1m Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (4yo+)
Joseph O’Brien seems to have a firm grip on this contest running three out of the eight entrants. Jumbly could be a very interesting recruit for him from Roger Charlton, but she hasn’t run for almost a year and might just need it.
Joseph also has Honey Girl, who has looked a more gritty and determined animal this season winning both her starts having been 0/8 before that in career during her two and three-year-old campaign. Granted some of those losses came against high class oppostion and she has certainly got her season off to a flyer which makes her a worthy bookies favourite. Insinuendo is also towards the top of the market and is quite battle-hardened, but I think she might want a bit more of a trip and juice in the ground and whilst consistent, she doesn’t always get her head in front.
I’d say we also haven’t seen the best of Just Beautiful, who will certainly enjoy the going much more than on her previous two starts in Ireland, she looks like she could be a big threat here and may have been underestimated by the market.
But it might be worth siding with former German-trained filly GOLDANA, who showed an impressive turn-of-foot to beat race-fit rivals over this track in mid-April. The daughter of Galileo Gold had previously put in a career best when winning a Listed contest in Hanover by 6l over 1m 1f and she looks like she has plenty of improvement in her.
She wasn’t too well fancied in the market on her seasonal debut, but she ended up convincingly winning over 7f on heavy ground to put in a new career best. Goldana may be better suited to a softer surface, but there is plenty in her pedigree to suggest she will handle this ground just fine. Goldana has a number of fancy future entries including the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and is often strong at the finish which could pay dividends in this intriguing contest.
1pt win Goldana @6/1, 15:15 Curragh, Sunday
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