Foreign Fridays with Tom heads to the heart of Irish flat racing!
Curragh Racecourse
🏇 Join us as we break down an action-packed weekend at The Curragh, where class and tradition meet elite competition on one of Europe’s most iconic turf courses. This week’s top races include:
Saturday
Race 4: Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes
Race 5: Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas
Race 6: QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap
Sunday
Race 4: Tattersalls Gold Cup
Race 5: Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
The Currach Picks
23 To 1 Tom’s Tips and Comments
SATURDAY
RACE 4
Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Group 2) (4yo+) 6f
7 – Storm Boy
Imported from Australia, where he ran some ok races. He won a Group Three at Rosehill going five and a half furlongs. He hasn’t raced since October 2024, but Aiden O’Brien must have seen some good in the works to say he’s ready for this race.
3 – Iberian
Just missed at Doncaster last time out by a neck to Spycatcher in a listed race at six furlongs. He won a race on the all-weather at Southwell against a small field in December before a break—good form right now and not up against the type of company he faced as a three-year-old.
6 – My Mate Alfie
He won three in a row in 2024, and in his first start in 2025, he was beaten by half a length at Naas for five furlongs. He has won group three and listed races at six furlongs, and he will be tough to beat here.
RACE 5
Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (No Geldings) (3yo) 1m
5 – Hotazhell
He hasn’t raced since October when he beat Delacroix at Doncaster over the soft going. Delacroix has been winning since and is headed to the Epsom Derby. He’s won his two races at this distance, and they must think he’s ready for a significant effort without a prep race. You won’t get enormous odds, but he should be prepared to go.
4 – Field Of Gold
He was beaten last time out at Newmarket in the 2000 Guineas, coming on late in the race, but it was a poorly timed ride. The stable jockey was fired after that race. He is the big favorite here and has one of the top jockeys aboard, but I think he is beatable again. He will need better positioning in the race to have a chance. Too far again?
2 – Cosmic Year
He has run three seven-furlong races and won all of them. One of the all-weather and the other two are on good ground. The last win was in a listed race. He is going to attract some betting action and will handle the extra furlong today.
RACE 6
QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap (Premier Handicap) (4yo+) 1m
6 – State Actor
This will be his first start of the season, and he was severely beaten in his final start of 2024 at Ascot. He has two wins at one-mile races at the Curragh in both good and heavy conditions. The distance is right but is he ready?
12 – Lord Church
In his last six races, he has been in the money every time with three wins. As a 2-year-old, he was a bust after three races, and they gelded him. That did the trick. Now, moving up to a more valuable handicap race, I think he will improve from his last effort.
13 – Serialize
This is his second start of the season after running third at Cork going seven furlongs. From the comments, he didn’t finish. He’s only won a maiden race at this distance from three tries, but off the last effort, I like his chances against this group.
18 – Enchanted Garden
He won his first start of the season at Leopardstown going seven furlongs on the good going. This will be his first try at one mile but he can repeat the last effort he could win.
SUNDAY
RACE 4
Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) (4yo+) 1m2½f
5 – Ghostwriter
He ran a good race in Dubai, losing to Soul Rush by two-plus lengths. Remember, Romantic Warrior ran second. This was his first start in 2025 after running in the Group One at Leopardstown, where he ran a disappointing fifth. He hasn’t won since he was a 2-year-old, but he has run against some of the best, and I think he’s mature. The last race shows he’s ready for a big race today.
8 – White Birch
In his last race, he was beaten by a neck to Los Angeles in his first start since May 2024, when he beat Auguste Rodin. He was an average 2-year-old, but undefeated as a three-year-old in his three races, which were run on good, soft, and heavy going. He’s my choice as the one to beat.
6 – Los Angeles
Won last time out versus White Birch for his first start of the season as the big favorite. He ran third in the ARC and showed little in the final race of last season at Ascot. He appears to want to go from good to firm going and should get that today. If all goes right, you will see him at Del Mar in the fall.
RACE 5
Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Fillies) (3yo) 1m
11 – Swelter
She is undefeated after two races at seven furlongs and one mile on the good and good to yielding going. The last race at Leopardstown was faster than the standard by over one second. She’s fit and ready to win again.
6 – Flight
She ran a strong second to Desert Flower in the Guineas at Newmarket last time out at odds of 28-1. Surprise to some, but after winning her maiden, she ran third in two group races to finish out last season. She only missed by one length the previous time to an excellent horse. She’s not going off at big odds today.
1 – Atsila
She is another of the undefeated horses in the race, having started in two races, both at one mile. Her last race was a win in a Group Three at the Curragh, going off at 11-1. The previous race was fascinating to watch because she had the rail and was with the leaders early, then dropped back and came on strongly to win at the end. Pretty good for a horse with limited racing experience.
Rich’s Curragh Ranks and Comments
Saturday
Race 4: Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes – 10:05 am ET
5 – LETHAL LEVI – 3rd up and last race much better than the finish – almost 4 seconds faster
6 – MY MATE ALFIE – Horse for course 8/3-1-3 and Distance 6/3-1-2
7 – STORM BOY – ran in nothing but group races in 5 race career – rainy forecast concerns as he ran off the board in only soft surface
1 – BIG GOSSEY – counting on the rainy forecast softening things up
Race 5: Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas – 10:40 am ET
5 – HOTAZHELL – won off the bench before – Curragh 3/2-1-0 – the second was a 7f unbeaten in 2 at a mile
6 – OFFICER – boom or bust in making 3rd start for the first time
4 – FIELD OF GOLD – 3rd up for the first time – ran a little faster – concerned about soft footing for the favorite too
2 – COSMIC YEAR – unbeaten in 3 and ran much faster last out – another boom or bust first time 3rd up
Race 6: QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap – 11:15 am ET
6 – STATE ACTOR – pretty much any of his 4 Curragh races would be good enough
7 – AKECHETA – 1st up record is solid and like more if it softens up
12 – LORD CHURCH – 8 solid races in a row – expecting better in 2nd up
3 – ORANDI – never off the board at the Curragh, but only 1 win in 20 at the distance
Sunday
Race 4: Tattersalls Gold Cup – 10:05 am ET
9 – KALPANA – never a bad race in 8 winning 3 in a row – solid 1st up record
6 – LOS ANGELES – hard to pick against her – 2/2 at The Curragh but backed up in both 2nd ups
4 – DEEPONE – longshot if he is ready – been off more than a year but smoked in only Curragh race – since all have questions – take a price
2 – CONTINUOUS – another price – 2/2 at the Curragh – 3rd up – another big price
Race 5: Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas – 10:40 am ET
4 – CITY OF MEMPHIS – won her debut with ease as the $0.62 favorite – one of the most expensive horses in the race
1 – ATSILA – undefeated in 2 – including 1 mile at the Curragh last out
9 – LAKE VICTORIA – likely heavy favorite – BC winner – won both at the Curragh – but wonder if she is a case of an excellent 2 yo that struggles at 3
11 – SWELTER – undefeated in 2 – will be rolling at the end
