran Park over 1m (good) earlier this month.

3 (8)

Damsel In Distress 15

b f ; Minzaal - Shenoya

16/1 17

Ben Coen

Daniel McLoughlin

Star rating: 3

514 2 9-2 95

103 Expert View: Ran to form up in class when fourth beaten 3 1/4l in Firville Stakes (Listed) at Cork latest; wide draw; effective 7f, should get futher, acts on good; step up to a mile could suit, but needs further improvement at this level.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 7f on good ground. Finished 3 1/2l behind Alwaysanangel when fourth of 9 at 25-1 on her latest outing at Cork over 7f (good) earlier this month.

4 (9)

Exceptionally (USA) 20

b f ; Into Mischief - Together Forever

10/1 11

Wayne Lordan

A P O'Brien

Star rating: 3

033 2 9-2 -

C G

96 Expert View: Yard has won 2 of last 5 runnings of race; minor improvement again 5 1/2l third in a Fillies & Mares race here most recent run; top course trainer; wide draw; effective 7/8f, should get further, acts on a sound surface; half-sister to Derby winner City Of Troy, but more needed at this level and might want further.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in three starts. Third of 14 behind Ibelieveicanfly beaten 6l at 8-1 on her latest outing here over 7f (good to firm) earlier this month.

5 (2)

Samnina 32

b f ; Sea The Moon - Weetamoo

6/1 7

Shane Foley

Mrs J Harrington

Star rating: 3

41 2 9-2 -

102 Expert View: Yard has won 2 of last 10 runnings of race; improved on debut run when winning a maiden at Galway by 3/4l last time; effective 7f, will get further, acts on yielding and good; further improvement likely, can take this step up in class in her stride.

Form Snapshot: Dam won three times at 1m 1f and 1m 4f. A winner at 4-1 at Galway over 7f (yielding) on her latest outing last month, beating Madam Secretary by 3/4l.

6 (6)

Sea Of Rain 22

b f ; Naval Crown - Neophilia

33/1 34

Colin Keane

J S Bolger

Star rating: 3

422314 2 9-2 87

97 Expert View: Below form up in class and trip when fourth beaten 4l in Churchill Stakes (Listed) at Gowran Park latest; effective 7f, acts on good; more needed at this level and question marks over distance.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 7f on good ground. Finished 4l behind Sergei Diaghilev when fourth of 6 at 9-1 on her latest outing at Gowran Park over 1m (good) earlier this month.

7 (7)

So Lovely (USA) 9

bay f ; Wootton Bassett - Love

7/4 2.75

R L Moore

A P O'Brien

Star rating: 5

221 2 9-2 -

D G

102 Expert View: Improved again when winning a maiden at Leopardstown by 1 1/2l last time; top course jockey/trainer combination; effective 7/8f, acts on a sound surface; highly progressive in first three starts, should have more to come at this level for top connections.

Form Snapshot: Won on her latest outing when 2-5fav at Leopardstown over 7f (good to firm) earlier this month, beating Zenith Blaze by 1 1/2l.

8 (5)

Speckles 20

b f ; No Nay Never - Seventh Heaven

10/1 11

Ronan Whelan

A P O'Brien

Star rating: 3

62 2 9-2 -

C G

99 Expert View: Improved on debut run when second beaten 5l in a Fillies & Mares race here latest; effective 7f, should get further, acts on good to firm; open to improvement, but more needed at this level.

Form Snapshot: Half-sister to Boogie Woogie, won twice at 1m 2f. Placed once in two starts. Beaten 5l by Ibelieveicanfly when second of 14 at 11-2 on her latest outing here over 7f (good to firm) earlier this month.

9 (3)

Sword Of State 11

b f ; State Of Rest - Alchemilla

40/1 41

Rory Cleary

B W Duke

Star rating: 1

718 2 9-2 78

84 Expert View: Much below form well beaten in an auction race at Roscommon latest; in good form prior; effective 7f, acts on a sound surface; hard to make a case for in this.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 7f on good ground. Beaten 11l behind Emotional Hedging at 3-1 when last of 8 on her latest outing at Roscommon over 7f (good) earlier this month.

10 (1)

Tosca No Candis 14

b f ; Blue Point - Honeymead

16/1 17

Billy Lee

Robson Aguiar

Star rating: 3

5551 2 9-2 92

99 Expert View: Ran to form down in trip, opened account when winning an auction race at Dundalk by 3/4l last time; effective 6-8f, acts on good and AW; could have more to come back up in class and returned to a mile.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 10-3 at Dundalk over 6f on her latest outing earlier this month, beating Crayons In The Sky by 3/4l.

