Ryan Moore targets Curragh success on bank holiday visit

Ryan Moore is on bank holiday duty at the Curragh on Monday where he will hope lightning can strike again in relation to future top-flight success.

Last year’s Coolmore Tetrarch Stakes uncovered a superstar in Paddington, who used the Listed contest en route to Classic glory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas later month.

Expecting Samuel Colt to emulate a colt that subsequently also picked up the St James’s Palace, Eclipse and Sussex Stakes during a glorious summer streak is expecting too much, although the Tetrarch at least looks well within the Ballydoyle colt’s compass based on his comeback effort at Leopardstown.

Moore guided Blackbeard to victory in the Listed Gain First Flier Stakes in 2022 and this time he teams up with Whistlejacket, whose debut suggested he was a sure-fire future maiden winner only for him to be put straight into black-type company. Arizona Fire may prove tough for to beat.

Gordon Elliott turns to Mark Walsh for ride on Irish Point in Saturday’s French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil

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Bumper crowd expected as Naas offers free entry to ‘Trials’ card that does what it says on the tin

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Aidan O’Brien invests a lot of credibility in City Of Troy as Guineas flop goes for Derby glory at Epsom

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Tony Martin’s three-month suspension to begin with immediate effect

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Monday’s feature at HQ is the Group Two Mooresbridge Stakes where the first three from last month’s Alleged over course and distance renew rivalry.

The fillies Maxux and Village Voice are 3lbs better off with the Alleged winner White Birch. Maxux, who carries the colours of Spanish international footballer Alvaro Odriozola could reverse the form.

Her trainer Joseph O’Brien has a trio for the Group Three Athasi and has engaged Moore for Jumbly. Drying ground conditions won’t harm the mare’s chances of going one better than her comeback effort behind Yosemite Valley.

With the country’s leading jump jockeys on a break after Saturday’s season finale at Punchestown, the new National Hunt campaign kicks off at Down Royal on Monday with opportunities presented for other riders.

The 7lb claimer Patrick Michael O’Brien gets a chance to ride the 2022 Irish Grand National hero Freewheelin Dylan in a handicap chase, while Kieran Buckley could strike on Gavin Cromwell’s Fathom Two in a Beginners.

In other news, Irish jockey Ben Curtis was out of the money on board Honor Marie in his first Kentucky Derby ride on Saturday night.

Curtis, who moved to the US last winter, had to settle for eighth behind the locally trained winner Mystick Dan after a nail-biting three-pronged finish in the Run for the Roses.

Trainer John Ennis, originally from Longwood in Co Meath, was 14th with his outsider Epic Ride.

Mystick Dan’s connections, trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, completed a famous double after also scoring in Friday night’s Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna.