Key connections to watch at the Curragh: 'Billy has nine rides across Saturday and Sunday' The Curragh hosts another brilliant weekend of racing with the Irish Oaks taking centre stage. It looks set to be a cracker, with the likes of Thundering, Amelia Earhart and Earth shot all set to line up. Along with the feature race, there are plenty of competitive contests across the two days. Here are a few of the trainers, jockeys, horses and connections to keep an eye on this weekend. Owner to watch John Kirkland looks to be heavily handed this weekend with runners at the Curragh and is extremely likely to have horses finishing close in their respective races. His best chance comes in the first race with Anchor Road. He looked to be highly touted before his debut before meeting traffic throughout the race. He'll likely improve for the experience and hopefully can give the ownership team a bright start to the weekend. They also look competitive with other chances including Nautic Star (13:40), Red Evolution (14:50) and Trustmore (17:10). They have a sole runner on Sunday in the 13:40, as Atlantic Bridge makes his debut for trainer Robson Aguiar. Trainer to follow With 84 winners this season, the Joseph O'Brien stable is in unheard-of form, and the Co. Kilkenny yard has bundles of chances throughout this weekend. Nyra will contest the 14:15 Group 3 Meadow Court Stakes, and he is also responsible for three of the 11 runners in the Irish Oaks. Thundering On is the 5/2 favourite, and the Epsom Oaks winner will look to make amends for her run in the Pretty Polly Stakes. Johanna Walsh was superb at Ascot, just narrowly defeated in the Ribblesdale Stakes, and she will be ridden by Colin Keane, while the undefeated Rebel Moon will have Joey Sheridan, who has had a fantastic season in the saddle, on board. On Sunday, he has three of the eight runners in the Group 2 Curragh Cup as stable star Al Riffa, who ran a blinder in the Ascot Gold Cup, steps down in trip and faces the challenge of stablemates Tennessee Stud and Trustyourinstinct. Joseph O'Brien will also have runners in the handicaps, and it would be a huge mistake not to take note of every runner the trainer has over the weekend. Jockey to note The jockey to note this weekend is Billy Lee. Billy has nine rides across Saturday and Sunday and looks to have some nice chances. Two of Billy's mounts to note are Big Gossey on Sunday in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at 15:15. He looks to have a superb chance, and what a horse he has been for connections. He is back at his favourite racecourse. The next to note is Alpine Wedding on Sunday in the 14:40 fillies' maiden. She ran well on debut at Leopardstown in a good race that has already seen the likes of Alpha come out and win at the Curragh, and with natural improvement she should run well. Watch our new show The Jockey Angle in full Race replays are FREE to watch from all Irish tracks and a selection of premier British tracks sponsored by William Hill.
