2.35pm Curragh - Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes
Ultimately Rogue Millenium might be a little too good for the rest of these, and if her price tag is anything to go by, she should be landing this with aplomb. She was sold for 1.65 million guineas out of Tom Clover's yard last December, and given the fact she is a Royal Ascot winner as well, she could be quite hard to beat.
However, I like the look of the UK raider here in the shape of Orchid Bloom for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. Tom is a jockey who very much likes to globetrot, and wherever he ends up riding he tends to leave with a winner. The fact he heads on over to the Curragh for just this ride speaks volumes to me, and although we get that quite often with jockeys, when it comes to Tom Marquand heading over for just the sole ride it must mean something.
His runner was a real improver last season, landing a fillies handicap at Newbury off the mark of 85, she then went on to come 3rd in two Listed contests over the mile trip and gain a new rating of 104 in the process. Granted she was well beaten at Listed level last time, but I think she is a sure-fire thing to come on for the run here, and I believe Curragh and the conditions there on Sunday will more than be in this horse's favour.
She could still have plenty of improvement in her with each passing run at black type level, so I am intrigued to see how she gets on at Group 2 level over the weekend.
- Selection - Orchid Bloom (9/2)
3.10pm Curragh - Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup
This contest should revolve around Auguste Rodin, and whether we get to see the 124-rated son of Deep Impact actually turn up on a going day after a pretty disappointing effort in Meydan. One major thing to note with this lad is when he puts in a goose egg of a performance previously, he tends to completely turn it around the next time and put his best foot forward.
We had the usual talk from Aidan O'Brien at the start of last season when going for the 2000 Guineas, but unfortunately that promise did not materialise, and he did disappoint during that race (just like a certain City Of Troy this season). On the other hand, he put in probably his career-best performance next time out in the Derby at Epsom, where he wore down King of Steel, who then went on to become a real Group 1 performer that season.
He backed the Derby performance up with a win in the Irish Derby, but it was the turn of the Jekyll and Hyde persona for Auguste Rodin as he put in by far his most disappointing performance to date when virtually tailed off in the King George as the 9/4 market leader.
But in usual fashion he bounced back to form next time out when winning the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, beating a very good field before going on to then land the Breeders Cup Turf at Santa Anita in probably his best career run to date, after a fabulous ride from Ryan Moore.
I think that day we realised he might be one of these horses who just does enough to win, which will be very good in the long run for him in terms of longevity, which will ultimately mean he can win more races, boosting his stallion prospects.
Obviously, being a 4yo colt who is coming off the back of a disappointing run last time could cause a little concern, but judging by previous runs, this is the best time to catch him after that disappointing run last time out, as he has shown previously he can very much bounce back in style. He is rated 124, comprehensively higher than the rest of the field, so should that Auguste Rodin turn up on Sunday, they won't see which way he goes. However, we need the right Auguste Rodin to really turn up, as I feel like this flat racing season needs a superstar to really kick it into gear now.
- Selection - Auguste Rodin (8/11)
3.45pm Curragh - Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas
I think this could be a pretty decent renewal of the Irish 1000 Guineas, a contest that is pretty wide open when looking at it, and I am torn between heart and head for this.
The heart says stick with Fallen Angel who showed last season when winning at this venue that she could easily bounce back from a disappointing effort in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, while the head says Vespertilio, who was a very good half-length 2nd in the French 1000 Guineas.
Ultimately, I just can not desert the filly of Karl Burke's, who was convinced she would be a very good 3yo this season and was showing plenty at home to suggest she has more than trained on, so I am not deserting her as yet on just 1 run, which happened to be the 1000 Guineas.
Karl has trained plenty of top-class horses over the years and he was very bullish on his filly’s chances heading into Newmarket, so the fact that she did slightly disappoint in coming 8th, she was just beaten by under 5 lengths in the end and was taken across the track slightly. She still looked a little raw last time, when hanging badly herself so she is sure to come on for the run here on Sunday.
Back at a venue where she put in by far her career-best performance when landing the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes in brilliant fashion, I am convinced the mile trip will be her bag, and she will land a Group 1 as a 3yo. I can very much see her coming on for the run last time, and running well in this on Sunday.
If I were to go against her this weekend and she won, I would be disappointed, therefore I shall side with her and the Willie McCreery filly Vespertilio.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder has some pretty smart form on offer, winning the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh as a 2yo, before going on to do battle with Fallen Angel, only just falling short to get beaten by her on the day.
She lined up in the French 1000 Guineas last time on her first start as a 3yo, and although the conditions were probably against her that day, she still ran incredibly well to finish 3rd, only beaten by half a length, keeping on well in the closing stages.
She showed last time that she has trained on nicely, so she could easily take another step forward and run well in this over the weekend. Two selections from me, both of them could confirm the Moyglare Stakes form from last season.
- Selections - Fallen Angel (11/2) & Vespertilio (6/1 EW)
All prices are from Planet Sport Bet and are subject to change
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell