1m | 3yo+ Fillies & Mares | €41,100 | Turf – Good | 11 runners

This traditionally informative early-season fillies’ Group 3 often rewards class and fitness in equal measure. With past winners like Mother Earth and Insinuendo, quality usually comes to the fore — and the 2025 renewal has a particularly competitive feel. We’ve got a mix of seasoned Listed/Group runners and some lightly raced improvers, setting up a cracking contest.


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Strongest Contender: WHIRL (Aidan O’Brien / Ryan Moore)

Unexposed 3yo filly who won a maiden and then backed it up with a victory in the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at this course, showing a likeable attitude and progress over the mile. Timeform note she’s “likely to progress further,” and given O’Brien has won this race twice in the past decade, that counts heavily. She profiles like a classic early-season improver and the booking of Moore adds conviction. Big step up against older mares, but her 102p rating suggests there’s fuel left in the tank.


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Main Dangers:

NAOMI LAPAGLIA (G. M. Lyons / C. T. Keane)

Now with Lyons, this well-made mare brings continental Listed form (3rd to Doha at Saint-Cloud), and benefits from a pace bias setup — she’s a known hold-up performer and Timeform notes suggest “NAOMI LAPAGLIA ought to get a big helping hand” from the shape of this race. Lyons has an excellent record with fillies switching into his yard, and her top adjusted Timeform figure of 106 ties her for best in the field. Serious player.

ONE LOOK (P. Twomey / W. J. Lee)

Has that blend of grit and improvement typical of Twomey’s fillies. Runner-up in the Denny Cordell Lavarack Stakes at Gowran in September and unbeaten here at the Curragh. Timeform smart stats flash a green light — Twomey has been profitable to follow fresh, and this filly is a horse-for-course. Dangerous if fit.

AZADA (D. K. Weld / C. D. Hayes)

Weld won this race in 2020 with Lemista, and Azada fits his patient early-season model. Already a Listed winner at Naas and ran respectably in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Described by Timeform as a “useful performer who travels well,” she may just lack the late punch in a pace-heavy setup, but can’t be fully discounted.


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Watch For:

Trainer Trends:

Aidan O’Brien – 2 wins in last 10 years, strong hand with Whirl + two others.

D. K. Weld – a past winner with similar profiles; Azada is a classic Weld spring horse.


Timeform Pace Hint:

“Hard to get away from hold-up horses at this trip here,” a big tick for Naomi Lapaglia.


Smart Stats Flash:

P. Twomey has £17.01 LSP with horses off a break — One Look is fresh here.


Potential Bounce or Benefit from Run:

Bright Thunder, Mexicali Rose, and Princess Child may need the run based on profile/form patterns.




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Verdict

Top pick: WHIRL – Unexposed 3yo from a yard that knows how to win this. Can improve past older rivals.

Major danger: NAOMI LAPAGLIA – Suited by strong pace + trainer switch + big adjusted rating.

Value angle: ONE LOOK – Trainer excels fresh, and her Curragh form is rock solid.