Curragh Irish Champions Day Two Preview

The first race of the day on day two of Irish Champions Weekend is the six furlong Premier Sprint Handicap and Big Gossey for Charles O'Brien takes our eye.

The three year old has been highly consistent throughout his career placing five times out of six races and also going onto win two of them.

This term he landed a 17 runner handicap over course and distance and then backed that up last time out when third in a similar event.

Still only on a mark of 88 makes him very interesting in the weights as we think he can still improve.

The first big race of the day is the Group Two Blandford Stakes for Fillies and Mares and Jessica Harrington fields some strong runners in this event.

The one we like the look of is the bigger price of the two at the top of the market with Cayenne Pepper hoping to finally get her head in front this season.

The three year old finished second on seasonal debut behind Magical in the Pretty Polly Stakes and she backed that up with another close second in the Irish Oaks.

She was sent to Cork last time out for a Group Three contest and again she could only finish second but she has been knocking on the door long enough now and we think it is time she got off the mark.

The first black type event of the day at The Curragh on Sunday is the five furlong Flying Five Stakes and English raider Glass Slippers has a huge chance at a nice price.

The Kevin Ryan trained filly has some stand out form throughout her career and if recapturing it should not be beat in this event.

Having won the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye last season, she finished fifth at Royal Ascot in the King's Stands Stakes and improved for that run last time out when a good second behind Battaash.

She will be getting her softish conditions and looking fresher than most the field she looks to have a live chance.

The Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs sees the best of the Irish Fillies go to post and there looks to be no better over this trip than Pretty Gorgeous.

The Joseph O'Brien trained juvenile has had three starts to date and has shown serious ability on all of them, getting off the mark at the first time of asking at Bellewstown.

She then went to Leopardstown and finished a close second behind Shale for Donnacha O'Brien in a Group Three contest.

However, she came on for that performance when pulling away from a decent field including Shale, to land a Group Two over course and distance at The Curragh and that is the best form heading into the event.

The feature race for the juveniles on the Sunday of Irish Champions Weekend is the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs and superb field of Irish and English challengers are set to head to post.

Battleground for Aidan O'Brien has not really put a foot wrong during his career, finishing fifth on debut where he learnt a lot for the experience.

Since then he has gone unbeaten in two smart races, taking the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and then landing the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The son of War Front is following the same path as superstar juvenile Pinatubo who similarly landed both those races on the way to taking this Group One and he looks to have a stand out chance.

The final selection from us on Sunday at The Curragh is the Group One Irish St Leger and if running to his form this season Twilight Payment should take some beating.

The Joseph O'Brien trained stayer is seeking a hat-trick having took out the Group Three Vintage Crop Stakes and the Group Two Curragh Cup over course and distance.

Although he was only seventh in the race last year, he seems to be in the prime of his career this term and will take all the beating being versatile on ground.