VAN THE MAN IN CURRAGH NATIONAL STAKES

The mouth-watering weekend of Curragh action continues on Sunday afternoon when the ?325,000 Group 1 Aga Khan Studs National Stakes is the centrepiece on a marathon eight-race programme.

Ten runners go to post for the juvenile highlight including Hanabad, owned by the race sponsor, but Van Nistelrooy, at $6.4million the most expensive yearling in the world last year, is taken to keep his unbeaten record intact.

Winner of three races at headquarters this season including the Group 2 Futurity Stakes on his most recent start, Aidan O'Brien's Storm Cat colt has looked workmanlike in the past en route to victory. Although his stable companion Spartacus is rated 5lb higher at 112 it's hard to look beyond the unbeaten colt, named after the Manchester United and Dutch striker, to supply the Ballydoyle maestro with his fifth win in this coveted Group 1 juvenile contest.

Blatant, a costly failure at the Galway Festival before justifying odds-on favouritism at Naas, annihilated the opposition in the Listed Carlsberg Ruby Stakes over a mile at the Tralee Festival and the John Oxx-trained colt can scoop the Aga Khan Studs Solonaway Stakes over a similar trip.

This horse drew steadily clear in the straight to come home four lengths clear of the useful Maumee and he looks like a horse with a bright future especially as a four-year-old next season. Blatant is my nap of the session.

John Oxx newcomers have required a pipe opener in recent weeks before making it to the winners enclosure but newcomer Arawan, owned by leading patron HH Aga Khan and big race sponsor may be about to end that trend in the concluding seven furlong maiden.

2.15 Shizao

2.45 Irresistible Jewel

3.15 Van Nistelrooy

3.50 Blatant (Nap)

4.20 Panchita

4.50 Monalee Lass

5.20 Mombassa

5.50 Arawan