JESSICA HARRINGTON
ROCKAWAY VALLEY
2yo b c (21)
Holy Roman Emperor - Sharapova
5.50 Saturday - Gain Railway Stakes
He was very good the last day. I knew he was good but he just wasn’t sharp enough when second on his debut. He did come on a good bit for that and he was very impressive the last day. He is entitled to go for a race like this. It looks a very good renewal and we will know a good bit more about him after he runs at the weekend. He appears to be in very good form. I’d like to think he has improved again.
FINAL FRONTIER
2yo b c
Dream Ahead - Polly Perkins
3.00 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise EBF Maiden
He looks a nice colt, but this is always a very good maiden. His work at home has been good and we like him. He will come on for the run, but I’d like to think that he’ll run well. I am sure that it will be a very hot race and it will throw up plenty of winners.
HURRICANE RIDGE
6yo b g (133/6471-632)
Hurricane Run - Warrior Wings
7.15 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship EBF Handicap
He has been a great servant and he rarely runs a bad race. He just met one too good the last day at Limerick, but it was a very good run with a big weight on his back. He gets in here with just 8st 5lbs and while it is a better contest, I think he’ll run a big race. He will love a strong gallop and the better the ground, the better for him.
STEPS TO FREEDOM
9yo b g (13769/13542/0)
Statue Of Liberty - Dhakhirah
7.15 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship EBF Handicap
He was off for a while but I was happy with his run at Cork and he’ll be more at home over two miles today. He has come on a good bit for that run and he appears to be in very good form.
PAT SMULLEN
RADANPOUR
3yo b c (111)
Sea The Stars - Rose Quartz
6.30 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
He would want a little drop of rain and hopefully they will put plenty of water on the track as he just wants a little ease in the ground - safe ground would be fine for him. This race represents a big step up in class for him. He is an improving horse and remains unbeaten. It is an open race, but if the English Derby runner-up turns up in the same type of form, he is the one to beat and on the figures my horse has to improve a lot but he is unexposed and we’d be hoping for a big run from him.
BROOCH
4yo b f (111-1)
Empire Maker - Daring Diva (Dansili)
4.30 Sunday Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes
She has done very well. She is very consistent and is stepping up into Group 1 company for the first time at the weekend. She is typical of one of the Dermot’s in that she has been brought along steadily and has been given time to mature and is only showing her true ability now. This will be a big test for her, but we are very happy with her going into the race and she was impressive when she won a Group 2 here the last day. It looks a very good renewal, but she is a lovely, big old-fashioned type of filly and I think a lot of her. Sunday will tell us more about her and she has done very well to date. The step up to a mile and a quarter will suit and ideally she would like a little ease in the ground.
EDDIE LYNAM
BALMONT MAST
7yo b g (5894-250461)
Balmont - Corn Futures
3.25 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Dash Stakes
He won well the last day at Navan. This represents a step up in class for him and I don’t think the ground matters that much too him. I’d be hoping for the best with him.
BYZANTIUM
3yo ch f (31-)
Dutch Art - Spring Green
4.10 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Handicap
She has taken a long time to come to hand this year but we are happy with her. She will be a bit raw and inexperienced and it looks a competitive handicap but it is worth having a go. I think her mark is fair.
MISS ELIZABETH
2yo b f (11)
Intense Focus - Passaggio
3.55 Sunday Grangecon Stud Stakes
She has been very good winning both her starts to date, but this looks a very hot race. She is in good form and she’ll take her chance. We thought that she was just okay, but she has surprised me a bit and she looks a bit better than that.
LADY MEGA
4yo br f (215/132410-58)
Kodiac - Naias
5.00 Sunday Tote Rockingham Handicap
The ground caught her out the last day and I think she will like the likely fast ground. I’d be hoping for a high draw for her. She has a nice weight on her back. She doesn’t like being in the stalls for long and the last day at Tipperary, the horse beside kicked off and then she got upset. I’d be inclined to put a line through her last run more so because of the slow ground.
EIGHTEEN SUMMERS
8yo ch g (610/6612175-9036)
Lion Heart - Azarina
6.00 Sunday Curragh Supports Jack & Jill Foundation Handicap
He’ll go in the last on Sunday and he has been a grand horse and he ran a bit better the last day at Cork so we’re hopeful of a decent run from him.
TOM HOGAN
Gordon Lord Byron
7yo b g (223214-988)
Byron - Boa Estrela
3:35 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Dash Stakes
He seems grand. He’d had a lung infection within a month of the run and he ended up probably needing it. I was happy enough with the run. He’s a likely runner. Last year when he got going he ran five times in nine weeks. He’s better off doing something than being in his stable at home.
JOHN OXX
AWESOME STAR
4yo b c (32-3321)
Sea The Stars - Always Awesome
7.15 Saturday - Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship EBF Handicap
He was second in a good handicap here before he won his maiden the last day at Leopardstown. He went up for finishing second, so he he’ll have it to do. He is a good honest horse that will appreciate the trip. He likes fast ground and he should run prominently.
RIPPLES EFFECT
4yo b g (152)
Sea The Stars - Ripples Maid (Dansili)
6.00 Sunday - Curragh Supports Jack & Jill Foundation Handicap
He has had just the three runs and he ran well the last day behind one of Ger Lyons’ that looked well in. They pulled well clear of the rest at Navan and he likes that fast ground. I would be expecting another good run from him and as he has had only had the three starts to date, so hopefully there is a bit more to come from him.
WILLIE MCCREERY
TYLERY WONDER
5yo ch g (5473531094-)
Choisir - Over The Tylery
5.00 Sunday - Tote Rockingham Handicap
He has his ground and conditions and he loves it up the Curragh. This race has been the plan for him for a while and he seems to be in very good form. He is not that long back in but I am happy with him. He has a lovely weight on his back and a big field will suit him.
OSTATNIA
3yo b f) (5228-3211)
Amadeus Wolf - Ostrusa
5.00 Sunday - Tote Rockingham
Her brother (Osterhase) won this race eleven years ago. She is 5lbs out of the handicap, but she’ll run and her breeder is coming in for the weekend. She is in great form and I expect her to run a big race. She is an improving three year old. She clocked a fast time under a big weight when she won the last day at Cork and while it will be a big ask for her, she deserves to take her chance. Fast ground will be fine for her.
OHH LALA
3yo b f (63137-3146)
Clodovil - Ela Tina
3.20 Sunday - Independent Handicap
I would be a little bit worried about the ground for her but I see that they are watering. I was keen on running her in the fillies’ handicap today but I thought it looked very strong and I think she has a chance here.
NANAMOUR
4yo b f (7240-7)
Azamour - Tequise
6.00 Sunday - Curragh Supports Jack & Jill Foundation Handicap
I would be a bit worried about fast ground for her but she is in super form. She is a big mare so she would ideally prefer a little ease in the ground. She is bouncing and as long as the ground is safe, I’d be optimistic that she can get involved.