Magical & September set for Kilboy Estate showdown

Magical and September both return from enforced lay-offs in the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Last season's Debutante Stakes winner Magical has run just once this season, finishing fourth in the Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp in April.

September, who was beaten just a nose by Laurens in the Fillies' Mile last October, has an even longer absence to overcome, having been sidelined since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien expects both to improve for the outing in this nine-furlong Group Two affair.

"Magical is just back. She ran early and had a break. She had a little setback, so we had to stop and go slow again," said the Ballydoyle handler.

"She’s just ready to run and we’d be delighted to see her getting started back again.

"September had a setback in the spring and just took a bit of time. We were debating about running her in the (Irish) Oaks, but we didn’t think she was ready for it.

"We think she’s just ready to start off. We’ll be hoping that she just runs a nice race and hopefully progresses a lot from it."

Ryan Moore partners Magical, with Seamie Heffernan taking the ride on September.

O'Brien also saddles Broadway (Donnacha O’Brien) and Sarrocchi (Wayne Lordan), while his son Joseph runs Damselfly and Ship Of Dreams

Jessica Harrington ’s hat-trick-seeking I’m So Fancy completes the line-up.

Plenty will expect O’Brien and Moore to claim the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with Fire Fly who has her sights lowered significantly after finishing sixth in the Group Three Grangecon Stud Stakes three weeks ago.

Later in the afternoon the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap looks a competitive event.

The Ger Lyons-trained in-foal Artistic Melody bids for a third straight win following triumphs at Limerick and Bellewstown, while Michael Mulvany’s My Silver Nails s also on a hat-trick.

Dermot Weld ’s Frankel filly Bona Fide who made a successful debut at Gowran, and Patrick Prendergast’s three-times winner Triple Sec add further strength in depth.

The formidable O’Brien-Moore combination is represented by Cliffs Of Dooneen in the Killashee Handicap, with Harrington’s high-class chaser Sandymount Duke among his opponents.