Magical on the trail of a second Group 1 success in Tattersalls Gold Cup

3.50 Curragh
Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) | 4yo+ | 1m2½f | RTE2/RTV

The Tattersalls Gold Cup has been Magical's main target since the start of the season and the four-year-old filly is a warm order to give trainer Aidan O'Brien an eighth win in the race, which became a Group 1 event in 1999.

O'Brien's previous winners include Duke Of Marmalade (2008), Fame And Glory (2010), So You Think (2011, 2012) and, most recently, Lancaster Bomber (2018).

Magical is unbeaten in two starts this year following victories in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes and Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, which came over at course over a slightly shorter trip earlier this month.

A Group 1 winner of the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over 1m4f at Ascot in October, Magical will be attempting to become just the third of her sex to win this race in the past 20 years after Shiva (1999) and Rebelline (2002).

O'Brien said: "We've had this race in mind for Magical since early in the year. She's done everything right so far and seems in good form. We'll see what happens and it's possible she might have a mid-season break."

Magical may find that stablemate Flag Of Honour, who finished second to her on both runs this season, is her main danger once again.

Flag Of Honour notched his first Group 1 success in last year's Irish St Leger and will be going back up in trip as the season progresses. "He's in good form and has run well behind Magical on his two outings this year," O'Brien said.

Stiff task for trio

Taking on the Ballydoyle pair are the Fozzy Stack-trained Zihba, Jim Bolger's Verbal Dexterity and the Ger Lyons-trained Mustajeer.

A Group 3 winner over a mile at Leopardstown last year and placed in good company on his two starts this season, Zihba will be tackling the distance for the first time.

Stack said: "Zihba looks up against it but we want to try him over the trip to see how he gets on."

Verbal Dexterity, a Group 1 winner at two, has been quite lightly-raced since his juvenile days, but performed creditably on his most recent start when runner-up to Hazapour in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

Three-time winner Mustajeer has shown his best form over longer distances.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news