Curragh - Sat 23 May 2026
Aidan O'Brien has saddled the last three winners of this race, all partnered by Ryan Moore, and the jockey is on SERGEI DIAGHILEV, who could be the most forward of O'Brien's three newcomers. This Wootton Bassett colt is a brother to a Tipperary maiden winner who has been placed in Group 3 contests. Wayne Lordan takes the ride on Bold Commander, whose brother proved good enough to win the Birdcatcher at Naas last season so he ought to be speedy. Joseph O'Brien's Folsom Blues is a nicely-related sort who could show plenty of dash, while South Dakota may be third choice on Ballydoyle's jockey bookings but has plenty of winners in his pedigree.
NYRA, who was third in the German Oaks last year, is a fascinating recruit for Joseph O'Brien's yard. The fact that she holds a Group 1 entry at this track next month looks significant. Purview is of interest on the first run of his four-year-old campaign. He signed off last season with a Listed success over an extended 10 furlongs at Cork and steps up to a mile and a half for the first time. The admirable eight-year-old gelding Chally Chute sets the standard with a mark of 112, although he would prefer more cut in the ground on his seasonal reappearance. Trustyourinstinct won this race last year and will be sharper for his unplaced run in a Group 3 last month.
CLOUD SEEKER knows how to perform in these big-field handicaps and has a shot at going one better than last year when he just failed by a short head. This is his trip and ground. There are any number of dangers, though. Deressa has switched to Paddy Twomey after a couple of victories for Dermot Weld and could do damage with Colin Keane booked. Fiver Friday is in a rich vein of form and was a ready winner of a good pot over C&D last month when she travelled notably well. There is certainly more to come from Yulia, who suffered a less-than-clear route on her way to fifth on her Irish debut in Sligo.
COMANCHE BRAVE was far from outclassed in fifth behind superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Sha Tin last month and there may be more to come from him in the sprinting division. Last season, he was campaigned over longer trips and was placed several times in Group races. British raider Powerful Glory is entitled to maximum respect after winning the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last October. Bucanero Fuerte hasn't quite been at his best in two outings this season, but he has plenty of winning form over C&D and ought to be in the thick of the action. Big Gossey loves it here and continues to defy expectations, while Montassib is another to consider.
Aidan O'Brien's GSTAAD looks very much the one to beat. Last season's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner reappeared in the 2000 Guineas and moved clear with the winner before giving best in the closing stages. Distant Storm, who has been chalked up as second favourite behind Gstaad for this assignment, was some eight lengths back in third at Newmarket so it is hard to see that form being overturned, despite the first-time cheekpieces and his solid overall form. Thesecretadversary was behind them in fifth on the Rowley Mile, when keen, but could improve upon that if settling better on home turf. Karl Burke's Alparslan made all in the Greenham at Newbury and is hunting a cheque.
CAUSEWAY has progressed with each run and riding arrangements suggest he is preferred of Aidan O'Brien's trio. The son of Wootton Bassett completed a hat-trick in the Tetrarch here earlier this month and is bred to appreciate the step up to 1m2f. Stablemate Drop Dead Gorgeous didn't enjoy the clearest of passages when third in the Athasi and has plenty of scope for improvement, while South Island and Shosholoza should both progress from their reappearances in the Ballysax at Leopardstown last month.
SUBSTANCE impressed on his handicap debut at Roscommon and may defy a 10lb hike in the ratings. The son of Supremacy hails from a yard in great form and appreciated the sounder surface when quickening clear in the closing stages. He is one of six in the line-up to win last time out, with Golden Trigger and Seoul Force both meriting respect after landing maidens over this trip at Dundalk last year. Star Of Sapphire has been absent since winning a Navan maiden last summer, while Johnny Murtagh has declared three runners and Zenford is an interesting contender on his handicap debut with Rory Mulligan claiming 5lb.
GO ATHLETICO held a career-high rating of 108 and dropped down to a mark of 86 when landing the valuable Scurry Handicap over a similar distance here last summer. The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding gave plenty of encouragement that another competitive handicap is within his grasp when third to Keke at Naas last month. He gets the vote to improve past runner-up Indigo Dream, who has held her form well since taking a Dundalk maiden in December. Sir Les Patterson has gained all five career wins on the all-weather but appears fairly treated, while Dmaniac would appreciate any further rain. Aviatrice and Barbapapa are others to note.
COUNT BEZUKHOV caught the eye on debut when keeping on into third behind odds-on stablemate Cannes at Leopardstown earlier this month. The Joseph O'Brien-trained colt had Amethyst Stone and Glen Echo both well behind and should benefit from that initial experience. The Shandyman was only caught close home when runner-up to the selection's stablemate Acclamatic over a mile here last autumn and may prove the chief threat, while Theorist and Lonely Island have also shown some promise. Sakoku and Saxony Charms are two newcomers to note in the market.
Best to concentrate on the three Ballydoyle runners in this. Ryan Moore has plumped for Sergei Diaghilev, a brother to Endorsement who was Group-placed over 1m1f as a 2yo, and the rider doesn't usually get it wrong, but BOLD COMMANDER is a January foal and related to proper speedy 2yo First Approach so might be better suited to this speedy test. He can cause a minor upset on debut with the other Ballydoyle runner South Dakota being bred for 1m-plus and perhaps set to need this.
