The Curragh hosted a total of eight Group/Listed races this week and it also saw the joint top speed figure of the week in Art Power (115). Tim Easterby’s grey gelding is still unbeaten on these shores (having previously won two Group 3 races), and added the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes to his CV on Saturday. Another crack at the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot looks on the cards, where he finished third behind Dream Of Dreams in 2021. Paddington (105) secured a four-timer when providing trainer Aidan O’Brien with a 1-2 in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas coming home 2L clear of Cairo. Kevin Ryan’s Hi Royal dictated a slow pace (Race Finish 111.4%) before giving way inside the final furlong. The St James’s Palace Stakes looks next on the agenda, where he has been put in as second favourite behind the English 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean. Andrew Oliver’s colt Betterdaysrcoming (113) caused a bit of a surprise, both on the clock and in the betting (16/1) when taking the 3-y-o handicap by a head. Connections have the Britania Handicap at Royal Ascot in mind. Friday also saw two big performances on the clock at Ireland’s premier track. Verhoyen (114) made all in Race 5, repeating his win in the race from last year, when he recorded a (115). As mentioned before, he can be a frustrating type in that it took him sixteen races to visit the winner’s enclosure again. Johnny Murtagh’s Rahmi (113) broke the hearts of everybody’s favourite Dunum in the Premier Handicap over a mile in the very next race. Acquired from Francis-Henri Graffard’s French stable  just 38 days previously, the 4-y-o gelding turned around an 8L deficit with the runner-up from Limerick the prevoius month on Friday’s better ground.

Luxembourg (115) took the Tattersalls Group 1 Gold Cup on Sunday making all to hold off a late challenge from Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge. Aidan O’Brien’s colt is now a Group 1 winner at two, three and four years of age. Ryan Moore dictated a slow pace (Race Finish 111.96%) before coming home in (34.10) for the final three furlongs. The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Coral Eclipse are the next options for connections and Flat Racing is much the better when these 4-y-o superstars are kept in training. Tahiyra (109) showed her versatility in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas when handling a slow pace (Race Finish 106.03%) and quicker ground to lead a furlong from home and hold off Aidan O’Brien’s Meditate by 1.5L. A final three furlongs of (35.09) doesn’t do her justice, as she was waiting for a gap to appear approaching the two furlong pole. The Coronation Stakes could be next on the agenda where she has been installed a 6/4 favourite for a possible rematch with Mawj (2/1) who got the better of her in the English 1000 Guineas. Paddy Twomey again showed his talents when his 5-y-o mare Just Beautiful (111) took the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes for Fillies and Mares, making all off a steady pace (Race Finish 107.42%) to hold off Joseph O’Brien’s Jumbly by 2.25L. A first attempt on a sound surface, since being transferred from Ivan Furtado’s UK yard, saw the likeable mare land her first Group 2 prize. The Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot over 8f is being considered.

Elite Status (115) recorded the highest speed figure for a 2-y-o of the season when providing trainer Karl Burke with a 1-2 in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown on Thursday, when readily accounting for World Of Darcy by 5L. Quoted as having more scope than his Group 1 winning sire Havana Grey, the unbeaten colt is reported to be heading to the Norfolk Stakes next, where he is now a short price favourite (2/1). Hukum (110) managed to get the better of the Sir Michael Stoute trained Derby winner Desert Crown (2/5 favourite) in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes over 10f on the same card. Favourite backers will have been disappointed with the son of Nathaniel’s performance, but Sir Michael simply felt he was a little bit “ring rusty” since he last ran almost a year ago. Options of the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot or a rematch with the winner (who was waiting for room 2f out) in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes could be next on the cards.

Haydock staged three meetings from Thursday to Saturday with the reappearance of Little Big Bear (113) on the final day, in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, being the highlight. Frankie Dettori never had to use his stick for a comfortable 1.25L win from Richard Hannon’s Shouldvebeenaring. The Commonwealth Cup looks next for Aidan O’Brien’s exciting colt where he is now a 6/4 favourite and the opposition looks inferior so far. Dramatised (113) took the Group 2 Temple Stakes in the very next race when getting a nice lead from Live In The Dream up the stands side rail. There appeared to be something of a golden highway on the day up the stands side on the Straight track, with lower drawn horses appearing to be at a huge disadvantage. Clerk of The Course Kirkland Tellwright has come in for justified criticism of his watering policy leading up to the meeting whereby 53mm of water was applied before Saturday. The advertised going of Good To Firm (Good)(Watered) never changed over the three days. The fastest going allowance I gave was 0 (bang on Standard) for the three races on the Straight Course on Saturday. From what I can see there was very little Good To Firm going at the track based on winning times. I had five of the twenty one races at 9L per mile slower than standard, and the whole of Thursday’s card 4L per mile slower than standard. I’m no expert on the Racing Post’s methods of calculating times, but it may be that they use track records when comparing how fast or slow the winning time is from “standard”, making the ground look slower than it may actually be riding. The problem lies with the BHA and the use of the word “WATERED”. Good To Firm (Watered) can take in Good to Firm, Good, Good to Soft and it has been known to even include times verging on Soft ground in the past. My overall view of the three days is that the ground was just riding on the Slow side of Good, with no Good To Firm to be seen. Covey (113) started the hat-trick of (113’s) on Saturday when taking the Silver Bowl Heritage Handicap by 3.25L, when making all from Royal Cape. Frankie Dettori only had to use his “pro-cush” once on the likeable front running colt to win cosily. Similar tactics may be more difficult to pull off at Royal Ascot.

Quantum Impact (113) recorded a career best when taking a £10,800 Class 3 Handicap at York on Saturday. The 3-y-o colt handled the ground better than his rivals and this could be a race to keep an eye on going forward, with some nice types in behind who probably would prefer a less lively surface. Others of note on a week of big performances on the clock include Run To Freedom (111), who has a patchy profile, taking the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury, my favourite of the week Baileysgutfeeling (111) who made all at Kempton over 7f in a Class 4 handicap, and still looks well treated off a new handicap mark of (87), and the Shadwell Stud duo Al Asifah (110) easily winning on debut by 4.75L at Haydock, and Enfjaar (110) coming 6L clear under a penalty at Chelmsford.

Till next week’s round-up,

Stay Lucky

Graham