Joseph O’Brien and his brother Donnacha could be the combination to follow as the Curragh plays host to its final meeting of 2019 this afternoon.
On a largely low key afternoon there are still several races of interest and these include the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
This seven furlong affair has attracted some interesting two-year-olds and the one that makes most appeal is Joseph O’Brien’s Fame And Acclaim.
This son of Acclamation caught the eye on his debut at this track last month when he finished third to
Pablo Diablo and subsequent winner Louisiana.
That form looks very solid and Fame And Acclaim shaped as though he would improve a good deal for that initial outing.
He can make his experience count and he makes more appeal than Dark Pine who could be vulnerable now that he drops back in distance.
The O’Brien brothers should also strike with the 86-rated Patrick Sarsfield in the mile maiden.
This lightly raced three-year-old has been placed on all his starts so far and he was returning from 13 months off when he was touched off at Cork earlier this month.
The Australia colt was beaten at odds on that day but ran creditably against a useful rival and he should be all the better for that comeback.
Jockey Donnacha O’Brien is likely to have most to fear from Alezia who has been off the track for 198 days.
When she made her only appearance on the track this Dansili filly shaped up very well to finish second to Lady Wannabe at Cork in April. That effort makes her a significant theat.
Another possible winner for the O’Brien team is Zoom Zoom Babe who pounced late in a nursery at Leopardstown on Saturday.
She does have to carry top weight but that isn’t a major concern and she did show that she could handle testing ground at the weekend.
In the first of the nursery handicaps The King Of Kells is put forward to bounce back to the form that saw him win here last month.
He was disappointing at Gowran last week but otherwise he has been in good form and he is forgiven that below par run.
In the sprint handicap a chance is taken on the soft ground loving Enter The Red who has dropped back to an attractive mark.
He looks to have everything in his favour and his sixth in a competitive sprint handicap over this course and distance recently was a solid effort.
We’ll Go Again has thrived on soft ground this autumn and he might be able to bring up a hat-trick in the mile handicap.
Peter O’Hehir's tips
1.00. Fame And Acclaim (Next Best)
1.30. The King Of Kells
2.05. Enter The Red
2.40. Patrick Sarsfield (Nap)
3.15. Zoom Zoom Babe
3.50. We’ll Go Again
4.25. Miracles In May
4.55. Adapt To Dan
Next Best
1.00. Dark Pine
1.30. Megans Beau
2.05. Conversant
2.40. Alezia
3.15. Sasta
3.50. Blacklooks
4.25. Lily Lily Rose
4.55. Summer’s Dream
Double: Fame And Acclaim and Patrick Sarsfield
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Crafty Hugo (4.25)
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