Key Races At Newcastle And Curragh This Weekend

Known affectionately as the "Pitmen's Derby," the Northumberland Plate is one of Britain's most historic staying handicaps and the highlight of Newcastle's flat racing calendar.

One of the most talked-about runners in this year's race is Circus Of Rome, who boasts an impressive record of three wins and two runner-up finishes from just nine career starts.

A horse with considerable potential, Circus Of Rome could appreciate the Northumberland Plate's marathon trip, but the key question is whether he has enough stamina. After racing over a mile on his latest outing, he now steps up to two miles and 56 yards on Newcastle's Tapeta surface. It is a significant challenge, and the stiff finish has a habit of exposing any weaknesses in doubtful stayers, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.

The Pretty Polly Stakes is one of Ireland's premier races for fillies and mares, bringing together elite middle-distance performers over 10 furlongs at the Curragh.

The headline act this year is undoubtedly Thundering On, who arrives at the Curragh with Classic-winning form following her impressive victory in the Epsom Oaks earlier this month, a result that CopyBet highlighted in a previous post. That success immediately established Joseph O'Brien's filly as one of the leading middle-distance performers of her generation.

After proving her stamina over the Oaks' mile-and-a-half trip, Thundering On drops back to 10 furlongs for the Pretty Polly. The shorter distance could play to her strengths if the race develops into a tactical affair, allowing her class and turn of foot to come to the fore rather than relying solely on endurance.

While much of the attention is likely to focus on Thundering On, Estrange brings a profile as a battle-hardened performer seeking a breakthrough at the highest level. Trained by David O'Meara for Cheveley Park Stud, the five-year-old has already established herself as a high-class mare, collecting three Group victories during her career.

Estrange arrives at the Curragh in excellent form after making a winning seasonal return at Carlisle on 30 May. That performance confirmed she has retained all of her ability and sets her up perfectly for another crack at Group 1 company.

Run just a few weeks after the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby regularly attracts the leading middle-distance horses from Britain and Ireland, with many attempting to complete the coveted Derby double.

Few horses head into this year's Irish Derby with a more compelling profile than Benvenuto Cellini, whose commanding victory in the Chester Vase marked him out as one of the leading middle-distance colts of his generation. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the son of Frankel produced a dominant display at Chester, drawing clear to score by four and a quarter lengths and immediately establishing himself as a major Classic contender. Benvenuto Cellini's overall record remains highly encouraging, with two victories from just four career starts.

Although his Epsom challenge failed to unfold as expected after a troubled start, the dramatic circumstances have done little to diminish confidence in his long-term potential, and the Curragh could prove an ideal stage for a return to winning ways.

The demands of the Curragh's mile-and-a-half test appear well suited to his strengths. A strongly run race should allow him to settle before using the finishing kick that proved so effective at Chester. If he can put the frustration of Epsom behind him, he has every opportunity to fulfil the promise that made him one of the season's most highly regarded three-year-olds.

Another fascinating contender in this year's Irish Derby is Raaheeb, who first caught the eye when making a successful debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Ascot last September before returning this spring with an impressive victory in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. That success, achieved on his seasonal reappearance, immediately propelled him into the Derby conversation and marked him out as one of the most exciting young stayers in training.

The Irish Derby now presents Raaheeb with the opportunity to extend his perfect two-from-two record while making his Group 1 debut. Still lightly raced but rich in potential, he combines stamina and elite breeding, making him one of the most intriguing challengers in Sunday's Classic.

The standard bearer for this year's Irish Derby is Christmas Day, who arrives at the Curragh as the reigning Epsom Derby champion and the horse the rest of the field must beat.

Everything about his profile points towards another bold showing in Sunday's Classic. Already a proven winner over a mile and a half at the highest level, he brings the strongest stamina credentials in the field and has already shown he handles the Curragh's unique challenge. Those factors make him the obvious benchmark against which his rivals will be measured.

James J Braddock also heads to the Curragh as one of the field's most progressive contenders. His breakthrough came in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown in May, where he produced a determined late surge to deny the odds-on favourite Pierre Bonnard by a short head.

James J Braddock's overall record is equally encouraging. With two wins and a placing from just four career starts, he has shown steady progression throughout his career. His maiden success at the Curragh on heavy ground last November also demonstrated that he handles the track well and can cope with testing conditions if the weather changes.

Although the spotlight may fall on established names such as Christmas Day, James J Braddock should not be underestimated. His progressive profile suggests he has the attributes to make his presence felt.