19-07-2025
Minnie Hauk has little to do to complete double
The turnout for the Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, the feature of the weekend's action in the Curragh, is deeply disappointing, and leaves Epsom Oaks winner Minnie Hauk with little to do to complete the double.
Aidan O'Brien's filly was promising last season and has improved with both outings this season, culminating in that narrow success from stablemate Whirl in the British Classic.
The form received a nice boost when the runner-up won the Pretty Polly at the Curragh, and if this filly runs to the same form as at Epsom, she will follow up.
Wemightakedlongway was five and a quarter-lengths behind the selection in the Oaks and will do well to narrow that gap.
That said, she rates the only plausible challenger and her trainer, Joseph O'Brien, has his team in top form.
The nap goes to Extravagant, who can get off the mark in the Lavazza Sprint Nursery.
Aidan O'Brien's twice-raced colt was quite green on debut but ran a good race to finish second to Green Soul, and while he was beaten favourite on his second outing, it appeared as though the step up to seven furlongs caught him out.
Back to six for his first handicap, he can make a winning start off his mark of 83.
Old rival Bobby McGee, who has twice finished just behind him, can follow him home. He showed improved form last time and that looks good enough to ensure he goes close here.
Al Riffa can record his first win of the season by taking the Group 2 Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup.
Joseph O'Brien's five-year-old has done plenty of travelling and this will be his first run in Ireland since finishing second in the International Stakes at this track in 2023.
Last time out, at the Royal meeting in Ascot, he posted a huge effort to finish runner-up to Rebel Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and, at this stage of his career, it looks as though he will appreciate the step up to today's one-mile-six trip.
He is conceding weight to all of his rivals but has a class edge and can make it count.
On Sunday's card, the Mark Prescott-trained Tasmania can build on a promising return from a long lay-off by taking the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes.
The five-year-old has clearly had plenty of issues, but she made her comeback, after almost a year off, in a Group 3 on Newcastle's all-weather track and caught the eye with her runner-up finish.
Bound to be better for the run, and sure to appreciate the bit of ease in the ground, she can make the trip across the Irish Sea a profitable one.
Tommy Lyons' picks:
CURRAGH (Saturday)
1:30 Seoul Force
2:00 Big Gossey
2:35 Puerto Rico
3:05 Powerful Nation
3:40 Minnie Hauk
4:15 Al Riffa (nb)
4:50 Extravagant (nap)
5:25 Shelbiana
Next best
1:30 Action
2:00 Heavenly Power
2:35 Power Blue
3:05 Mgheera
3:40 Wemightakedlongway
4:15 Shackelton
4:50 Bobby McGee
5:25 Proxima Centauri
CURRAGH (Sunday)
1:20 Saint Agatha
1:55 Empress Artemis
2:30 Tasmania (nap)
3:05 Lady In Paris
3:40 Room Service
4:15 Desert Power
4:50 Edelak (nb)
5:25 Sunlight Dance
Next best
1:20 You'll Think Of Me
1:55 Spicy Margarita
2:30 One Look
3:05 Valorous Power
3:40 Diego Velazquez
4:15 Bille Be Quick
4:50 Light As Air
5:25 Treasure Rose
