Top-class colt Luxembourg returns in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday and Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders provides three fancies.
Mauiewowie @ 1/1
1pt win
Luxembourg @ 1/1
2pts win
Temple Of Artemis @ 1/1
1pt win
Seven smart juveniles go to post for the Listed Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Curragh Stakes (3.30) and Mauiewowie has a rock-solid chance of bouncing back to winning ways for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane.
Mauiewowie lost her unbeaten record when sent off the odds-on favourite for a Listed race at Naas last time, but still advanced her profile after making a successful debut 18 days earlier.
She was probably beaten due to inexperience when runner-up to British raider Lady Hollywood, who was arriving at the top of her game and had four more runs under her belt.
Mauiewowie can show the benefit of that run and justify her entry for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next month, a race Lyons won in 2011 with Lightening Pearl. This looks the ideal next step in her education and an improved effort is anticipated.
The star attraction this weekend is Luxembourg and it will be fascinating to see how he fares on his first start for 105 days in the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes (4.05).
Third in the 2,000 Guineas after stumbling upon leaving the blocks when last seen, Luxembourg suffered an injury off the back of that excellent effort and failed to take his chance in the Derby at Epsom, a race for which he was the long-term ante-post favourite.
I expected 1m4f may have stretched him for what it's worth, and this 1m2f trip should be ideal.
He has never had the chance to go beyond a mile before and should make no mistake here against vastly inferior rivals.
Luxembourg probably won't be fully wound up with bigger targets down the line in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and Champion Stakes at Ascot, but probably won't need to be to get the job done cosily.
After only four runs, this top-class colt can rate higher still and can get his career back on track.
The Irish St Leger Trial (4.40) is another intriguing contest and Search For A Song, winner of two of the last three St Legers at the Curragh, bids to advertise her claims for a third.
However, I'm not sure she is quite the force of old, while her chief market rival Raise You needs to prove his suitability to this 1m6f trip.
At the likely prices, I'd rather side with Raise You's stablemate Temple Of Artemis, who has recently joined Joseph O'Brien.
A handicap winner over 1m4½f at Chester in May, Temple Of Artemis will need to improve but should have no fears over an extra furlong and a half as a brother to Ballydoyle's former Gold Cup second Kingfisher.
He has only raced four times, so should have more to offer and it is interesting he is entered in the Melbourne Cup later in the campaign.
O'Brien has an outstanding record in the Flemington highlight and Temple Of Artemis would have little chance of making the field off his current rating of 96.
He would need to incur a significant rise in the ratings to ensure he even has a chance of getting in and victory here would do just that.
Latest sports betting and odds
Watch horse racing live streaming
Head to the bet365 YouTube channel for exclusive racing content
We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy