The Irish horse racing broadcaster offers his selections for Sunday, including one for the Group 2 Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blandford Stakes.
In terms of quality it doesn’t get any better than Sunday’s Curragh programme, with four Group 1s down for decision and star names like Kyprios, Bedtime Story, Bradsell and Henri Matisse amongst those taking to the stage. However for all that we should be treated to some great racing and hopefully learn plenty into the bargain it’s hard to find much of an angle in any of the top level events.
The Group 2 Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blandford Stakes has been good to Dermot Weld over the years, and on their big day the sponsors may see their colours carried to victory by the lightly-raced ELIZABETH JANE. A big-priced maiden winner on her debut as a juvenile, this beautifully bred Dubawi filly took a long time to make it to the track this year but following a satisfactory return in an Oaks Trial at Naas she took a big step forward when fourth in the classic itself last time. It was a particularly praiseworthy effort too, as she made up a lot of ground from the rear of the field to be beaten just 3 3/4 lengths, and with further improvement entirely feasible she has a sporting chance of turning the tables on today’s market leader Purple Lily.
I was very surprised to see FOLLOW ME put in at such a big price for the opening Bold Lad Handicap and Ross O’Sullivan’s French import is one of a couple worth playing against the field in the curtain-raiser. The layers appeared to initially overreact to a dismal effort at Royal Ascot on the Shalaa colt’s latest start – which connections were inclined to attribute to the fast ground – and he had previously created an excellent impression when overcoming trouble in running to score at today’s venue.
TORIVEGA has been set too much to do on a few occasions this season and would certainly be a deserving winner of this €150,000 contest. He was upped 2lb for his latest near miss over course and distance last month but remains capable of better and should be thereabouts once more with David Egan now taking over in the saddle.
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