Curragh Friday Preview - 27/08/21

The first race of the day is the Maiden over a mile and the horse we believe could go close is the Aidan O'Brien trained Bluegrass, who should come on a bunch for his first experience.

The colt has been seen once to date in a decent 15 runner Maiden over 7f at The Curragh, finishing sixth behind some nice types

Holding some of the best form and most potential in the race makes him the most appealing and overall this contest looks a great opportunity to get off the mark.

The first big race of the day is the Group Three Flame Of Tara Stakes over a mile and the likeable filly Albula could be tough to beat.

The daughter of Galileo made her debut at the start of August in a strong Fillies' Maiden at Naas over a mile and she managed to get off the mark in taking style.

Now stepping up into Group Three company she will need to improve but holding some of the best form in the race makes her a safer bet than most.

Another smart Group Three follows and it sees the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes and we are giving another chance to Shale for Donnacha O'Brien.

The filly made her debut in a decent maiden last term where she ran no race, but came on massively for the first experience to get off the mark at Gowran Park on heavy ground.

She backed that up in a Group Three at Leopardstown before just falling short behind Pretty Gorgeous in a Group Two at the Curragh.

The daughter of Galileo stepped up for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over the same course and distance and reversed the form with the Joseph O'Brien runner to land her first black type event, with the good ground being crucial for her success.

She then headed to Newmarket next time out in the bet365 Fillies' Mile and could only finish sixth with the soft ground not playing to her strengths.

On her seasonal debut she was an average fifth in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and off the back of that went to Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes and was below par again.

Shale was last seen back in Group One company when again finding things tough, but the form of the race has worked out with second placed Santa Barbara since winning twice in America.

Now back down to a Group Three she can hopefully show her presence, but does need to bounce back from her recent runs.

The final Group Three event of the afternoon comes over six furlongs and the horse we are siding with the Ger Lyons trained Sacred Bridge.

The two year old daughter of Bated Breath is a 12/1 shot for the black type event having landed all three of her events to date and if coming over for this race she will be shorter, running for top connections.

Starting off her career at Naas in June he was a smart winner and she then backed it up at Tipperary taking a Listed winner on similar company.

Last time out she stepped forward again to land the expensive Ballyhane Stakes, getting up in the final stages of the six furlong contest.

She is unbeaten and this Group Three looks the next logical step forward.

Moving into the handicaps now and in this six furlong event we have sided with the Sarah Dawson trained Pretty Boy Floyd.

Set to be ridden by the superb Colin Keane, the six year old heads into the event with a nice piece of form and running off the same mark makes him dangerous.

Over course and distance two starts ago the gelding was a close up fifth in a good event and off the back of that over 5f finished a clever second behind a group horse in a handicap.

He gets his preferred good ground again and if handling the step back up in trip he looks a big player.

The Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire Premier Handicap is always a decent event for the locals at The Curragh and this year we are going with the favourite Toshizou for Joseph O'Brien.

The three year old this season has looked a smarter horse than he was a juvenile, stepping up to 10f on seasonal debut when finishing a close up fourth behind some nice types.

Last time out over course and distance he was fourth again in another strong handicap and off the same mark he makes big appeal if improving.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the Nursery Handicap and the horse that makes the most appeal is the Dermot Weld trained Malayan.

The two year old filly has been seen three times to date and has improved in a big way on all of her starts, needing her first run of the season in July but has since won both of her contests.

Off the back of her Fairyhouse run she went to a Maiden at Galway and got off the mark, with the second that day since going on to win.

Malayan made it back to back successes at Roscommon when slightly up in trip taking an Auction Series event fairly comfortably.

She now drops into a handicap off a mark of 84 and she could well be beyond that.