Murtagh looking forward to Curragh Cup Curragh Cup Preview Johnny Murtagh has made a good start to life as a trainer but a victory for Royal Diamond in the At The Races Curragh Cup on Sunday would take his success to a new level. So far Murtagh has only ridden a handful of his own horses but after claiming the prize for being top jockey at Royal Ascot last week his confidence is sky high. And in Royal Diamond he has a willing ally. He dead-heated for the Irish St Leger last season and bounced back to form at York last time out when third in the Yorkshire Cup - form which received a boost when the runner-up Top Trip ran such a game race in the Ascot Gold Cup. "He's in good form since York. I ride him myself so we're looking forward to it," said Murtagh. "He loves a mile and six, loves the Curragh and we're looking forward to running him. "He ran well in York and wasn't beaten far. The horse that was second (Top Trip) ran very well in the Gold Cup." Winner of the Yorkshire Cup was Richard Fahey's Glen's Diamond as he bounced right back to his best. "It appears to be an open race. If he turns up like he did in the Yorkshire Cup he'd have a chance," said Fahey. "As long as the ground isn't too hard or too soft he should be fine on it." Dermot Weld's Voleuse De Coeurs was an impressive winner of the Vintage Crop Stakes and looks a stayer on the up, but Weld would prefer a bit more give in the ground. "She's very well but any drop of rain we get would be welcome. It's a very good renewal of the race," said Weld. Roger Varian's Mijhaar is another British challenger and the Newmarket handler feels if he gets the trip he should run well. "He's always been a talented horse and even more so now that he's relaxed and matured. Basically if he stays he'll run well as this is his first try at the trip," said Varian.
