In-form Twomey has pair of chances in Pretty Polly A trio of British-trained runners and two horses from the Paddy Twomey stable are among nine declarations for the Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The Ed Walker-trained Dreamloper, winner of the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp last time, heads the field with a strong raiding party strengthened by two from the William Haggas yard, My Astra, the mount of Danny Tudhope and the Tom Marquand-ridden Purplepay. The Twomey-trained Rosscarbery, supplemented for the race on Tuesday, will be joined by La Petite Coco in the day’s feature with Joseph O'Brien, bidding for a third win in the race as a trainer, set to run Tranquil Lady. Aidan O'Brien last won the race with Magical in 2020 and he has Concert Hall while Ger Lyons and Johnny Murtagh have declared Thunder Kiss and Lyrical Poetry respectively. There are seven declarations for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes with Aidan O'Brien’s Statuette, so impressive when winning at Navan, leading the way. Three course and distance winners head the opposition with the Lyons-trained Zarinsk, Fozzy Stack’s Papilio, the mount of Jamie Spencer, and Kieran Cotter’s Matilda Picotte all lining out. The Paddy Power Rockingham Handicap has attracted a field of 18 runners with the Paddy Twomey-trained Erosandpsyche, Sarah Lynam’s Additional and the Johnny Feane-trained Ano Syra leading early fancies. Tees Spirit, winner of the Epsom Dash, will bid for his fourth straight win for trainer Adrian Nicholls who rode Awake, trained by his late father Dandy, to win the race in 2002. A field of 15 runners go to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Ragusa’ Handicap with the Barry Fitzgerald-trained Dame Rapide, Jim Bolger’s Dancila and the Johnny Murtagh-trained Safecracker chief among them while 19 face the started for the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap with Natalia Lupini’s Blairmayne and the Jack Davison-trained Arnhem leading opponents to Kieran Cotter’s hat-trick seeker, Lord Dudley. The ground at the Curragh ahead of the three-day meeting is currently Good, Good to Firm in places following selective watering. Rain forecast from midday today (Friday) (5-7mm approx) through to this evening. Mainly dry overnight into tomorrow with possibility of further rain (5-10mm approx) from Saturday evening through to Sunday afternoon. Racing on stands' side track and stalls in centre for all sprints.
