Curragh - Fri 26 Jun 2026
TREAN finished with blistering speed on his recent debut and is taken to build on that promising effort. The half-brother to a couple of winners faces tougher rivals today, but big-race entries suggest there is plenty more to come from Paddy Twomey's charge. Abraham Lincoln is out of a Group 3 winner who has already produced two blacktype performers, while stablemate Haffner and Anchor Road, the half-brother to smart sprinter Beauty Crescent, are others to note.
VALENTINO ECLIPSE has a good pedigree and showed nice ability on debut. From the family of Dubai Millennium, the half-brother to three winners recovered from a slow start at Leopardstown to finished a close second and is open to plenty of improvement. The four-year-old Loughrea ran well at Gowran in May. He could feature along with the 79-rated Karrygrant, but Bang Bang looks vulnerable to more progressive types including the newcomer Gliondar.
THEREWILLBEGLORY will likely benefit from her recent seasonal reappearance. The runner-up on four occasions on turf last year, she was narrowly beaten at Dundalk on her first start for 218 days and looks on a workable mark back on this surface for her handicap bow. Tofino scored over C&D last August and has solid recent form. She should prove competitive, while Prevalence met trouble in-running here last month and beat Liberation Date (third) when landing a Dundalk maiden last November.
The three-year-old INVINCIBLE WILL is already a dual winner over C&D and can continue to progress. Although he scored on soft ground here last September, it was quick going when successful on his latest start and Gavin Cromwell's charge may well defy a 5lb rise. Summer Island won at this venue prior to finishing a solid second off today's mark. He could land a blow, while Little Empire has been thereabouts in decent handicaps recently and goes well on fast ground.
A race that often goes to a lightly-raced, improving three-year-old sees the hat-trick seeking DARIUS DARK hold leading claims. Unbeaten in both starts over this distance, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Dark Angel gelding remains capable of better on what is only his sixth career start. A game winner at Leopardstown last time, the application of first-time cheekpieces could eke out further improvement. Beaten just a length when third in that same contest, Keepsgettingbetter shouldn't be far away. A dual winner at Dundalk, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly showed that she handles turf just as effectively. Eastern Peace and Faro Island also catch the eye with leading apprentices booked.
With the form of his Leopardstown third working out well, the Jessica Harrington-trained WYMAN can register a first career win. Entitled to be all the better for that first start since September, the Australia colt sets the standard. Numantia caught the eye staying on late when fourth over C&D on his introduction. Another who should have benefited from the outing, it would be no surprise to see an improved effort on this second run. An 84-rated colt, Changing Lanes was a beaten favourite last time, but could be capable of better now that connections have opted to drop him back in distance.
BALLYADAM can follow up his recent Listowel win. Although now in the latter stages of his career, the Henry de Bromhead-trained 11-year-old retains plenty of enthusiasm and has been highly consistent under both codes in recent starts. Given that he was able to finish a creditable fourth off 152 in Cheltenham's BetMGM Cup just three runs back, a mark of 83 doesn't look beyond him. A staying-on third over two furlongs shorter here last month, Kilmeaden should relish the extra yardage. Too Bossy For Us also commands respect in a competitive affair.
SAN ANDREAS looks the class act in this race and should prove difficult to beat. A 10-time winner, the veteran has proved an ideal schoolmaster for young apprentices in recent times and should give his pilot a day to remember. Recent Listowel third The Mediator looks the most likely danger. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding will be straighter after that outing and, on official ratings, he holds strong claims. Stablemate Spinola Bay helps give Elliott a strong hand. Twice successful over flights last season, he is entitled to make his presence felt.
Trean is best of those to have raced, finishing third at Fairyhouse on debut, but Aidan O'Brien has a fine recent record in this race and his 2,300,000 euros newcomer ABRAHAM LINCOLN is taken to score under Ryan Moore. The son of Wootton Bassett might want further before long but the galloping nature of this course should ensure a stiff enough test on debut. Man's Best Friend and Haffner are other Ballydoyle newcomers to fear, though they don't appeal as much on profile.
Loughrea is a 4yo so has to give weight but he showed improved form at Gowran Park last time and clearly has a chance. Joseph O'Brien's newcomer Gliondar could easily have a say and the betting should be revealing, but it's VALENTINO ECLIPSE who appeals most. Hailing from a yard that won with both its runners at Royal Ascot, he shaped well over 7f on debut and has more to offer now upped to 1m. Bang Bang and Karrygrant are others to consider, albeit they're a little exposed compared to some.
A huge field and plenty to consider with THEREWILLBEGLORY appealing most in the first-time visor. She ran well upped to 11f at Dundalk on her return and dropping in trip on this handicap debut in the headgear can see her off the mark. Tofino, a good second at Limerick last time, is respected also, but Prevalence could emerge as the danger. Although a little disapppointing over C&D last time, her reappearance third was most pleasing and she's still open to improvement for good connections. Nautic Star is another to consider on handicap debut for a good yard.
The 3yo Invincible Will, a two-time C&D scorer, including last time, still looks competitively weighted up 5lb and all conditions comes alike. He should go well, but SUMMER ISLAND is favoured this time. He runs the course well also, winning over C&D two starts back and placing over 1m last time. He can prove too strong off what remains a fair mark. Smoke Them Out proved his stamina last time when placed over this trip and he has winning course form over shorter so needs considering also.
Often a really competitive handicap, it looks no different this time and 3yos have a good recent record in the race. Darius Dark won a similar event at Leopardstown 47 days ago, but it's the third from that race KEEPSGETTINGBETTER who appeals most. She got too far back that day whereas the winner made most of the running, but finished well to take third in her bid for a hat-trick and a tongue-tie is now added. Darius Dark is very much the danger as he keeping pulling out more and now has cheekpieces added. Nod Of Approval should be helped by the drop in trip and is another to consider along with Royal Alliance, back to form when third last time.
Changing Lanes sets the standard and the drop to 10f in a first-time tongue-tie could see him of the mark but there was a lot to like about the debut of NUMANTIA at this course, hitting the line well to finish fourth in a similar contest, and she's taken to get off the mark at the second time with improvement expected. Zadawa, another once-raced promising sort, is third choice with improvement likely after a fair fourth at Gowran Park on debut.
A decent staying handicap, it can go to DELTA, who ran a race full of promise when fourth of 24 in a 14f course handicap on his return/first outing since being gelded. He looks to be crying out for 2m and has a bigger effort in him now tried in a new headgear combination. Kilmeaden, third in that 14f contest, may well confirm form but isn't quite open to the same progress as the selection. He's still the danger, although the Willie Mullins pair Highwind and Too Bossy For Us need respecting also.
Joseph O'Brien took this last year and his San Andreas holds obvious claims given he's long been a useful Flat handicapper. He prefers AW, though, so let's instead go with one of Gordon Elliott's runners in WACKESTONE. The son of Australia showed plenty in three previous Flat runs and has since done well juvenile hurdling. He's open to improvement at 2m now. Veteran stablemate The Mediator is consistent and one to consider as well.
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