Shoes sorted for Caravaggio to deliver another masterpiece

Three Group 1s grace the second leg of Irish Champions Weekend, yet a horse who isn't in any of them will steal the majority of the spotlight. We are due another masterpiece from Caravaggio and it could come in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (3.05).

Before he entered the stalls for the July Cup at Newmarket, Caravaggio had never been beaten. Aidan O'Brien hailed him the quickest he had ever had.

He came out on top in a top-class running of the Commonwealth Cup, in which he had Harry Angel and Blue Point in behind and his impressive burst of acceleration made him look invincible.

But that air of invincibility began to disappear at Newmarket when he could not peg back Harry Angel and a trip to Deauville for the Prix Maurice de Gheest saw his reputation tarnished further. Nothing short of a straightforward success will suffice now. This is all about restoring confidence.

O'Brien said: "We were happy with Caravaggio again about a week after his Deauville run. He's been doing everything right since and the problem with his shoes is no longer an issue.

"He'll be wearing his regular shoes this time. That will be a big help to him."

There is a strong British attack spearheaded by the lightning-quick Caspian Prince, who is almost certain to be in front after a furlong.

He dug deep to fend off subsequent Nunthorpe heroine Marsha on his last trip to the Curragh and trainer Tony Coyle has one eye on the Breeders' Cup.

Coyle said: "We gave him a break and we were never going to go to York for the Nunthorpe. It's a serious pot at the Curragh and he goes on any ground, but we’d rather have it firm. If he wins he'll go for the Breeders' Cup."

Duke Of Firenze might not boast obvious claims with form figures of 0050 but he is rated 105, and David Griffiths feels he merits his spot in the line-up.

The trainer said: "He deserves to be there and won't mind the ground, but it's a hot race. I'd love to have seen how he'd have run in the Nunthorpe as the way the race panned out would have suited him, but he had a setback the day before.

"He's fine now, is drawn next to the favourite and has a lively outsider's chance. He has improved from last year."

Sea seeks more Curragh success

Sea Of Grace is one from one at the Curragh, having landed a Group 3 there as a juvenile when trained by John Oxx, and she goes beyond a mile for the first time in the Group 2 Moyglare 'Jewels' Blandford Stakes (2.35) as she seeks a second win for William Haggas.

Haggas said: "It will be a strong race, but I'm really looking forward to running her, especially over a mile and a quarter. She's in great form and I think she might find improvement over this trip.

Sea Of Grace: won at the Curragh last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

"The one thing she's done is being on it early in her races, so we've spent a lot of time trying to get her to relax, which we think we've managed. Soft ground is very important to her."

Aidan O'Brien is triple-handed with Seventh Heaven, Rain Goddess and Alluringly.

The trainer said: "Seventh Heaven is just ready to start back having been off a long time. We'll be delighted if she runs a nice race.

"Rain Goddess is very consistent and her form is solid. She's in very good form. Alluringly seems in good heart and we hope that she picks up some prize-money."