NAP of the Day: Al Riffa to retain his Curragh Cup crown

Racing fans are being treated to a quality weekend of racing action and there was Classic action on offer at the Curragh on Saturday. Ireland's most iconic Flat course is offering up another excellent treat on Sunday too, with two Group 2s on the eight-race card.

The first of them is the Minstrel Stakes, which is run over 7f, and a competitive field of seven has been declared. One for the stayers, the Group 2 Curragh Cup is a decent trial for the Irish St Leger later on in the season and the winner could be worth keeping on side. Our expert has selected their NAP of the day and the horse in question lines up in the 1m6f Group 2. 

Horse Racing Odds

Trained by the bang in-form Joseph O'Brien, the horse in question won the race last year and he would need to under-perform badly in order to be beaten here.

Joseph O'Brien is having a stellar campaign so far and that trend looks set to continue on the balance of his recent form. The County Kilkenny-based trainer had three winners at Leopardstown on Thursday evening and the excellent AL RIFFA can add to his tally.

It was immediately apparent that the son of Wootton Bassett was going to be a good horse and he was a comfortable winner of the National Stakes as a two-year-old. We only saw him twice the following season, but he was a narrow second to Arc winner Ace Impact.

Picking up where he left off at four, he was only a length behind City Of Troy in the Eclipse and he went one better in good style when upped to 1m4f for the Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten, although he failed to fire in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

This globe-trotting six-year-old has turned into a very smart stayer and he bolted up in this race last year, before winning the Irish St Leger. He's been running in Group 1s this season and a return to winning ways is anticipated, down in class and back over his ideal trip.

In terms of significant dangers, stablemate Tennessee Stud could run a big race. He landed the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp on Arc weekend. A reproduction of that form would give him a solid chance and he also ran well in the Derby and Irish Derby that year.

Aidan O'Brien's Illinois returned to form with a game success in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and it will be interesting to see how he gets on, having previously looked extremely regressive and it would be dangerous to rule out another big run.

Dylan Browne McMonagle had the choice of three to ride in this race and Al Riffa was the obvious choice. He brings top-level form to the table and the return to 1m6f will suit. Victory should be on the cards and perhaps another Irish St Leger further down the line.

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