Ragusa Handicap: key trainer quotes for Saturday's big-field Curragh prize

6.15 Curragh
Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Handicap (Premier Handicap) | 1m4f | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Stamina will be tested in this 18-runner premier handicap, which looks the trickiest contest on Saturday evening's eight-race card at the Curragh.

It will be interesting to see how the market assesses Joseph O'Brien's trio of representatives, including Verimli, who makes his first Irish start having joined the Kilkenny team from Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Tony Martin is also three-handed, with classy filly Melburnian and Galway Hurdle hero Tudor City boasting strong claims, while capable operator The Mouse Doctor is the second reserve.

Ado McGuinness takes the wraps off Lariat, an interesting recruit from Andrew Balding who looks a certain stayer.

Jon Ess: has been in excellent form on the all-weather of lateCredit: Patrick McCann

The likes of Jon Ess, Tartlette and King's Vow have been in fine form on the all-weather of late and now return to turf, with Jim Bolger surely hoping Mother Vincent can pick up where she left off last season as she bids for a fourth consecutive success.

War Diary, who denied Sea The Lion a hat-trick in this race last year, makes his first start since joining Mick Halford and Padraig Roche also welcomes a newcomer to his yard in the shape of Machine Learner, a former Irish Champions Weekend runner-up for Joe Tuite.

What they say

Ken Condon, trainer of Kasperenko
His runs for us at Dundalk have been solid and on the pick of his form he isn't badly treated, but he needs to step up. We're fitting him with blinkers, which seemed to have a positive impact before.

Conor O'Dwyer, trainer of Jon Ess
He's been in brilliant form at Dundalk. I don't really know what to expect back on grass but he should be fine on the ground and maybe even will handle a bit of juice in it. He's high enough in the weights and may have been penalised a little harshly for his Dundalk wins, but he's in great shape and we'd be delighted if he finished in the first four or five.

Mark Fahey, trainer of Edification
He likes to come from behind but if he got some luck in running and ran as well as he did when fourth in last year's Petingo Handicap at Leopardstown he'd have a live each-way squeak.

Ado McGuinness, trainer of Lariat
It's his first run for us but he seems a nice horse who is a real galloper, he stays well. To look at him you'd see him as one that would enjoy soft ground but he's run well on good to firm in the past. Hopefully it isn't too quick for him. We're expecting a nice run from him, he seems a classy horse.

Edification: capable operator when at his bestCredit: Patrick McCann

Padraig Roche, trainer of Machine Learner
It's nice to have him with us and we're looking forward to running him. He seems in good form and should be suited by the trip and ground so hopefully he can give a good account.

Shane Crawley, trainer of Tartlette
She's going up two furlongs in distance and ideally you'd be running her over the same trip she's won over the last twice, but the ground should suit and hopefully she'll run well and pick up some prize-money.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Shamad
He improved as the season went on last year and just didn't stay on his last start over two miles in the Cesarewitch. He's in good form and we're looking forward to running him.

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