Angus McNae: five fancies for The Curragh on Sunday
By Angus McNae
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Longines Irish Champions weekend switches to The Curragh on Sunday for a blockbuster card that includes four Group One contests.
I have five selections and you can watch them all on Racing TV.
It could be an exceptional day for the Aidan O'Brien team, with three of my selections trained at Ballydoyle.
1.50 Curragh: Above The Curve
Angus McNae
Finished: 1stSP: 5/1
La Petite Coco won this race last year and has an outstanding chance of a repeat but I am keen on the lightly raced Above The Curve, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
She has only raced four times and on her most recent start won the Prix St Alary at Longchamp. That was not a strong Group One but it proved that this filly is on a steep upward trajectory.
Before that, she had finished a somewhat unlucky second in the Cheshire Oaks.
She has essentially shaped like a strong stayer at ten furlongs but the slowly run nature of the Longchamp race did not inconvenience her and she is open to a heap of improvement. Despite Aidan O Brien saddling three runners, Ryan Moore maintains his partnership with this filly.
3.00 Curragh: Meditate
Angus McNae
Finished: 2ndSP: 1/1
This filly is unbeaten in four starts, including a cosy success last time out in the Group Two Debutante Stakes here at The Curragh.
I thought she was impressive there, when making most of the running. She won despite faltering briefly inside the final furlong, where she reportedly shied at a photographer on the in-field.
Before that incident it looked to me as if she was idling under Ryan Moore and I am firmly of the view that this filly was value for more than the winning margin. She has a very good chance of winning her first Group One here.
3.35 Curragh: Aesop's Fables
Angus McNae
Finished: 4thSP: 8/13
This colt has won his only two starts, latterly taking the Group Two Futurity here at The Curragh in a fast time.
After being briefly outpaced, he finished his race off strongly to win going away. The most impressive part of that success was that it was achieved amid greenness, which suggests there is a lot more to come from this colt.
He merely has to repeat that latest effort to win this and thereafter no doubt receive single-figure quotes for the 2000 Guineas, for which he is currently a general 14-1.
4.10 Curragh: Kyprios
Angus McNae
Finished: 1stSP: 8/11
This Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup winner looks to have an outstanding opportunity of landing the Irish St Leger.
In my opinion, he is the best stayer around and he should not be troubled to win this even though he is dropping in trip to 1m 6f.
I am sure Ryan Moore will make plenty of use of him and that is never a poor tactic at this track. It is an interesting call for his trainer to decide to run what is his Cup horse for the next few years in this race, but it does look to be an ideal opportunity to enhance his CV.
Some believe he is the coming force in the staying division. I beg to differ: he is the dominant force.
5.20 Curragh: Amortentia
This horse was unlucky last time out here at The Curragh and can make amends here.
He was beaten less than a length in finishing fourth in that event despite having no running room at all inside the final quarter mile.
That was a step up in trip, but it seemed to be no problem and granted a cleaner passage here he looks sure to go close over the same trip.
He has been dropped 1lb and is well drawn in stall nine. This is fiercely competitive but is worth chancing given his eye-catching run last time out.
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