Latest news with #RoyalEntry
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Expect Jannah Star to improve and take Curragh victory
Curragh hosts a particularly good midweek programme, and the nap goes to Jannah Star, who can build on a promising first start by taking the Gannon Interiors Fillies' Maiden. Unraced at two, she made her racing debut in late April at Limerick track and was notably strong in the market. However, having led from halfway, she was unable to fend off the late challenges of Bay Colony and Matrice. That outing is sure to have brought her forward quite considerably, and on this quicker ground, she will take a great deal of beating despite this being a decent race. It's A Heartbeat showed promise on debut and is also like to step forward quite a bit, but the biggest danger may come from Tenoya, who finished third behind stablemate Royal Entry on her recent debut, in Cork. She ran a great race despite being stable second string and an even bolder showing is likely. The day's most competitive race is the €50,000 guaranteed, three-year-olds-only Sky Bet Premier Handicap, over five furlongs, and Sarahmae can land the spoils for Denis Hogan and Joey Sheridan. A breakthrough winner in April at Tipperary, she ran two fine races before getting back to winning ways last time out, back at Tipperary. The 7lb rise for that victory doesn't look to have overburdened her, and the progressive filly can get the better of some smart rivals. Unexpected Issues is far from the finished article but has the ability to play a leading role, despite having to give weight to all of her rivals, and the same comment applies to bottom weight Tropical Retreat, who will surely prove far better than her current mark of 72 when she learns to do things right. She is a serious player today, provided she doesn't leave her race at the stalls, as she did last time out, in Cork. At bigger prices, Saratoga Special has each-way claims. Aidan O'Brien has made a great start to the season with his two-year-olds, and Amadeus Mozart, who is the stable selected from three runners, is another likely type in the opener, a seven-furlong maiden. Flushing Meadows, who contests the second race, a six-furlong maiden, may well be a future star, but Evening Blues, who was only run down close home by Albert Einstein on his second start, sets quite a standard and it will take something considerably above average to lower his colours. Tommy Lyons' Curragh picks: 4:45 Amadeus Mozart 5:15 Evening Blues 5:50 Marlborough Place 6:20 Sarahmae (nb) 6:55 Jannah Star (nap) 7:30 Mr Percy 8:00 Annie Lavinia 8:30 Ukiyo Next best 4:45 Green Soul 5:15 Flushing Meadows 5:50 Stella Alpina 6:20 Tropical Treat 6:55 Tenoya 7:30 Harbour Wind 8:00 Steel Magnolia 8:30 Secret Magician
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Donnacha O'Brien aiming to break Irish classic duck as a trainer with 1000 Guineas hope Atsila
Donnacha O'Brien is set to be double-handed in his attempts to win a first Irish classic as a trainer at the Curragh this weekend. The 26-year-old former champion jockey saddled a classic winner in his first season with a training license after Fancy Blue landed the 2020 French Oaks at Chantilly. During a short but stellar riding career that twice saw him crowned champion jockey, Aidan O'Brien's youngest son memorably landed the 2018 Irish Derby for his brother Joseph on Latrobe. He was also twice successful in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas aboard Saxon Warrior (2018) and Magna Grecia (2019). He also won the Epsom Oaks (2018) on Forever Together. READ MORE Now he's on the classic trail again and plans to have the Athasi Stakes winner Atsila supplemented into the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at Tuesday's entry stage. The inexperienced filly only made her debut last month when winning at Bellewstown but subsequently made rapid progress to score at Group Three level at HQ last time out. 'The plan is to supplement her on Tuesday for the 1,000 Guineas. Her form looks strong. To be fair to Barry (Fowler, owner) he is game for anything. It was my fault that I didn't have her in the race in the first place but he's more than happy to supplement and take a chance. I think she's entitled to be in the race,' O'Brien said. He also plans to be represented in Saturday's 2000 Guines through Comanche Brave. He ran Henri Matisse close in a Leopardstown Trial, form that looks outstanding now considering his conqueror went on to French Guineas glory. 'He is working very well and I think he'll probably outrun his odds. He's not a big horse but he's always worked like a very good horse. We're going to give him a chance in the Guineas. 'We could end up going back to seven for the Jersey at Ascot. He's working very well so I'm happy to let him take his chance,' O'Brien commented. The Co Tipperary trainer also plans to bring his star older filly Porta Fortuna back into action at the Curragh's Guineas festival in Sunday's Lanwades Stud Stakes although warned she will strip fitter for the outing. 'She's going to go to the Lanwades. She's in good form. She put on plenty of weight. Everything has gone smooth with her, but she's probably taken a bit longer to get fit this year. 'She's probably going to take the run and then go to Ascot but she's in great form so I'm looking forward to getting her back on track,' he said. In other news, Tuesday's domestic action is in Cork where Paddy Twomey's Royal Entry takes on six three-year-olds in a mile and a half maiden. Runner up at odds on to Queen Of Thunder at Killarney recently, Royal Entry's main threat looks to be Tswalu. She's officially rated 2lbs superior, and didn't have a straightforward passage through her last start at Gowran behind Darzina. Twomey should hold a major chance in the opening two-year-old maiden through Rogue Legend. This one found Oh Cecilia too good on his debut at the track but was well on top of the rest.
