Curragh Tips: Three horses to follow on a cracking Saturday card

There is something for everyone on a cracking eight-race card at the Curragh on Saturday with the Goffs Million at 3.45 taking centre stage.

Along with that seven-furlong contest for juveniles, there is another crack two-year-old event in the shape of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, while two interesting handicaps add to the day along with some informative maidens.

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Saturday's tips

15:45 The Curragh - Composing

Thirty-three juveniles are due to go to post for the highly prestigious Goffs Million, but the form book and the betting point to just one runner in the shape of Composing and she looks very hard to beat.

Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Wootton Bassett met with defeat on her latest outing when a short-priced favourite for the Moyglare Stud Stakes here, but there were mitigating circumstances as she was asked to lead into a stiff headwind and had nothing left to give late on when fading into fourth.

Prior to that she had proved most progressive and really impressed when completing a hat-trick in the Debutante Stakes here.

Indeed, on reflection after her Moyglare reverse, O'Brien conceded that "it wasn't fair to ask her to make the running into that headwind, so I can't be disappointed with her".

Expect to see a different filly line up on Saturday and Composing is strongly fancied to quickly resume winning ways, and in some style too in all probability.

Joseph O'Brien's Prix Robert Papin scorer Green Sense looks the clear pick of the rest on form and appeals as a solid second choice with Phenomenal Filly and Take Charge Star lively outsiders.

14:35 The Curragh - Hawk Mountain

Just five line up for the Beresford Stakes but it still promises to be a highly informative Group 2 event for two-year-olds over a mile.

Aidan O'Brien hasn't trained the winner for the past three years, but prior to that he had farmed the contest, winning with the likes of Luxembourg, Saxon Warrior and Japan, and normal service looks set to be resumed with Hawk Mountain a most interesting prospect.

This son of Wootton Bassett out of the high-class mare Hydrangea was in need of the experience when fifth on his debut over seven furlongs here in August, but proved all the rage in the betting for his second run in a mile maiden back here and readily made all, despite still showing signs of greenness in the final quarter mile.

A big, rangy type who is open to considerable progress, it is significant that O'Brien has chosen to target this race with this twice-raced colt and the hint should be taken.

O'Brien also saddles Port Of Spain, who has better days ahead of him judged on his cosy success at Punchestown, but Hawk Mountain's biggest challenger on this occasion could prove to be Ger Lyons’ Geryon, who came in an excellent second to O'Brien's Constitution River in the Futurity here last month.

14:00 The Curragh - Sir Les Patterson

Earlier in the afternoon, 14 line up for a five-furlong handicap at 2pm and the one to be interested in here is Sir Les Patterson.

Stephen Thorne 's new recruit shaped very well after a three-month lay-off when third of 23 on his debut for the yard over six furlongs here earlier in the month, travelling sweetly for a long way.

That run should have put him spot on for this Premier Handicap and he can race off the same mark here.

A three-time scorer for Harry Eustace in a relatively light campaign when trained in England previously, Sir Les Patterson looks to have more to offer and the shrewd Thorne seems sure to exploit it and start to recoup the 155,000 guineas paid for the low-mileage four-year-old at the July sales.

Course scorer Stag Night could prove the one to chase him home with Nezeeh Red Evolution and Keke all in the mix for minor honours.