16.25
Good To Firm1xBet.ie Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup (Group 2)
- Prize money: £66582.61
- 1m 6f 4y
- 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Form: 74-634 CD
Last run: 31 days
W: 9st 11lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 (8) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Second at last year's Royal Ascot in the 1m4f Hardwicke and 4l winner of the 1m6f Irish St Leger; ran on strongly from out the back when seventh in the Melbourne Cup (2m) in November and ended up third to Caballo De Mar in blanket finish to a Longchamp Group 1 (nearly 2m) four weeks ago, having been last of nine 2f out; those do not mean he's an assured stayer on this move up to 2m4f but he brings among the best form and has to enter calculations. |
8/1 |
Form: 332547
Last run: 29 days
W: 9st 11lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 5 (4) |
20th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 5f 143y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Group 3 winner over 1m2f at three; his losing run of 13 includes a fading fourth in this last year (good to firm); likely flattered by his close proximity to Scandinavia in a 1m6f Listed race in April and hasn't fared so well since; even if back on song, this is a tough place for front-runners. |
20/1 |
|
4th 3 (5) |
29th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y |
9st 6lb |
Won 1m2f Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in 2024 (1m2f, heavy); last win was at Dundalk early last year, having faced some stiff tasks since, career-best when front-running second to ready winner Scandinavia in Navan Listed last month; not as good behind same rival since under similar tactics in Group 3 Saval Beg; bit to find on ratings and step up to 2m looks a big ask. |
10/1 |
Form: 164-44
Last run: 56 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 (2) |
24th May 2026 Good To Yielding 1m 2f 110y |
9st 5lb |
Beat the top-class Delacroix in a Leopardstown Group 2 as a 2yo (1m, good); sixth in the 2,000 Guineas before making all in a Leopardstown Listed race in June (1m1f, good); respectable efforts in the Irish Derby here (1m4f, good) and in a York Group 2 (10.5f, good); shaped as though he would improve over his return in a Group 3 here last time when fading into fourth (1m2f, soft); a good bit to find with the top ones here all the same. |
25/1 |
Form: 210-72
Last run: 65 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 106
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 (3) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 6f 0y |
9st 5lb |
Strong form at this venue last season, winning three times here, including a C&D Listed race and a 1m5f premier handicap; never a factor in the Irish Cesarewitch; probably unsuited by very soft ground on his seasonal debut at the Curragh six weeks ago. |
14/1 |
Form: 27-361 C
Last run: 29 days
W: 9st 11lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 8 (13) |
20th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 5f 143y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Finished runner-up in last year's Gold Cup here (good to firm) and second again in the Goodwood version (2m, good), only narrowly failing to concede 14lb to Scandinavia; crystal clear claims on these favourable terms if returning to that level of form but he wasn't at his best when bidding for a second Ormonde at Chester and ran abysmally in the recent Coronation Cup when under the pump from a worryingly early stage (unwise to blame the rain-hit ground when he has soft-ground form); hard to dismiss but in equal measure he's hard to trust. |
3/1 |
|
6th 4 (5) |
6th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 1m 4f 6y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Runner-up in two Cup races last term; only a neck behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger but was beaten about 5l by that opponent last month when bidding for a second success in the Ormonde at Chester, doing nothing to close their current ratings differential; perhaps in here to set the pace and ensure a proper test. |
40/1 |
Form: 441-03
Last run: 51 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 (6) |
29th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Group 1-winning 2yo made the frame last year in Epsom/Curragh Derbies and career-best when winning the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay (1m7f, very soft) at Longchamp in October; disappointing when last seen in Group 2 Riyadh contest in January, fading tamely on quick ground after forcing much of pace; demands plenty of respect on overall form. |
13/8 |
|
9 (10) |
29th Jun 2025 Good 1m 4f 0y |
9st 2lb |
Coped with heavy ground to beat Green Storm in three-runner Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (1m2f) last October; needed the race and unsuited by a muddling gallop and quick ground when around 7l third behind Delacroix in the Ballysax in May; did best of those who came from off the pace when finishing strongly for third in the Derby; holds a fighting chance in the rematch. |
4/1 |
Form: 6-7212 C
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 11lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 (1) |
28th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 2f 0y |
9st 9lb |
Seven-time winner on the Flat; landed Gowran conditions race (9.5f, yielding) for the third year running on latest; won lesser renewal of this race last season (good) but was no match for Purview in 1m4f Listed heat here on penultimate; hard to see him turning that around, but generally reliable and place chance. |
15/2 |
|
1st 4 (2) |
12th Jun 2026 Yielding To Soft 1m 1f 100y |
9st 13lb |
Won this race in 2023 and 2024; good form early last season, recording back-to-back wins in Listed/Group 3 contests at the Curragh over 1m4f/1m2f on good; hasn't hit top stride yet this season but is top-rated here; he would prefer decent ground but has form on soft. |
1/2 |
Form: 215-01 D
Last run: 11 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (5) |
8th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 5f 200y |
9st 9lb |
Progressive last season, two wins included Listed contest at Leopardstown (1m6f, good) and signed off with very creditable fifth in the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster; has to bounce back from a poor comeback run in Gowran Listed in early May and cheekpieces tried. |
9/2 |
|
10th 1 (6) |
5th May 2026 Yielding 1m 6f 0y |
9st 5lb |
Progressive last season; two wins from five starts including a Listed contest at Leopardstown (1m6f, good) by 4.25l; signed off with a very respectable 3.75l fifth in the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster (14.5f, gd-sft); carries a penalty but big chance if ready after 236 days off. |
11/4 |
Betting Forcast
7/4 Al Riffa, 25/1 Dallas Star, 12/1 Green Impact, 14/1 Happy Pharoah, 2/1 Illinois, 7/1 Tennessee Stud, 10/1 Trustyourinstinct, 16/1 Floresta
Verdict
Last year’s winner AL RIFFA has a good chance of recording his first win since last season’s Irish St Leger triumph when his cause was helped by the fact that Illinois had one of his off days. Aidan O’Brien’s hope flopped again in this season’s Coronation Cup, before redeeming himself with a hard-earned win in the Queen Alexandra. [Alan Sweetman]
Selections
POSTDATA:
Al Riffa