Irish Derby Weekend Preview

With the Irish Derby taking place at the Curragh on Sunday along with the Northumberland Plate on Saturday, here are my thoughts on how this weekend may unfold:

Saturday

2.15 Newmarket – Maureen Britain Empress Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
Teej A tops the market and will be a warm favourite given she beat last week’s Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar at Chester, but a strong vote goes the way of AVIATION TIME (NAP) who will love the step back up to six furlongs on Saturday. Third in the Windsor Castle last week and third behind Maw Lam and Perfect Part in Beverley’s valuable conditions race on her penultimate start should put her in good stead and she is a solid selection for the weekend.

2.20 Curragh – Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2)
Aidan O’Brien looks to have a stronghold once again and looks to win this race for the third year in succession. Last year’s winner Matrika was seen days before in the Albany Stakes and if following the same tried and tested route, this could be a good opportunity for HEAVENS GATE to notch another course and distance success to her name. She was only collared late on by her stablemate Fairy Godmother who put in one of, if not, the performance of the Royal meeting and she was not disgraced finishing third. Fiery Lucy can build on her comfortable Maiden success from just over two weeks ago but she will need to if she wants to compete with the main principles.

3.10 Newcastle – Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
A wide-open renewal of the Northumberland Plate is in store as always and current market leader, Alphonse Le Grande will be hoping 11 drop out so he manages to get a run. Two runs off lowly marks will see him sneak in this off a featherweight and he must be considered if things go to plan. Trooper Bisdee carried on his good run of form with a comfortable success last weekend and will sneak into Saturday’s race off a five-pound lower mark than what he will be running off in future. But a chance goes to SPARTAN ARMY who is set to have the “wonder kid” Billy Loughnane aboard for the very first time. Four runs on the all-weather this year have brought three wins to his name including beating Prydwen at Lingfield who looks to have a solid chance in this also. His strong form lines and return to the all-weather suggests Alan King’s horse is primed for Saturday’s feature at Newcastle.

3.30 Curragh – Cairn Community Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)
Bluestocking finally got her head in front and she did so in some fashion when taking Group 2 honours at York last month. Ralph Beckett’s filly was an agonising second when she last paid a visit to the Curragh in last year’s Irish Oaks and that experience should see her go close but EMILY UPJOHN is the one I believe will win. Her lacklustre comeback run at Epsom can be put down to the fact she would come on for the run and if at her best on ground she will love, she has to be fighting out the finish. Stay Alert is one to keep on side given her form beating recent Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner, Running Lion. Like Bluestocking, she also has course form and Hughie Morrison can be confident of another good run.

Sunday

4.05 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)
The Betfred Derby’s second and third, Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, are heading towards a mouthwatering clash in the Curragh’s feature event of the weekend. The market has priced the pair accordingly but the better underfoot conditions will suit the English raider, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY better than his market rival, in my opinion. James Fanshawe’s charge travelled like the winner in Epsom’s feature race but lost nothing in defeat to the superstar we now know as City Of Troy. I expect the form to hold up and the honours of the Irish Derby can head back to Britain. Matsuri will want any rain he can get to be competitive but his eight-length Leicester romp needs consideration coming from the powerful yard of Roger Varian.