Betting pointers for Phoenix Stakes Day at the Curragh

Only seven runners line up for today’s Group1 Phoenix Stakes for two-year-olds over six furlongs at the Curragh this afternoon, but it promises to be an intriguing affair.

Less than one length separated Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte and Jessica Harrington’s Givemetheneatboys when the pair finished in third and fourth behind River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Givemethebeatboys hasn’t run since, while Bucanero Fuerte turned out again just 12 days later to win the Group 2 Railway Stakes over this course and distance. On that occasion Bucanero Fuerte prevailed by just a short-head from another of today’s rivals, Unquestionable.

Unquestionable is trained by Aidan O’Brien who relies on this colt rather than the Coventry winner, River Tiber, which was also among the entries and headed the ante post market for the race. O’Brien sent out Little Big Bear to win this race 12 months ago, the 17th time he had won this particular Group 1 contest so his chief contender this time warrants the utmost respect.

Notably, both Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable are by Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett who has shot to prominence since purchased by the stud in 2020. His stud fee has risen from as little as €4,000 when he first went to stud up to a whopping €150,000 this season as his progeny continue to produce top quality performances on the track.

O’Brien also runs His Majesty in today’s feature race, but this colt finished well behind Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes so a bigger danger is likely to come from Donnacha O’Brien’s unbeaten filly and Albany Stakes winner Porta Fortuna.

Porta Fortuna is yet to race against colts, but there is a lot to like about her Albany victory at Royal Ascot with the second and fourth home going on to win Group 2 contests on their subsequent starts.

While it’s hard to rule out any of the front four in the betting for today’s feature race the bookies certainly have the most likely winner, Unquestionable, installed as their marginal favourite. Check out the bet365 Bet Boost on this race where they enhance the price of one of the leading contenders as this could represent value in a tightly knit affair.

Elsewhere on today’s Curragh card the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes is another fascinating contest.

British-trained sprinters have a great record on their visits to Ireland and today’s Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes is another contest that could well follow that pattern.

British runners have won two of the last three renewals of this sprint and look to have a strong contender again this year with the sole British-trained runner, Michael Dodds’ Commanche Falls.

Commanche Falls arrives on a hat-trick having scored over the course and distance on Derby Day before getting up in the dying strides to land the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury two weeks ago. That Group 3 victory makes life a little tougher for Commanche Falls here as he must shoulder a 3lbs penalty, but he still has strong claims.

Ano Syra was best of the Irish runners in this race last year when finishing second to Go Bears Go, but her form this season hasn’t been at that level. She has been well held by Go Athletico on her last two starts and that Ado McGuinness-trained rival looks sure to be one of best of the home brigade this time.

French import Go Athletico gave Ano Syra 8lbs and a two lengths beating over five furlongs at Cork on his debut effort for the McGuinness yard.

Go Athletico since proved no match for British raider Art Power in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes here over five furlongs when beaten 4 1/2 lengths into second, but was staying on at the finish which bodes well for his first try at six furlongs on Irish soil.

Johnny Murtagh’s Shartash was only beaten a head and two necks by Commanche Falls when fourth in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury and benefits from a 2lbs swing in the weights today. That gives the three-year-old a big chance against the British raider and he could well notch up his first victory since winning the Railway Stakes over this course and distance last June.

The final race on the card, a sprint handicap over five furlongs, is unusual in the sense that over half the field contested a similar race at Cork just two weeks ago. On that occasion Gabriella’s Spirit won narrowly from Little Queenie with Jon Riggens third, Dun Na Sead fourth, Silmaniya fifth and Curraheen Princess sixth.

It’s hard to rule any of them out on these revised terms, but Jon Riggens looked a shade unlucky in the Cork race when finishing with a flourish and may fare best of that sextet this time.

It is also worth mentioning that Natalia Lupini’s Running Cool was a well-supported favourite for that Cork race, but ran poorly to finish in eighth place. Nothing untoward showed up when Running Cool was examined after the race by an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer, but Oisin Murphy is a notable booking for the three-year-old today.