Heavy Rain Changes Things At The Curragh

Since completing my preview last night the rain has arrived, and it has been non stop since the early hours. This obviously changes things for some of my selections, and below is a quick update and some new selections that will be better suited by the prevailing conditions.

2.10 Handicap (7F)

Tom Dooley was the original selection here, but unfortunately the rain has diminished his chance. He is best when the ground is good, and with that scenario looking unlikely, an alternative selection is the Willie McCreery trained filly The Fairy. 

She ran well enough on heavy ground in Listowel back in May, beaten five lengths off a 4lb higher mark than today's. There are plenty of soft ground winners on the dam side of her pedigree, and her sire Invincible Spirit's progeny often handle cut too. The blinkers go on for the first time, Gary Halpin has been booked and off a feather weight on the likely soft ground The Fairy could run well at odds of 12/1. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: THE FAIRY (12/1) E/W

2.40 Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes (10f)

The ground shouldn't be an issue for the original selection Found, although her best form has come on good or better. Her full brother won on heavy.  Answered may get closer on this ground, but it is still difficult to see him beating the O'Brien filly. Ol Man River has yet to encounter soft ground, and the outsider, Pat Flynn's Highly Toxic has gained his only win on soft. Found remains the selection. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: FOUND (8/11)

3.10 Handicap (6f)

Master Speaker is versatile regarding ground and remains the selection. 


3.40 Group 2 Futurity Stakes (7f)

No change in the selection here. Now or Never should handle cut. 


4.10 Group 3 Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes (14f)

Order Of St.George won easily on his only soft ground start and remains the selection. 

4.40 Handicap (6f)

The ground is an unknown for the selection Cutting Corners, but one horse it may well suit is Daisy Bell, whose only win has come on the all weather at Dundalk and who will be experiencing soft ground for the first time. Her sister Chiclet has won on yielding ground, and her Captain Rio dam loved to get her toe in. At 12/1 it could be worth chancing that soft ground will bring about an upturn in Daisy Bell's form. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: DAISY BELL 12/1

5.10 Handicap (16f)

The rain may well scupper Wrap Star's chance, but Theophilus will love the ground if it turns properly soft. His form figures on heavy are 112, and among those wins was a bumper victory over today's trip at Leopardstown. Is 4lb lower today than for a 2 length defeat on his last try on heavy ground, and back on a similar surface today he should run well. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: THEOPHILUS (14/1)