Ice Age, red© Photo Healy Racing
A strong field of 17 sprinters is set to go to post for the 100,000 euro Tote Scurry Handicap.
Leading hopes for the home team include Michael O’Callaghan’s Hello Brigette and O’Brien’s Full Moon, while David Barron’s Gunmetal and the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Ice Age are two major contenders from Britain.
Gunmetal is on a hat-trick following triumphs at Thirsk and Newmarket and Ice Age atoned for a disappointing run in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot with a fourth course win at Windsor at the start of this month.
Johnson Houghton told At The Races: “I adore this horse. He’s never run particularly well at Ascot, but he bounced back to win at Windsor, which is a track he loves.
“He’s won at the Curragh before and he’s the sort of horse who runs well on the same tracks every year.
“He’s not ground dependent at all. If he’s in good form with himself, that’s all that matters really.
“He’s in fantastic form.”
Lisa O’Neill has strong claims of landing the Boodles Ladies Derby for the second year in succession aboard Gordon Elliott’s recent Bellewstown scorer Batts Rock.
His main threat appears to be the Ted Walsh-trained Minnie Dahill, the mount of Jody Townend.
The opening Club Godolphin Irish EBF Maiden looks a competitive heat with Giga White, Guaranteed and Mount Tabora all bringing decent form to the table.
