1.40 Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden 7f

Michael O’Callaghan sent out a nice juvenile winner in Kairyu at Naas on Wednesday and he could well do so again with School Of Law in this opening maiden. The son of Inns Of Court, bought out of the Craven Breeze-Up, made a pleasing debut when picking up well late on to chase home Islandsinthestream over this course and distance. That maiden was run in a decent time so minimal improvement should see him go close.

Needless to say, it looks like a typically hot Curragh maiden. City Of Troy is an obvious contender making his track debut. A Justify colt out of Together Forever, all four of his siblings won or finished second on their debuts. Jessica Harrington’s Instant Appeal ran second on his debut, a run that defied market expectations, so he is one to note, while Slurricane was very green when finishing fifth to The Liffey over six furlongs on this track earlier in the month and could shape better now.

SELECTION: SCHOOL OF LAW

Next best: City Of Troy

2.15 Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2) 6f

The first juvenile Group 2 of the Irish season can go to Aidan O’Brien who runs Matrika back quickly after her run to be second in the Albany. That was just eight days ago but she wouldn’t be running if she wasn’t 100% and if that is the case, she clearly has the best form in this race, in so far is she beat everything in the Albany bar Porta Fortuna, who raced away from her. Her two main rivals in the betting, Gunzburg and Grand Job, both finished behind her when all three made their debut over this course and distance, but Matrika has clearly stepped up significantly since.

Gunzburg has won since that race, but wasn’t a notably impressive when scoring at Down Royal last week, and it maybe Grand Job, who could eke out some advantage of having not run since that maiden 34 days ago, that gives her old rival most to do. Do It With Style, another course-and-distance winner, also comes into the reckoning, but she was held in the Albany.

SELECTION: MATRIKA

Next best: Grand Job

2.50 Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap 6f

This competitive handicap can go to Apache Outlaw. Joseph O’Brien’s colt was a smart juvenile, most notably finishing a close third to Shartash over this course and distance on this very weekend 12 months ago, with dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard just ahead of him and recent Jersey Stakes winner Age Of Kings in behind him. He failed to make an impact at Group 1 and Group 2 level on his next two starts, and again on his seasonal debut when ninth to The Antarctic in the Lacken, but went close to winning when dropped down in trip and into a handicap last time, finishing fourth to Run Ran Run.

He may well have finished closer had he not been carried left late on, just as he got into top gear. The return to this trip should suit him and Conor Stone Walsh, who rode him on that previous occasion is back on again taking off a valuable 7lbs.

Greek Flower is also interesting. She was third to Run Forest Run in a 24-runner handicap over this course and distance in May and is easily excused her run to finish 10th to Tawaazon next time out given she was racing from 9lbs out of the handicap. She was much better next time when going down by just a neck to Curraheen Princess and though she is again out of the handicap here, it’s only by 1lb, and she looks to be an improving filly in any case, this just her eighth ever start.

There a couple of experienced sprint handicappers in here like Gordon Bennett, Ice Cold In Alex, Iva Batt and Midnight Fire who could easily pop up again - it’s that kind of race.

SELECTION: APACHE OUTLAW

Next best: Greek Flower

4.00 Paddy Power International Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

An intriguing contest that sees the return of Al Riffa, last season’s National Stakes winner. Joseph O’Brien’s colt has the class to get by on his seasonal debut but is unlikely to be revved up to the max with plenty of bigger targets on the horizon and that’s probably enough to put off taking a shortish price. Alfred Munnings might be a better option for a small play. He is another making his seasonal debut but he won well in his overall debut last season so it may not be an issue. He was then sent off a short price for the Chesham but he chipped his splint bone while finishing sixth in that race and missed the rest of his juvenile campaign. Clearly, he is well thought of in Ballydoyle and may be able to put it up to the favourite in receipt of 5lbs.

The older horses shouldn’t be discounted, though Layfayette, a Mooresbridge winner over this course and distance, probably needs some rain to get into the ground. Mashhoor may fair better. He has won three of his last five, including twice at this course and is two from two this season.

SELECTION: ALFRED MUNNINGS

Next best: Al Riffa

4.35 Kildare Village Ladies Derby Handicap

Dancing Tango could be hard to beat for Maxine O’Sullivan and Joseph O’Brien. The daughter of Camelot came to Owning Hill from Roger and Harry Charlton’s yard and has since won twice, most notably last time out at Fairyhouse when she was an authoritative winner over Gradulations, seeing the 10-furlong trip out strongly. If she gets a decent pace to run off here, she is going to be a big threat.

Pachmena was second in this race last season and although the trip has been shortened by two furlongs, she looks sure to run well again for the in-form Gavin Cromwell team. The daughter of Sir Percy warmed up for this with a good run at Ballinrobe on Monday, catching the eye with the late ground she made up in what was a slowly run contest won by the front-running Vera Verto. She looks well handicapped off a mark of 72 and has the assistance of the experienced Julie Burke.

One more to note is another recent stable switcher in Emmet Mullins’s unexposed Lord Vader, another who caught the eye last time. He was doing all of his best work in the final two furlongs of a one-mile handicap and looks well worth a try at this 10-furlong trip.

SELECTION: DANCING TANGO

Next best: Pachmena

5.10 Ornella Ltd Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden 1m

Space Age finished sixth in the same Naas maiden as Sprewell and stablemate White Birch last November, and although he has a bit to go to get to their level now, he began his season really well when second to Subzero here over seven furlongs. John Murphy’s gelding stayed on really strongly to present a viable threat to the favourite there, going down by just a neck, and with this step up in trip and race fitness in the bank, there is a good reason to believe he can improve again.

Expelliarmus went down by just a neck when third to Endless Sunshine in a driving finish at Navan. That was just her second ever start and her seasonal debut, so she has bundles of scope to improve now, especially given she missed the break and had to make up significant ground to get herself back into the race.

SELECTION: SPACE AGE

Next best: Expelliarmus

5.40 DMG Media Irish EBF Handicap 2m

Extensio took the Ladies Derby on this weekend last year and he could well take another Derby Festival win for Pat O’Donnell. The six-year-old gelding is competing from 1lb out of the handicap so is altogether 7lbs higher than that success, but more significantly he is unexposed over this longer trip having run creditably behind Sea Oscar over a mile and seven furlongs at Leopardstown. Joseph O’Brien’s winner was a well-bred and unexposed type who got free rein in front, whereas Extensio came from further back. He should be cherry ripe now on this his third run of the season.

Naturally enough the Willie Mullins-trained pair Foveros and Immelmann are interesting, particularly the latter mentioned who arrived from Simon and Ed Crisford’s yard, and only has five runs to his name. Almuhit should go well again after a very good effort when just touched off by Nusret on a decent one-mile-six-furlong handicap at this course earlier in the month.

SELECTION: EXTENSIO

Next best: Immelmann