Joseph O'Brien is well represented with four runners, including last year's winner Trustyourinstinct. He wasn't at best on reappearance but could do better here, though it's Emit who appeals as likely to do best from the yard this time. That one was twice Group-placed last season and has looked on good enough terms with himself in a pair of starts this season. The selection, though, is PURVIEW, who easily has the most potential of these and looks just the sort to improve a good bit as a 4yo. He had good form against the likes of Delacroix and Damysus last season and closed out last season with a good Listed win at Cork. He lacks a recent run but did score on his reappearance last term. Chally Chute wrapped up last season with a Group 3 win here and, although an 8yo now, it would be no surprise were he to emerge as the danger.
A big field and plenty to consider, with the ex-Ralph Beckett-trained Perfect Your Craft looking capable of better back on a sounder surface for her new, good connections. It's stablemate IOWA CITY who is the selection, though. Formerly trained in France, she won a rated rated at Galway in September and then chased home the smart Purview in a Listed race at Cork. Fourth at the same level on reappearance, when looking in need of the run, she's on a fair mark for this handicap and has a very capable rider claiming a handy 5lb. It's another ex-French filly in Yulia who presents as the main danger, having shaped well despite having been hampered on her Irish debut. She's with a top yard and should improve, while it wouldn't be wise to rule out In My Teens now back on the Flat.
Last year's winner James's Delight needs to leave behind a modest enough return in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster and this looks a bit stronger than the race he won 12 months ago. The selection is BUCANERO FUERTE, who hasn't been at his best this season but there have been excuses and returning to a C&D he runs really well should suit ideally - he won a Group 1 over C&D as a 2yo. Comanche Brave fared pretty well back sprinting in Hong Kong last time and needs respecting, as does Marvelman, another dropping in trip who looks capable of better this time. The most difficult one to assess is Powerful Glory, last seen springing a 200-1 shock in the Champions Sprint at Ascot last October. A reproduction of that would obviously give him leading claims, but his earlier efforts didn't match and it remains to be seen what version we get of him.
Not the deepest edition of the race and it presents GSTAAD with an excellent opportunity to notch a second Group 1 following his win at the Breeders' Cup last autumn. Despite doubts as to how fit he would be for Newmarket, he ran an excellent race in pulling clear with impressive winner Bow Echo - earning himself a rating of 123 - and can be expected to step forward here before heading to Royal Ascot for the St James's Palace. Distant Storm was well adrift of the selection in third at Newmarket but could get closer here with cheekpieces now tried. He rates the danger, with his yard having a good record in this race. Best of the rest might be Thesecretadversary, who was too keen at Newmarket, although Alparslan put up a likeable performance at Newbury. A place might be the best that pair can hope for, though.
Another race that Aidan O'Brien has a strong grip on. Amadeus Mozart is capable of much better after only two starts, but he looks the third choice of Ballydoyle here. Choosing between Causeway and DROP DEAD GORGEOUS isn't easy and they're pretty close together in the betting. Ryan Moore has stayed loyal to Causeway, a Listed winner here last time who promises to improve again for the step up to 10f. The selection, though, is coming off a Group 3 third over 1m at the course, a race in which she looked a little unlucky not to go close having been checked in her run and forced to switch. She's a big filly and should relish the increased stamina test this contest has to offer.
A good little handicap, there's surely more to come from Substance, who ran out a striking winner on his handicap debut at Roscommon. He's been hit with a 10lb rise, though, which makes life more difficult. Let's instead side with ZENFORD, a handicap debutant who represents last year's winning yard. He's finished third on each of his last three starts, including in a reapplied hood at Limerick last time, and could now be ready to raise his game from an opening mark of 75 while his useful rider claims a handy 5lb. Third choice is the reappearing Seoul Force, a winner at Dundalk when last seen in November. His fitness is to be taken on trust, but this is a valuable handicap so chances are he'll be ready.
This is ultra-competitive and plenty need considering. Aviatrice is a highly progressive filly but she's yet to prove herself quite as effective on turf and the drop to 6f isn't sure to suit. Sir Les Patterson is respected also but like Aviatrice his turf efforts don't quite match his AW achievements. Let's side with INDIGO DREAM, a consistent filly who stays a still 6f well and still looks competitively weighted. She's drawn in stall 4, so as long as high draws aren't significantly favoured then she ought to go close. Dmaniac might have been the selection on deeper ground but is still respected, while from the foot of the weights Genesis, another C&D scorer, warrants consideraton despite this being a step back up in grade.
Not the strongest maiden, it can go to COUNT BEZUKHOV, who shaped with loads of promise over 12 at Leopardstown on debut and now has a tongue-tie added. He's from a top yard and has a fine pedigree, so should go close. The Shandyman is an interesting one stepping up in trip for Willie Mullins and he looks the danger, although there are several newcomers of note, including Sakoku, a son of Sea The Stars for Johnny Murtagh, and Numantia, one with a nice profile for Donnacha O'Brien.
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