Curragh Update…

The 3 day Irish Guineas meeting is always a feature of the flat season but with so many top races over the next 72 hours in GB it is easy to miss a few opportunities.

I have prepared the following list of horses that are expected to run well over the 3 days – I won’t put any up as bets as yet – none on Friday but may possibly do so on Saturday and Sunday depending on the state of the going.

I will confirm via my noon update on Saturday.

Here is my info for the the three days.

Friday

Nothing of note but my contact said the ‘right people’ had taken the odds against on offer for Naoi in the 6.55 who is expected to continue Paddy Twomey’s great form in May.

Saturday

in the Greenland Stakes at 3.05 there is a lot of confidence that Grand Grey can turnover the A P O’Brien favourite Storm Boy. This race has a history of being dominated by the British raiders and with Lethal Levi in the field Grand Grey will get the pace he needs to aim at.

Jamie Spencer goes to Ireland for just one ride missing several rides on runners with decent chances in the UK . 4/1 looks a decent price.

In the irish 2000 Guineas at 3.40 every pundit out there is opposing Field of Gold and as a result the grey has drifted to odds against.

I really don’t understand their thinking.Yes, Cosmic Year could be exceptional but i doubt it and the English 2000 Guineas form looks rock solid with Gosden’s 3yo undoubtedly unlucky in running and only narrowly beaten by the potential Derby winner Ruling Court. I wouldn’t look past Field Of Gold even though he is again drawn on the wing in stall 9.

A very good contact in Newmarket tells me that he has had a decent double on the Ed Dunlop trained pair Arundel in the Pontefract 7.17 on Friday evening backed from 5/4 into 4/6 with Skukuza in the 4.15 at the Curragh on Saturday.

Ryan Moore takes the ride on the 4yo who was second in the Brittania Handicap at Royal Ascot last season and has been a huge eye catcher on both his starts this season , especially last time out at Newcastle when Billy Loughnane could never get a clear run.

The draw in stall 18 of 19 may also be a nice advantage. He could do with winning this and getting put up a few pounds to ensure he gets into the Royal Hunt Cup next month.

Sunday

in the Tatterstalls Gold Cup at 3.05 the Ante Post favourite for the Arc De Triomphe Kalpana makes her seasonal debut but my information is she will need the run. The greatly underrated Anmaat whose victory and defeat of Calandagan in the Champion Stakes is top Group 1 form also makes his seasonal debut and whilst White Birch and Los Angeles will take some beating the 15/2 on offer about Anmaat is tempting

in the Irish 1,000 Guineas Lake Victoria at 11/8 is opposable given she has yet to prove she has trained on having had a brilliant but really tough 2yo career.

The ground conditions will be crucial to the main rivals, if the ground stays good or good to soft I would favour Flight who ran a remarkable race in the English 1,000 to get so close to Desert Flower who looks like the next superstar filly.

Russ Diary of a Season 23 May 2025