'It's a glittering card' - Lucky 15 for Sunday at the Curragh

By Enda McElhinney

Day two of the Irish Champions Festival takes place at the Curragh on Sunday afternoon and it's a glittering card with four Group 1 events to savour.

They race from 1.30 through until 5.35 at the Curragh and we have put together a Lucky15 for the action.

Lucky 15 for Sunday at the Curragh

2.05 Curragh - Joyful Tidings

Joyful Tidings was sent off as favourite on debut at Tipperary in April over 5f and had no problems justifying the market confidence on rain-softened ground as he scored by nearly two lengths in authoritative fashion.

The runner-up won his next two starts, including a Listed event at Tipperary, and this race is likely to have been identified from some way out.

Underfoot conditions appear set to be optimal and improvement looks assured.

3.50 Curragh - Gstaad

Winner over the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second start, a race that has worked out well, Gstaad went to France for the Group Prix Morny last month and found only the unbeaten filly Venetian Sun too good.

There was a diminishing short-head between them at the line, with Karl Burke's charge set to be a major player in the Moyglare Stud Stakes earlier on this card, and this son of Starspangledbanner looked as though he'd have got up in another stride or two at Deauville.

The best may well yet still be to come as this promising Ballydoyle colt steps up in trip.

4.25 Curragh - Al Riffa

A cracking Irish St Leger in store. Unbeaten British raider Amiloc is in the mix for Ralph Beckett and Illinois' close second in the Goodwood Cup last month could read a whole lot better if stablemate Scandinavia lands Classic success at Doncaster on Saturday.

However, Al Riffa appears as though he's going to fulfil the potential his connections have always seen in him now that he is tackling staying trips.

He powered home over C&D in the Group 2 Curragh Cup in July and can provide championship-chasing Dylan Browne McMonagle with a welcome winner at a track he appears to be riding better than anyone else in recent weeks.

5.00 Curragh - Red Letter

Colin Keane is the man chasing Browne McMonagle, the six-time champion under pressure to hold onto his jockeys' title.

He, too, may get a nudge in the right direction from Red Letter for his old boss Ger Lyons in the silks of his current paymasters Juddmonte.

The Frankel filly was full of promise last season, ran well in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and appeared to be unlucky at Navan in a Listed race in June.

She took advantage of a good opening - on soft ground - at Killarney over a mile in July and was even better still when scoring here over nine furlongs last month, getting stronger the further she went.

She's progressing now and the extra yardage only appears likely to help her cause.

You can get €70 in free bets with BOYLE Sports plus money back to if you finish 2nd to the SP favourite.