IRISH racing does not have a traditional autumn double like England, but the Kerry National/Irish Cesarewitch pair up well in this regard and a few brave punters likely attempt to match up the winners, and they would deserve the rewards too, nigh on 50 runners to pick through in the two races.

There are lessons from history to finding the Kerry National winner, with front-runners favoured in the race and at Listowel generally and this year was no different.

The pace in the 2026 running was a building one, the second circuit just over eight seconds faster than the first, and those ridden forward were at a big advantage, the tight track also playing its part.

The first, third and fourth were all in the front six jumping the first, and they had moved even closer to the pace by the time they headed out on the final circuit with the runner-up also latching on at this point.

The winner, Ballygunner Castle, had shaped well against an inside bias at Punchestown and got the benefit of a different track bias here, jumping better than he often does near the lead and staying on strongly.

Best backed

Downmexicoway was the best-backed horse in the race and finished third, but his jumping has repeatedly caught him out in better races, something that is unusual for horses from this yard.

He made no major errors here but minor mistakes three out and at the last may have cost him second.

Doctor Ken produced an excellent stable debut for race and meeting specialist Eric McNamara without fully convincing that he got the trip and two and a half miles at a more galloping track may be his thing, while the eye-catcher was Spread Boss Ted who fell when still with a chance three out.

He got hampered by a faller at the start and had a wide trip throughout, racing further back than ideal.

He looked sure to do best of those held up when falling and is one to bear in mind for similar races.

IT was a big money weekend at the Curragh, and Paddy Twomey came away with most of the dough in the Goffs Million, adding to an already impressive record in races like this. A one-two here followed a win in the same race with One Look in 2023, also winning a couple of valuable events at Naas that year with King Cuan.

The earlier races on the card suggested the near side rail was the place to be, and most riders want to be there which led to traffic in behind. The eventual third, Ballinea Star, got into the ideal position making the running and was suited by a step up in trip while both the winner and runner-up had to come from further back.

Trean and Hi Corbett Court had plenty ahead of them entering the final two furlongs, Trean getting the gap and having the gears to go through it and winning with a bit in hand to back up a good run in the National Stakes where he looked to hit the front too soon. His stablemate Hi Corbett Court had the worse trip and did well to finish as close as he did, and while his mark of 86 might appear to hold the form down, it seems likely that he improved here, six of the first eight home with ratings of 93 or higher.

Hard luck story

The hard luck story in the race was the sixth King Of Cloughan who had a horrible run, taking a nasty bump three furlongs out and meeting more trouble thereafter, running on late and hinting that he was back to something like the form of his Royal Ascot win while first-time starter Critical Reason showed a bit racing away from the main contenders towards the middle of the track, travelling as well as any.

A near side bias was also in evidence in the Joe McGrath Handicap. Twenty ran here and first six home were drawn in stalls 20, 19, 11, 16, 17 and 18. Those drawn low can be forgiven their efforts here and one that caught the eye was Stag Night despite only beating two home. Returning from a break, he travelled typically powerfully out on the far wing, but was badly positioned and then met trouble, eased off thereafter. He looks in good order judged on this and can win another handicap before the end of the season.

Controlled things

The classiest race on the card, the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, was uneventful. As can be the case on the round mile, the order was maintained for most of the race as Wayne Lordan controlled things from the front on the winner Noble Exhibit. The pace was notably slow in the early and middle parts of the race, furlongs two to five ranging from 12.64 to 13.70 seconds, before a late dash where the final three splits were 11.91, 10.91 and 11.76.

Noble Exhibit had more to give, and he will need to find it up in grade. While he was put in favourite for the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster later this month, he may not want the ground too slow. He looks a good mover and has already been a non-runner due to unsuitable ground on soft.

Exciting times for Curracloe

THE going at the Curragh on Sunday turned testing after early morning rain with 18 non-runners due to unsuitable ground, the Irish Cesarewitch turning into a stern test which suited the first and second, Chally Chute and Sirius, both proven in similar races beforehand.

Chally Chute put in a big performance off 109 and should be hard to beat if coming back for the Loughbrown Stakes that he won last year. Sirius made up a lot of ground late and could perhaps have been asked for her effort sooner while Blake was another to do well from off the pace, though otherwise the race was uneventful beyond some early traffic issues where The Reverend came off worst.

Exciting

The most exciting prospect on the card was Curracloe who won the Group 3 Darley Fillies Stakes in good style. She marked herself down as one to watch when winning on debut at Gowran, not just because of the manner of victory (won by over three lengths with the form working out) but also on her profile.

Her trainer Johnny Murtagh, does not focus on two-year-olds, typically using the first season as a building block, and she was just his third two-year-old winner of 2026 at the time of the Gowran win.

According to Horse Race Base, Murtagh is just 7/391 with juvenile debutants lifetime, the last of those wins coming back in 2022.

The form of this race made sense with the first three in the market coming clear and Curracloe was better than it too, coming from a bit further back than the second Alpine Wedding who had the run of things near the lead, travelling best of all and looking like she had more to give.

Another juvenile to note from the card is Overhead Drive who gave the odds-on favourite Raging Bull a fright in the opening despite plenty going wrong. After attracting a little support, the John Murphy runner was slowly away and raced keenly and then made his challenge on the wing.

Having travelled better than the winner who had experience and the rail, he headed that one inside the final furlong only to show greenness and be worn down close home but another run in a maiden might be a positive for his long-term development.

The Murphy yard has had a quiet year, only two runners between May 16th and August 20th, but this colt will give them something to look forward to.