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Preview curragh 2nd Jul

Sat 1st Jul 2017, 11:40

Aidan O'Brien relies on Rain Goddess and Pocketfullofdreams to give him a hat-trick in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Ballydoyle handler won the Group One last year with the brilliant Minding, following on from Diamondsandrubies' success 12 months earlier, but this season's representatives have less obvious claims, with Rain Goddess running second in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot and Pocketfullofdreams breaking her duck at Naas only on Wednesday.

Before O'Brien's recent dominance, the prize went to Britain between 2012 and 2014, and the raiding party this year features Journey, Smart Call and Nezwaah.

The one to beat, though, is probably the Dermot Weld-trained Zhukova, who saw off the boys when sent to America for the Man o'War last time.

The Grey Gatsby has his first run for Weld in the Finlay Volvo International Stakes.

The six-year-old won the French Derby and claimed the scalp of Australia in the 2014 Irish Champion Stakes when with Kevin Ryan but has been off since October.

His new stable companion Forgotten Rules bids to recapture some sparkle in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup.

The seven-year-old is a year younger than his chief rival Wicklow Brave, who sprung a surprise in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle before finishing an honourable fourth in the Belmont Gold Cup in New York.

Some bubbles will be burst in the Grangecon Stud Stakes, with Fille Du Septembre, Sometimesadiamond and Too Familiar bringing unbeaten records to the table.

Clemmie takes them on after performing a little below expectations in the Albany Stakes.

As always, the valuable Tote Rockingham Handicap will be fiercely competitive and a few for the shortlist are Geological Celebration, Patuano and last year's winner Sors.

The opening Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (1.45) often throws up a good one and Marble Hill runner-up Would Be King sets the standard, while Weld's Zabalan bids to continue on his upward curve in the Troytown Grey Abbey Equine Hospital Handicap.