Saturday 22 August · IRE · Flat · Class 1
3:25 Curragh
Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes (Group 2)
7f · Going: Good · 6 runners · €78,000
Verdict — our pick: Nola Soul
Nola Soul heads this six-runner field at the Curragh on a rating narrowly ahead of Florida Bay, and his profile over seven furlongs on good ground gives reasonable grounds for optimism, though the closeness of the figures means Florida Bay represents a genuine threat and Giant Sequoia, rated a few pounds back, cannot be dismissed if the selection fails to reproduce his best. City of Dubai is the other danger to factor in, though the rating gap to the principals looks difficult to bridge. On balance the case rests on Nola Soul translating that slim rating advantage into a win, and he is our selection.
Runners & best odds
Updated 14:21Best available price among the bookmakers we review — tap Bet Now to claim the bookmaker's current offer.
1. City of Dubai(6)Form: 12
J: W J Lee · T: P Twomey · 2yo · 9st 5lb · trainer 0% (14d)
By Mehmas out of Angels Story (Galileo) · Owner: Bond Thoroughbred Limited
Beaten only a neck on his latest start, with a win the run before that, City of Dubai arrives in cracking recent form and has experience of today's trip and conditions; the concern is whether 131 lb from stall 6 blunts his finishing effort.
2. Florida Bay(2)Form: 3141
J: Ronan Whelan · T: A P O'Brien · 2yo · 9st 5lb · OR 106 · trainer 18% (14d)
By Mehmas out of Ripponette (Le Havre) · Owner: Magniertaborsmithwesterbergbrant
Florida Bay arrives on the back of a win last time out and a winner three starts back, showing a knack for getting his head in front, and he has run over today's trip and going before; the main risk is that our rating of 90 leaves him something to find with the top-rated runner.
3. Giant Sequoia(1)Form: 31
J: Wayne Lordan · T: A P O'Brien · 2yo · 9st 5lb · trainer 18% (14d)
By Frankel out of Pink Dogwood (Camelot) · Owner: Resolute Racing Coolmore Westerberg
Giant Sequoia won last time out and has run over today's trip and going, giving him solid claims on conditions; the main risk is a 56-day absence since that victory, and 131 lb from stall one will demand a forward showing.
4. Green Dreamer(4)Form: 51
J: Declan McDonogh · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien · 2yo · 9st 5lb · trainer 17% (14d)
By Churchill out of Power's Dream (Power) · Owner: Simon Munir Isaac Souede
Green Dreamer won last time out but ranks fifth of six on our figures, with a speed rating of 54 doing little to inspire confidence; he has run over today's trip and going before, and 30 days between runs leaves fitness mildly in question.
5. Nail House(3)Form: 13
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien · 2yo · 9st 5lb · trainer 17% (14d)
By No Nay Never out of J'Ouvert (Dawn Approach) · Owner: Tropical Racing
Ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Nail House faces a stiff ask against stronger company, though he does arrive on the back of a win two starts back and a third last time out, with experience over today's trip and going at least offering some grounding.
6. Nola Soul(5)Form: 11
J: Seamie Heffernan · T: J A Stack · 2yo · 9st 5lb · trainer 0% (14d)
By Justify out of Sing Me Home (Muhaarar) · Owner: Craig Bernick
Back-to-back wins make Nola Soul the one to beat here, and he has experience of today's trip and conditions to call upon; the 65-day absence is the only query, though he tops our ratings on the form provided.
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