Free tips through the card on day two of Irish Champions Weekend
Day two takes place at the Curragh on Sunday 10th September
Lumiere Rock, Highfield Princess and City Of Troy feature in our selections
Expired
Highfield Princess runs away with the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. (Getty)
Day 2 Tips
Curragh Tips - Irish Champions Weekend Day 2 Tips
Race 1 - Bold Lad Sprint Handicap Tips
Race 2 - Blandford Stakes Tips
Race 3 - Flying Five Stakes Tips
Race 4 - Moyglare Stud Stakes Tips
Race 5 - National Stakes Tips
Race 6 - Irish St Leger Tips
Race 7 - Super Auction Sale Stakes Tips
Race 8 - Northfields Handicap Tips
The action switches from Leopardstown to the Curragh for day two of Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday. Four fantastic Group One races headline Sunday's card, which also features the Group Two Blandford Stakes and a couple of lucrative handicaps.
I won't be having a big bet in Sunday's opener. Large-field sprint handicaps aren't really my cup of tea. That being said, I am keen to take the Irish sprinters on and MR WAGYU boasts some valuable course form.
John Quinn's eight-year-old won the Scurry handicap here over six-and-a-half furlongs last summer and was only beaten half-a-length in this race off a mark of 103. Mr Wagyu has been a little disappointing this season, despite being fancied for some decent races, but he returns to the Curragh running off an eight pound lower mark than last year and he's a multiple winner on quick ground.
Six of the last nine renewals of the Blandford Stakes have been won by three-year-olds and the youngsters should have the older horses covered here. Jackie Oh has continued to progress this season, but she could get a little stretched over ten furlongs on fast ground, especially if LUMIERE ROCK turns this into a test of stamina.
After a solid second behind Warm Heart in the Ribblesdale, Joseph O'Brien's filly attempted to make all in the Irish Oaks, only to get run down by stronger stayers in the closing stages. Lumiere Rock bounced back to form with a narrow defeat to the classy Jannah Rose in the Prix Alec Head three weeks ago. Front-running tactics often pay off at the Curragh, so if Dylan Browne McMonagle's mount handles quick ground, she could be hard to catch.
Ireland is clearly lacking in top-level sprinters. This is best illustrated by the form of Art Power, who has destroyed the Irish on his three trips to the Curragh in the past 18 months and regularly comes up short when running on British or French soil.
I have this between HIGHFIELD PRINCESS and Bradsell again, and I'd give the defending champion a clear edge. John Quinn's filly could easily have beaten Bradsell at Royal Ascot, had the winner not veered across her path. Highfield Princess reversed that form when the two clashed in the Nunthorpe two weeks ago and Highfield Princess takes her racing better than Bradsell, who seems to be at his best when fairly fresh.
Ylang Ylang looks like a dour stayer in the making to me, so I'm more than happy to take the odds-on favourite. Vespertilio produced a nice turn-of-foot to win the Debutante Stakes, so she's respected, as is Karl Burke's raider Fallen Angel, who clocked a quick time when winning the Sweet Solera.
Frankie Dettori will reprise his Albany-winning partnership with PORTA FORTUNA, who'll step up to seven furlongs for the first time. Donnacha O'Brien threw his filly in with the colts in the Phoenix Stakes last time out and, although she was no match for Bucanero Fuerte, I thought Porta Fortuna travelled well and finished off her race nicely.
Caravaggio's progeny have been able to stay beyond sprinting distances and the dam, Too Precious did her winning over middle distances. On breeding, Porta Fortuna should get seven furlongs comfortably and I'm excited to see what she will produce over this new trip.
Ryan Moore riding City Of Troy (dark blue) win The bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. (Getty)
Bucanero Fuerta is a huge player if he can see out this trip and Henry Longfellow has done nothing but impress on his two starts to date. That being said, CITY OF TROY produced the finest juvenile display of the season at Newmarket on his most recent start and 8/13 isn't the worst price in the world.
Aidan O'Brien's colt received a stunning RPR of 117 for that demolition job in the Superlative Stakes, where he beat future Vintage Stakes winner Haatem by an easy six-and-a-half lengths. O'Brien clearly thinks the world of this Justify colt, who he has mentioned as a potential Triple Crown candidate for next season. I can't see City Of Troy being beaten.
British raiders have dominated this contest in recent years, winning six of the last seven renewals and accounting for most of the placed runners during those years. Richard Fahey's Native American recovered from a slow start to win impressively on debut at York back in May, but the favourite hasn't been seen since that victory 106 days ago.
Last year's winning trainer, Eve Johnston Houghton sends two promising colts over to the Curragh, with Danny Tudhope riding MERCIAN WARRIOR. This son of Saxon Warrior is yet to win this term, but he has shaped with promise on both of his starts at Windsor and this slight step up in trip should be a help. I wouldn't be surprised if he took a big step forward on Sunday.
After saddling the first three finishers in Sunday's card-closer 12 months ago, it's no surprise to see Johnny Murtagh's Take Heart leading the way in the betting. The favourite has a nice racing weight of 8-12 to go to war with, and horses carrying less than 9-00 have an excellent record in this contest.
Further down the market we find fellow three-year-old JUST AN HOUR, who was backed into favouritism on his reappearance over ten furlongs at Dundalk, but could only finish third behind future Dee Stakes winner, San Antonio and another of his Ballydoyle stablemates. Joseph O'Brien's charge has been gelded since he last ran in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. If the cruellest cut of all has settled this son of Justify down, then he could be exceptionally well-handicapped off this mark of just 86.
Verdict
Irish Champions Weekend Day 2 Top Tips:
1: City Of Troy National Stakes Tips @8/11 at QuinnBet - 20 Units
2: Highfield Princess Flying Five Stakes Tips @11/8 at Betgoodwin - 15 Units
3: Porta Fortuna Moyglare Stud Stakes Tips @13/2 at bet365 - 5 Units
4: Lumiere Rock Blandford Stakes Tips @6/1 at QuinnBet - 5 Units
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