2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Meeting Preview – DS
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Preview
We finally got back to winning ways last weekend. Not only did Enfjaar win at 12s, our 25/1 NAP Grann’s Boy also bolted up and it looked like we might have a third winner with Metamorpheus but we had to settle for second. Dave decided to give the Shergar Cup a miss on Saturday, his 2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day preview is below.
1.45 – Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Race (2yo)
The opening maiden will likely be dominated by the O’Briens and there’s not much jumping out at bigger prices in that race. This fillies’ race has thrown up some talented winners over the years, including the likes of Hydrangea, Lady Kaya and last year’s winner Diamond Necklace.
None of Aidan O’Brien’s three runners have looked like superstar material so far, so this might be an opportunity for a smaller operation to make some hay. The one that jumps out at a half-decent price is Michael Hickey’s home-bred daughter of Dark Angel, Voice Of You.
Dropped Out
Dropped out early on debut at Leopardstown (7f, good), she was switched wide coming into the straight and it was hard not to be impressed by the amount of ground she made up to finish fifth. Given that she was 80-1, it was undoubtedly an ‘educational’ run and I’m hoping that with that experience under her belt, they go for it today.
Her sire needs no introduction and while her dam was unraced, she’s from a fine Aga Khan family and she’s a half-sister to the Listed winner Tarana, who is the dam of the top-class operator Tarnawa. The bloodline is there, she has already shown a fair bit of ability and with odds of 16/1 on offer, Voice Of You is worth taking a chance on e/w.
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Tip: Voice Of You e/w @ 16/1 NAP
2.50 – Sheehy Motors Handicap (100 = 10st)
It looks like this is going to be run at a furious clip. Focaccia, Prairie Girl, Arugam Bay, The Cuban Grey and Finika are all likely to be vying for the early lead so in theory, it should set up for a closer.
I initially fancied Gazelle d’Or but she’s probably not got much in hand off her current mark and the same sentiment applies to Sarahmae, last year’s winner. Headmaster will also relish a strongly run affair but he’s too short for the blog so in the end, I came down on The Highway Rat.
Fine Seasonal Return
He hasn’t exactly got tonnes in hand off his mark either, to be fair, but just three runs ago he was beaten 0.75l over 5f at Navan off this mark and he ran a cracker off 1lb higher on his seasonal return here over 6f when just 2.5l behind Headmaster, with whom he is 8lb better off here.
The Highway Rat did disappoint in a visor here last time over 6.5f but the blinkers he usually wears return and this trip is more his bag. Hopefully, he doesn’t lose too much ground at the start and if they go too quick early, he should be staying on late to pick up the pieces. At odds of 16/1, back The Highway Rat e/w.
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Tip: The Highway Rat e/w @ 16/1
3.25 – Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3)
A small field here and not a race I’ll be getting involved in but it would be rude not to say a few words about the great grey Big Gossey. He’s a wonderful old horse and if any of these rivals manage to finish in front of him, they’ll know they’ve had a hard race. Hopefully, he runs another cracker here and more importantly, comes home safe and sound.
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Tip: No Bet
4.00 – Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)
Earlier this week I have to admit that I had a sneaky ante-post interest on The Scallionator at 50/1. I thought that looked too big even though there were 16 or 17 still in the race, so imagine my surprise when he was declared in a field of 8 and was opened up at 66/1 in a couple of places.
I thought he ran a lovely race last time, staying on from the back behind Celeron and Tribeca, who re-oppose here, and he was a whisker away from nabbing some precious black type in that G2.
Turn That Around?
Can he turn the form around with Celeron? Probably not, but I can definitely see him getting closer to Tribeca, who was 1.25l ahead of him. The Scallionator is rated 100, which means he only has to improve 4lb to overtake the likes of Sun Goddess (rated 103), Folsom Blues (103) and King of Cloughan (102) and those horses are chalked up at 11/10, 8/1 and 10/1 respectively.
The Scallionator is priced up at 50s, hopefully Wesley Joyce can lay him up just a little bit closer to the pace this time and if he does, he might just be able to nick some precious black type at odds of 50/1.
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Tip: The Scallionator e/w @ 50/1
4.35 – Tote Handicap (80 = 10st)
Sometimes when you are betting horses at big odds, you have to take chances on animals that are capable of putting in an absolute stinker. This is one of those occasions.
The horse I have come down on here at a decent price is another Andy Oliver inmate, All Hail. Beaten 30l on his handicap bow at Fairyhouse in May, he rebounded from that to run a massive race at Navan (5f, good), beaten just 1l into fourth of 10 after being a touch short of room and shaping like a return to 6f might suit.
He got that extra furlong at Naas last time but he was drawn on the wrong side and failed to beat a rival home, trailing in last by 12l. You couldn’t just blame the draw for that tame run, however, but he is better than that when he’s in the mood and the new blinkers here might just help him produce his best.
Given his patchy profile, he isn’t one to be having the farm on but if he is on a going day, All Hail could outrun his odds of 25/1.
2026 Curragh Phoenix Stakes Day Tip: All Hail e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)
5.10 – Money Back Tote Handicap (90 = 10st)
He isn’t getting any younger at the age of nine and it’s been a long time since he last won but just two starts ago Howyoulikethat ran a pretty nice race to finish a 6l third of 8 at Killarney (1m, good) and that came off a mark of 86.
Last time out, he was never able to land a blow in a 1m premier handicap at Galway but the assessor has eased him a total of 5lb for those last two runs and he pitches up here off a mark of 81, 6lb below his last success.
Last August he was beaten just over 4l in the Irish Cambridgeshire off 95 so if he were to reproduce that form off his current mark, he’d win this doing handstands. Now, in all probability he isn’t the same force now but that Killarney run suggested he is at least capable of placing off this sort of mark these days so Howyoulikethat is the each way selection at odds of 251.
