Who could be on Britain's strong team at the Curragh's Irish Derby festival this weekend?

Royal Ascot has come and gone and attention now turns to the Curragh this weekend, which hosts the three-day Irish Derby festival, with the Classic taking centre stage on Sunday.

British trainers could be strongly represented in some of the biggest races at the meeting, and we've taken a look at who could contest the two Group 1s, the Cairn Pretty Polly Stakes (3.30) and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (3.25).

Cairn Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)

3.30 Curragh, Saturday June 29, 1m2f

Bluestocking
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Odds: Evens

The Juddmonte-owned four-year-old ran some terrific races in defeat last season and is the red-hot favourite to pick up a much-deserved first Group 1 success.

She made the frame on all six of her starts last year, most notably when runner-up behind Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks at this track, as well as being denied narrowly by a neck in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in October.

Bluestocking: impressive winner of the Middleton Stakes last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, she returned with a highly impressive win in the Middleton Fillies' Stakes when beating Free Wind by six lengths and may blossom into an elite performer during the rest of this campaign.

Bluestocking15:30 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Ralph Beckett

Emily Upjohn
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Odds: 11-4

Connections confirmed the dual Group 1 winner will race in Ireland for the first time this weekend as she bids to get her career back on track.

The five-year-old has been beaten in both the Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup this season, but went for a gallop at Newmarket's July course since, which has bolstered hopes that she can return to winning ways.

It will be the first time she faces up against her own sex since winning on British Champions Day in October 2022, while she was a good second over the 1m2f trip behind Paddington in last year's Coral-Eclipse.

Emily Upjohn15:30 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Tasmania
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Odds: 15-2

Sir Mark Prescott enjoyed glory at Royal Ascot last week and while has not won a Group 1 since Alpinsta's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October 2022, he has a live chance of winning another one with his new recruit.

The four-year-old is yet to run for Prescott, but was a fine performer for Francis Graffard in France last year. She finished third in the Prix de Diane behind Blue Rose Cen and ended her career there with an impressive Listed success at Compiegne. 

Prescott confirmed she is set to run on Saturday and the daughter of Australia might give him a big-race double on the day, as he could saddle a strong team in Newcastle's Northumberland Plate too.

Tasmania15:30 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Stay Alert
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Odds: 12-1

The five-year-old was an unlucky second in this race last year and could be set to exact revenge for that defeat.

She outran her odds when beaten two lengths behind Via Sistina a year ago, but was significantly checked just as she was coming for her run. Her connections were unsuccessful in an appeal following the race.

Stay Alert (yellow silks) chased home Via Sistina in last year's Pretty Polly StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

The daughter of Fastnet Rock returned with a fine win in the Dahlia Stakes, and the runner-up Running Lion boosted the form when landing the Duke of Cambridge Stakes last week.

Stay Alert15:30 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Hughie Morrison

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

3.25 Curragh, Sunday June 30, 1m4f

Ambiente Friendly
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Odds: 11-10

Connections confirmed this month that the three-year-old will be supplemented for the Irish Derby and bid for a famous Classic triumph.

The son of Gleneagles has taken his career to a new level since being stepped up in trip, when he was an impressive winner of Lingfield's Derby Trial before he went down by two and three-quarter lengths to City Of Troy at Epsom.

That rival does not turn up in this and runs in the Coral-Eclipse a week later, and he had nearest market rival Los Angeles three and a quarter lengths behind him in the Derby.

Ambiente Friendly: finished second to City Of Troy in the Derby at EpsomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Matsuri
Trainer: Roger Varian
Odds: 7-1

The Roger Varian-trained three-year-old is deeply unexposed at this level, but such was the manner of his last win that it left connections tempted at an ambitious Classic tilt.

After missing the Derby trials earlier this season, he made his belated appearance at Leicester last month and easily accounted for his rivals by eight lengths.

Varian said immediately afterwards that he "might quite like the Curragh", but this is a steep rise in class to Group 1 company for Matsuri, having never run in anything higher than a Class 4 before.

Matsuri15:25 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Roger Varian

Sunway
Trainer: David Menuisier
Odds: 25-1

The David Menuisier-trained three-year-old is in contention for this weekend's Derby having been campaigned solely in France so far this year, with his latest effort coming when finishing seventh in the Prix du Jockey Club over 1m2½f at Chantilly.

He wasn't beaten by much that day and he stayed on late to suggest that 1m4f might be the ideal trip for him to get his career back on track after winning two of his four starts as a juvenile last year.

Sunway16:05 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: David Menuisier

Read these next:

Emily Upjohn booked for first Irish trip after shining in racecourse gallop 

What's on this week: Newcastle's big day with the Northumberland Plate and a tantalising Irish Derby at the Curragh 

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