Curragh Racecourse: preview and tips for day one of Irish Derby Festival on Friday

One of the highlights of the Flat racing calendar arrives at the Curragh this weekend with the Irish Derby Festival, with day one getting underway on Friday.

The action kicks off at 4.50pm with a six furlong maiden contest for the two-year-old’s before coming to a close at 8.30pm with a mile and a half charity race.

Read below for a full preview of the Curragh card courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the very latest Galway Festival odds ahead of the meeting at Ballybrit next month.

The opening contest on Friday sees a field of 11 tackle the six furlong maiden contest (4.50). Puerto Rico, trained by Aidan O’Brien, gets the nod here off the back of his promising course and distance debut fourth last month. Ger Lyons has won this race in three of the last four years and has Learntodiscover this time around, third over course and distance 34 days ago also on debut.

Race two (5.20) is a 13-runner fillies maiden over the seven furlong trip, again for the two-year-old’s. The promising Cape Sounion for Donnacha O’Brien could be the way to go here, setting a good standard with two second place finishes under her belt so far for others to aim at. Phenomenal Filly certainly has the name to raise a few eyebrows and is an intriguing debutant for the Paddy Twomey yard, a €135,000 purchase as a yearling and half-sister to useful winner Chaturanga.

A seven furlong handicap marks race three on the Curragh card (5.50) and it looks a pretty wide open contest. Ribchestina looks well weighted, eased 1lb after a good fourth at Gowran last time out, so could be the way to go here and get back to winning ways for trainer Michael O’Callaghan. Previous course winner Goldrush rates the next best, seventh last time out but went off too hard before rallying in the closing stages.

Another maiden contest over a mile is up next on Friday’s card (6.20) and 14 runners are set to take it on. Preference in this one heads the way of Boogie Inthejungle for the Gavin Cromwell yard. Off for eight months and significantly up in trip here but was a very encouraging fourth on debut at Navan and should improve for that spin.

Instant Appeal certainly has plenty of appeal in race five (6.50) for trainer Jessica Harrington, a good third 22 days ago at Leopardstown and is one of the lesser exposed types in the 23 runner field and runs off the same mark here so is preferred to Refreshment, who is on a hat-trick bid but is now 8lb higher in the weights.

A three-year-old maiden is up next at 7.25 and of the big-field of 19 runners, Our Friend Mouse catches the eye after a debut third over course and distance five weeks ago for trainer Andy Oliver, while the penultimate race on the card (8.00) can head the way of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Cinnamon Coco, an excellent second at Roscommon 39 days ago and has the cheekpieces on this time with further improvement expected.

Day one of the Irish Derby Festival comes to a close with a charity race - and a top prize of a whopping €60 - over the mile and a half trip and in the less serious race of the day, Prairie Dancer for the Joseph O’Brien yard is the likely play if you’re having a punt.

Curragh selections - Friday 

4.50 - Puerto Rico 

5.20 - Cape Sounion 

5.50 - Ribchestina 

6.20 - Boogie Inthejungle 

6.50 - Instant Appeal 

7.25 - Our Friend Mouse 

8.00 - Cinnamon Coco 

8.30 - Prairie Dancer