2025: (6 ran) Queen Of Hawaii ( 6 ) , Age 2 , Wgt 9-2 , SP 10/3 - Dylan Browne McMonagle / J P O'Brien

Forecast: 15/8 So Lovely , 11/4 Bellesque , 6/1 Ballyskeagh , 8/1 Samnina , 10/1 Exceptionally , 12/1 Speckles , 16/1 Tosca No Candis , 16/1 Damsel In Distress , 25/1 Sea Of Rain , 33/1 Sword Of State

Last Updated: 28 Aug 2026 23:49:30

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90 Official Rating
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Bookies best price percentage = 118.72%

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Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

Connections feel a mile will bring improvement from SO LOVELY and she could prove the one to beat. The Wootton Bassett filly, a daughter of brilliant racemare Love, won on her third attempt at Leopardstown nine days ago and there should be more to come now back up in trip as her dam was an Oaks winner. She is fancied to turn the tables on Bellesque, who she chased home on her first start. That Joseph O'Brien-trained filly has run well to finish placed in Listed company against the boys since. Samnina won a decent looking Galway maiden last month and the runner-up has been second in a Listed race since. She's another to consider.

Top Tip: So Lovely (7)
Watch out for: Bellesque (2)

The wonderfully bred SO LOVELY has made a striking impression in her three starts, improving again when scoring by a length and a half at Leopardstown to open her account last time. She remains open to plenty more progress stepping up to this level and, with being Ryan Moore's pick of the Ballydoyle runners, looks the one to beat. Bellesque has been running consistently well in her three starts and was beaten only a length and a half in Listed company at Gowran Park last time, so can go well again despite another rise in grade. Ballyskeagh also arrives after a Leopardstown success and showed improved form to win an auction race last time, making her another interesting contender for Joseph O'Brien despite this significant step up in class.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Good	6	Queen Of Hawaii	6	2	9 2	-	61	44 days	J P O'Brien (39 miles)	Dylan McMonagle	10/ 3	1:41.93
2024	Good	8	Dreamy	6	2	9 2	-	1	30 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Ryan Moore	6/ 5	1:39.78
2023	Good	6	Opera Singer	4	2	9 2	-	812	14 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Seamie Heffernan	EVENS	1:38.40
2022	Good	8	Aspen Grove	4	2	9 2	-	50	64 days	J A Stack (73 miles)	Mark Enright	66/ 1	1:40.75
2021	Good	7	Magical Lagoon	1	2	9 2	-	4	25 days	Mrs J Harrington (3 miles)	Shane Foley	9/ 2	1:41.69
2020	Heavy	8	Divinely	9	2	9 2	-	524	20 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Wayne Lordan	5/ 1	1:48.77
2019	Good - Yielding	6	Cayenne Pepper	4	2	9 0	-	11	57 days	Mrs J Harrington (3 miles)	Shane Foley	6/ 4	1:39.39
2018	Good - Yielding	8	Just Wonderful	6	2	9 0	-	103	42 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Donnacha O'Brien	7/ 4	1:38.78
2017	Yielding	7	Liquid Amber	3	2	9 0	-	2	8 days	W McCreery (3 miles)	Billy Lee	10/ 1	1:39.17
2016	Good	7	Sea Of Grace	6	2	9 0	-	31	50 days	J M Oxx (3 miles)	Declan McDonogh	7/ 2	1:37.90
2015	Yielding - Soft	9	Kind Of Magic	8	2	9 0	-	54	33 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Seamie Heffernan	14/ 1	1:43.27
2014	Good - Yielding	7	Jack Naylor	4	2	9 5	-	5211	38 days	Mrs J Harrington (3 miles)	Fran Berry	2/ 1	1:39.15
2013	Good	9	Avenue Gabriel	2	2	9 0	-	133	35 days	P D Deegan (3 miles)	Chris Hayes	4/ 1	1:37.30
2012	Soft - Heavy	7	Viztoria	5	2	9 0	-	1	81 days	E Lynam (32 miles)	Johnny Murtagh	5/ 2	1:17.00
2011	Soft	8	Born To Sea	6	2	9 1	-			J M Oxx (3 miles)	Johnny Murtagh	5/ 2	1:16.01
2010	Good - Yielding	8	Longhunter	8	2	9 1	-	176	21 days	K Prendergast (3 miles)	Declan McDonogh	3/ 1	1:15.48
2009	Soft	11	Song Of My Heart	2	2	8 12	-	61	13 days	D Wachman (73 miles)	Mick Kinane	5/ 1	1:17.44
2008	Heavy	9	What's Up Pussycat	1	2	8 12	-	221323	22 days	D Wachman (73 miles)	Johnny Murtagh	4/ 1	1:25.19
2007	Good to Firm	8	Rock Of Rochelle	6	2	9 1	-	21	14 days	A Kinsella (3 miles)	V R DeSouza	15/ 2	1:12.21
2006	Good	10	Brave Tin Soldier	6	2	9 1	-	22	25 days	A P O'Brien (73 miles)	Kieren Fallon	15/ 8	1:13.20

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	5	2
2024	1	1
2023	1	1
2022	2	8
2021	2	2
2020	5	3
2019	1	1
2018	1	1
2017	2	3
2016	2	2

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
1m	1:32.20