Surrounding and Sonaiyla in great shape as Halford eyes valuable handicap again

4.50 Curragh
Finlay Volvo Cars Summer Fillies Handicap | 7f, 3yo+ | RTV/RTE2

A year on from trailing the field by 20 lengths in this 7f fillies' handicap – which was worth €50,000 last season as opposed to the massive €100,000 on offer on Friday – Surrounding will be bidding to continue her excellent recent record and snare yet another major prize for Michael Halford.

A slipped saddle resulted in Surrounding putting in a rare sub-par performance here a year ago, but it wasn't all doom and gloom for Halford on the day, with the local trainer responsible for the winner, Petticoat.

This time Surrounding could not be coming into the race in better form having won three of her last seven starts, finishing in the frame on every other occasion.

A dual Listed winner, she will be attempting to carry top weight to victory, while stablemate Sonaiyla will be doing her racing from the opposite end of the handicap having won her maiden over 6f here on Guineas weekend.

Speaking about Surrounding, Halford said: "She has been a wonderful servant and has been better than ever this season. It won't be an easy task off top weight, but she's in great shape and we have to take our chance."

On Sonaiyla, who is racing from 8lb out of the handicap, Halford said: "Sonaiyla's form has been working out well and she's also in great shape. She's out of the handicap, which is why we're claiming 7lb off her to counteract that. Her work has been good."

Surrounding (left): bids to make amends for calamitous showing 12 months agoCredit: Patrick McCann

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Crotchet
Coming down in trip is a small bit of a worry as seven furlongs is probably as short as she wants it. She's improving with every run for us and, while it's a very good race, she's in good shape and we're expecting a good run.

Grace Harris, trainer of Bungee Jump
She's in great order, and travelled over well on Wednesday night. We've got Rossa Ryan coming over to ride her, which is a massive help – he knows the horse inside out. Her work has been very good, and she's definitely strengthened up from three to four. Hopefully she could still be improving.

Joseph Murphy, trainer of Shekiba
We're worried that the trip might be a bit sharp for her, but she breaks well and it's a €100,000 handicap so we have to take our chance. We've been a bit disappointed with her, and maybe I've overfaced her a bit, but she's a filly we like. I would prefer if there was a bit of ease in the ground.

Tom Mullins, trainer of Mia Mento
It's a great pot for fillies. Mia Mento is in great form, she should get the trip, she'll love the ground and she's in well at the weights. She was quite a big filly last year and she's only coming into herself the past month or six weeks. I'm confident of a big run from her and I think she can progress for the rest of the season.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Innamorare
She ran well here over a mile the last day where Chris [Hayes] dropped his stick in the closing stages. Coming back in trip isn't ideal, but with the pot that's on offer for a fillies' only handicap, it's worth taking a chance. She worked well in the visor the other day and we're leaving that on her for this.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of I Remember You
It will be her second run in a handicap and we're hoping she will have come forward from her previous outings this season. The trip and the ground should suit.

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