Caroline’s Sunday Selections for November 2nd 2025

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from the Curragh

1xBet Supports Irish Racing Sprint Handicap 12.55
Stag Night
I really do think that this is a tricky race to have any conviction over, but I’ll take my chance with Will McCreery’s Stag Night. He won well enough the last day, and although in a better race with a big hit from the Handicapper, I’ll guess that he’s as good a chance as any. Mary Shoelaces won over track and trip two weeks ago, but this ground might be on the softer side of ideal for her, while Joseph Murphy’s Mickey The Steel completes my list of three. Stag Night gets a tentative vote from me from a good draw.

WTW Willis Race 1.25
Shamalza
I’m going to stick my neck out and take a punt that Dermot Weld’s Shamalza can take this. In all fairness, it’s not the strongest race, but Shamalza showed enough at Navan on her first run under rules to bet my backing. I suppose that Mark Fahey’s Tina’s Indian would be the obvious danger, but as a Calyx gelding, wouldn’t want bottomless ground, and the remainder of this field surely have something to prove. Shamalza and Tina’s Indian to battle this one out, with Shamalza to come out on top. Hopefully!

Final Furlong Podcast With 1xBet.i.e Handicap 1.55
Key Witness
I’ll take the chance on Patrick Flynn’s Key Witness for this low level Handicap. There are plenty that know each other well enough in this line-up, with Loingseoir, Miss Nifty and Tofino filling the one, two, three spots the last day here over this trip. But, Key Witness was held by Smoke Them Out here at the start of last month over a furlong shorter, so this return to 7 furlongs might bring about more improvement. Key Witness is unexposed compared to many of these, so I’ll take the chance that there’s more to come.

Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes (Group 3) 2.30
Uxmal (nap)
I’m of the opinion that Uxmal is much better than his position suggests the last day here, in the Curragh Cup in July. No-one could lay a finger on the classy Al Riffa in that Group 2, who easily came home by 5 lengths, but only 2 more lengths split the next six in the field, with Uxmal bringing up the rear. Remember though, that Uxmal is proven at this trip, and won’t be having any worries over this deep ground, so returning from a break can put some more Black Type into the form book. Ross O’Sullivan’s Chally Chute was second in the Irish Cesarewitch here the last day, so must be considered on current form, while Irish Oaks third, Island Hopping is unexposed at this trip but might find the going a bit on the heavy side. Uxmal has the quality to win this with conditions to suit, as Chally Chute keeps him honest.

Finlay Volvo Premier Mile Handicap (Premier Handicap) 3.05
Spanish Temptress
I’m a bit torn between the hat-trick seeking Spanish Temptress and John Kinsella’s Terre De Vega for this Premier Handicap. But you know that they say “strike while the Iron is hot” so I’ll take my chance with Richard O’Brien’s Spanish Temptress. Having staked my claim, Terre De Vega has been running in better company, so is unlikely to be far away, while another hat-trick seeker, Maurice Ahern’s Perry Mason made light of his mark the last day in a lower class contest at Galway, so gets onto my list too. Jessica Harrington’s Dark Viper has a habit of coming second, but did finally notch up a second win at Leopardstown last month and joins the list of possibles, but I’ll take my chance with Spanish Mistress.

Guinness 0.0 Finale Stakes (Listed) 3.40
Starford (nb)
In another tricky little race, this time a Listed contest for some Black Type honours, I think I’ll chance my arm with the unexposed Starford. He’s scored three times in his last four, so Joseph O’Brien’s surely doing something right, and his win the last day in a Premier Handicap at Listowel was a competitive enough contest. Ground no concern here, and I think that Starford is one going in the right direction, so is my pick of the Joseph O’Brien six. Snapretend is another for that yard that’s in form, while Aidan O’Brien’s Ballet Slippers completes the shortlist, but Starford is my pick.