Get Ready for the Curragh Cup: Meet the Nine Runners It's a quality card at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon with the Irish Oaks centre stage at the Kildare venue. There is lots of supporting Group-race action, including the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup - a Group 2 event over a mile-and-three-quarters. A field of nine runners were declared, including three each for Aidan and Joseph O'Brien, and we're taking a look at the contenders to land this €72,000 top prize. BetVictor Betting Offer If you already have a BetVictor account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Al Riffa Wootton Bassett colt has been a super servant to Joseph O'Brien having been a Group 1-winning 2YO at this track in 2022. He stayed on strongly to finish second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month on just his second crack at 1m4f and now steps up in trip again. Harbour Wind Dermot Weld's Nathaniel gelding is still relatively lightly-raced, with 11 career starts. He hasn't run badly in a couple of big handicaps here over 1m4f/1m6f this season and should give his running reverting to pattern-race company. Leinster The winner of a 1m4f handicap at this course in March, Joseph O'Brien's son of Camelot has since run big races in the Chester Cup and the Ascot Stakes. A bit more to find on paper now moving into this grade for the first time, but very low miles on the clock. London City Justify colt represents Ballydoyle and Coolmore. He won a couple of low-key affairs at Dundalk and York in the spring last year, but was well held over 2m at this venue last month on his return from a year off. More will be demanded in this grade. Queenstown This Galileo gelding won a heavy-ground maiden here over 1m4f in November 2023 but that remains his only win in nine starts. If he could recapture the level of form shown behind stablemate Kyprios last season he could be interesting, but he disappointed in a Limerick Listed contest on his comeback. Uxmal Only eight starts for this Galileo gelding and trainer Joseph O'Brien would have been thrilled with his wins at Killarney (1m6f, soft) and Royal Ascot (2m5½f, good to firm) last season. He drops right back in trip and hasn't spotted in nearly 13 months, so the market could be the strongest guide. Comic Book One of two fillies in the race, this daughter of Frankel represents Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley. She only has a Bellewstown maiden to show for her nine starts and she only beat one home in a Fairyhouse Group 3 at this trip 10 days ago. Drawn To Dream A high-class maiden for trainer Ross O'Sullivan after relocating from Jamie Osborne's stable having started out in Germany. She was a 50/1 runner-up in that Fairyhouse Group 3 recently behind Goodie Two Shoes, beating only a half-length, and a replication of that form would grant her claims. Shackleton This Camelot colt is the only three-year-old in the field. Aidan O'Brien has won this race nine times including with 3YOs like Bondi Beach, Sword Fighter and Flag Of Honour. He ran well in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot over this trip before a lesser effort since in the Irish Derby. He could be interesting now getting weight from his elders.
