Eyecatchers from The Curragh: Key Runners to Watch After Irish Guineas Festival The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh brought three days of high-octane racing laced with quality performances. There were some outstanding winners at Group level and below, while there were also runners who were a shade unlucky or merited a place in the notebook for next time. We have picked out some eyecatchers from last week's action at the Curragh who could be worth following going forward. Midnite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Catena Zapata Friday's finale was the Ryans Cleaning Handicap over a mile and it saw Ransom securing a first win for Donegal-based trainer Paul Sweeney under a good ride from Luke McAteer. The Kingman gelding attracted some support at fancy prices and went to post a 20/1 shot, and his trainer was understandably thrilled to get on the board at Ireland's home of Flat racing. In behind, fourth home of 20 runners, was Henry de Bromhead's Catena Zapata at 66/1 under 10lb claimer Conor Cusack. The gelding is 0-12 on turf now, but there was some merit in his run after a slow start, and having raced off a mark as high as 89 he was competing off 74 here. He handles anything from a mile to a mile and a half and it would be quite interesting to see him faced with an intermediate distance next time. Storm Boy Storm Boy wasn't much of an eyecatcher in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, having been sent off favourite on his first start for Aidan O'Brien after being acquired by Coolmore for big money from Australia. However, he is one worth following. The Justify three-year-old was formerly campaigned in Australia by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and was a multiple Group-race winner before the switch of stables. This was his first start in Ireland and, pointedly, his trainer appears to have left plenty to work with. "He had never been galloped or worked, but we had to run him to find out what else we had to work on between now and Royal Ascot," he said. "We learnt that we have a good bit to work on, but I was very happy to do that. We haven't really trained him yet and hopefully what we think will come, will come." Ceallach The David Marnane and Luke McAteer alliance is always worth noting, and Ceallach ran well again on just his third start since joining Marnane from Mick Halford. He was twice a winner on the Polytrack at Dundalk off marks of 93 and 97 in late 2023 and he continued to go well at the County Louth venue last winter from three-figure ratings. He started out life for his new trainer on turf off a mark 85 at Tipperary (1m4½f, yielding) in April after a break and just appeared to be ring-rusty. He was denied a neck in second at Leopardstown (1m2f, good) earlier this month and ran well here to finish fourth in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Handicap, a premier handicap worth €30,000 to the winner Apercu for Andy Oliver. The front three were all close to the pace throughout that contest, while Ceallach came from further back and met some trouble in the run. His mark of 85 should remain unaltered for this effort and he has excellent prospects of breaking his duck over a similar trip before too long.
