Ryan Moore: Exclusive thoughts on Sunday's big races at the Curragh and Longchamp

Ryan Moore
13 September 2015

Two time Arc winner Treve is in action on Sunday

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It's a massive day for the sport with Group 1 races in Ireland and France. Ryan offers his views on the best of the action at the Curragh and Longchamp...

"It is a deep race, Kingfisher has a chance, Vent De Force has a chance, Wicklow Brave has a chance. It is the best Irish St Leger than I can remember, but I would just side with the three-year-old Order Of St George."

The Curragh, 14:35

Tapestry sets the standard here, she was only beaten a neck by Bracelet in the Irish Oaks last year and she beat Taghrooda in the Yorkshire Oaks. It is good to see her back, but she hasn't run since she ran in the Arc last year. It is a big ask, to win the Blandford Stakes on her seasonal debut, and any more rain would be a negative.

Ribbons is a high-class mare. She won the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last year, and she was only beaten a neck in the Prix de l'Opera. She finished a close-up third behind Diamondsandrubies and Legatissimo in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her last visit to The Curragh, and she could do even better today. More rain will be in her favour.

Bocca Baciata was a little disappointing at Royal Ascot, but she looked good in winning a Group 3 race on slow ground at The Curragh last time. The ground should be in her favour as well, and she should run well, but I think that Ribbons could be the one.

The Curragh, 15:05

It looks like Moviesta is on the way back. I have always thought that he was a decent horse, and he registered his first win for Eddie Lynam last time in a Group 3 race at The Curragh. He could be the pick if it doesn't get too soft.

It is a deep race. Sole Power is obviously top-class and he retains a high level of ability even at the age of eight, although he wouldn't want too much rain. Maarek is also high class, a Prix de l'Abbaye winner, and he did well to win the Beverley Bullet last time. If it rains a lot, it brings him into it. If it doesn't rain, Moviesta could be the one.

The Curragh, 15:40

The Moyglare Stud Stakes is all about Ballydoyle. Her form is rock solid. She was only just beaten in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, and she has won her two races since, her maiden at Newmarket and the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at The Curragh. She had her stable companion Minding behind her in second place that day, and she looks like a talented filly. She re-opposes today, but it is difficult to see how she is going to reverse placings.

There are several other interesting fillies in the race too. Now Or Never won well at Galway, Tanaza is two for two and she is by Dubawi, so there is every chance that she will handle easy conditions.

Blue Bayou is also very interesting. She was only just beaten in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket in July, and she kept on well to win the Sweet Solera Stakes last time back there. She could be the one who will give Ballydoyle most to do.

The Curragh, 16:15

Air Force Blue was second in the Coventry Stakes on just his second run, and he was impressive in winning the Phoenix Stakes last time on his third. This doesn't look any harder than that was. Rain could change things, but he really should be able to take care of his rivals here as long as the ground doesn't get very soft.

Painted Cliffs won the Railway Stakes, but he could only finish fourth in the Phoenix Stakes behind Air Force Blue. Final Frontier is unbeaten in two, but he only got home by a neck last time in a Group 3 race, and this is tougher.

Birchwood and Air Vice Marshal, first and second in the Superlative Stakes, come into it, but Birchwood was beaten in the Vintage Stakes since, and it may be that Herald The Dawn is the one to give Air Force Blue most to do. He battled on well to win the Futurity Stakes last time, and he proved that day that soft ground held no fears for him.

The Curragh, 16:50

Order Of St George runs here probably in the hope that he will get softer ground than he would have got at Doncaster yesterday. It can be tough for three-year-olds in the Irish Leger, but he is a talented and progressive three-year-old, he was very impressive in winning the Leger Trial last time on soft ground, and he should progress from that.

Agent Murphy looked very good in winning the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last time, and he goes well on soft ground. Brown Panther won last year's renewal, beating Leading Light by over six lengths. That is the best piece of form in the race, but he has been off with injury since he was beaten by Snow Sky in the Yorkshire Cup in May.

Forgotten Rules didn't quite stay two-and-a-half miles in the Ascot Gold Cup, when the ground was probably too fast for him anyway, and his run in the Curragh Cup was just 10 days after that. He should be happier back at this type of trip now and back on softer ground.

Gospel Choir is not without a chance, although any more rain would be a negative for him, while Second Step looks like he has been crying out for a mile and six furlongs for a while now.

It is a deep race, Kingfisher has a chance, Vent De Force has a chance, Wicklow Brave has a chance. It is the best Irish St Leger than I can remember, but I would just side with the three-year-old Order Of St George.

Longchamp, 14:40

The Prix Niel really should be between New Bay and Erupt. New Bay was unlucky in the French Guineas, then he won the French Derby and he followed up by winning a Group 2 race at Deauville last time over 10 furlongs.

This will be his first attempt at a mile-and-a-half, but there is no reason why he shouldn't stay.

Erupt is unbeaten in four runs, he showed a nice turn of foot to land the Grand Prix de Paris last time over today's course and distance. It will be interesting to see how the race develops between the two of them. It is only an Arc trial, but it is a Group 2 race and it would be disappointing if one of these two didn't win it.

Longchamp, 15:10

All eyes will obviously be on Treve in the Prix Vermeille. The dual Arc winner has looked brilliant in both her runs this season so far.

It will be interesting to see how Arabian Queen and Diamondsandrubies shape up against her. Arabian Queen obviously beat the Derby winner Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International last time, and she could improve for a step up to a mile-and-a-half.

Diamondsandrubies could also improve for a step back up to this trip. She hasn't run over the distance since she was hampered in the Oaks, but she showed that she had the pace for 10 furlongs when she won the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Beautiful Romance could hardly have been more impressive than she was in winning at Windsor last time. She is a nice filly, but this is obviously a massive step up in grade.

It's going to be an interesting race. I am looking forward to seeing Treve again.

Longchamp, 15:45

Esoterique was impressive in winning the Prix Jacques le Marois last time, beating Territories into second place by one-and-a-half lengths. Before that she had run Muhaarar to a half a length in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six-and-a-half furlongs. She is a pacey mare, but she gets a mile well.

This is another very interesting race. Ervedya won the French 1000 Guineas, then went to Royal Ascot and won the Coronation Stakes, beating Found and Lucida. She was beaten by Amazing Maria in the Prix Rothschild last time, but that wasn't a bad run, and she should come on again for it. It was her first run since Royal Ascot.

Karakontie is the Breeders' Cup Mile winner, and Arod brings Sussex Stakes form into the race, but Esoterique is probably the one to beat. She is a talented and straightforward mare.

Longchamp, 16:25

Postponed is interesting in the Prix Foy, he showed a lot of courage last time to win the King George, and he doesn't have to carry a Group 1 penalty here. Luca runs Roseburg as well, so that should ensure that there is a solid pace, and that will help Postponed.

Dolniya is a high-class filly, she was fifth in the Arc last year and she was impressive in beating Fliintshire in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in the spring.

She hasn't run since she finished third behind Treve and Flintshire in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of June, but she could still be the one to give Postponed most to do.