Curragh Friday Preview - 28/06/19

The first race of the afternoon in Ireland comes in the Maiden six furlong contest and we have gone for the Aidan O'Brien trained Masteroffoxhounds.

This two year old son of War front looks to be a potential star for the yard finishing third on debut behind some nice types with the runner up of that race finishing a positive sixth in the Albany at Royal Ascot.

He will need to come on for his first run but in the safe hands of Ryan Moore and him holding plenty of potential he can not go unnoticed in the market.

The Group 2 International Curragh Cup comes next and this contest over 1 mile 6 furlongs sees a lot of familiar faces and we have gone for the Aidan O'Brien trained Southern France.

This four year old didn't run a great race in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot but stepping back up in trip can see the colt get back to his best.

Before the Royal Meeting he finished second behind Gold Cup winner Stradivarius and on his seasonal debut was third behind Master Of Reality who finished in the placings in that same Gold Cup.

That form reads really well and if bouncing back is one to watch over this longer trip.

Another Group 2 follows with the Airlie Stud Stakes over six furlongs and we have gone for the Willie McCreery trained Ickworth, who will have a big chance if actually racing this time around.

This two year old filly is a very lightly raced horse but at the same time has shown plenty of ability winning both her runs over five furlongs in Ireland with the latest coming at the Curragh.

The step up in trip will be welcomed by this pacy filly but when she went to run last time out at Ascot in the Group 2 Queen Mary, she refused to race so we hope this time around she is good to go.

The Summer Fillies Handicap looks a very open contest but we have sided with Crafty Madam in the seven furlong contest.

This five year old mare trained by K J Condon looks to have every chance revelling in these conditions and making a bright start to the season last time out.

She finished a good second at Leopardstown in an 18 runner handicap race over a mile and now back in a big field with similar competitors she is sure to give another good account of herself.

The big race of the day is the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs and our selection is the outright favourite for Aidan O'Brien in Pink Dogwood who truly looks the one to beat off the back of what the three-year-old has done this season.

She started the season off at Navan winning a Listed event with ease and then she went on to finish a narrow second in the Group One Epsom Oaks which looks decent form.

Just outstayed by Anapurna, she is dropping in trip to 1m2f but this should still see her go well and there would have to be a huge performance from the rest of the field to beat her if she is on song come Friday.

The penultimate race of the day is another seven furlong handicap and we have followed the form line with this one and selected Beckwith Place to run a stormer.

In the race an hour earlier we have tipped Crafty Madam in a similar event and this four year old gelding just beat the mare last time out.

Before that on his seasonal debut he finished a god third in a 23 runner field, showing he likes these type of events and off the back of his form this season should go well again.

The final contest on Friday from the Curragh sees the 1 mile 2 furlong handicap contest and we have gone for Formula one who is running his first for trainer Jessica Harrington.

This son of Frankel had four runs for Hugo Palmer and in his first two really impressed finishing second on debut and winning his second contest but his latest two runs saw him fall off the boil.

Now under a new trainer on ground he has previously won on makes him a live contender and he is certainly worth a check in the a market.