'She has plenty of ability and she's been training well' - all you need to know about the Irish Cambridgeshire

Colin Keane is the only rider to have won the Irish Cambridgeshire twice in the last ten years and the five-time champion jockey will fancy his chances of landing the lucrative pot again on State Actor, who must have gone into every tracker going after his last visit to the Curragh.

The four-year-old son of Raven's Pass was supported at all rates down to 9-4 favourite for a mile handicap on Irish Derby weekend and officially finished fourth. Unofficially, he might have gone very close to winning had the race panned out a bit better.

The tearaway Verhoyen blasted off in front along with May Night and the pair looked at one stage like they might not come back. They eventually did, but State Actor found himself making his challenge as those two were stopping and you just wonder how close he would have gone with a clean run.

Presumably he's been kept fresh for this as he swerved Galway and he's now running off a mark of 91 rather than 94. He must have a massive chance.

You couldn't possibly write off last year's winner Coeur D'Or. He's only 3lb higher than that winning mark and there was plenty to like about his effort in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile at Galway, as there was in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot where luck wasn't on his side.

Connections of this season's sensation Crystal Black have Genuine Article and Gerry Keane has applied cheekpieces for the first time after a near-miss at Galway, where he looked sure to end a year-long drought entering the final furlong but could not get by Grey Leader.

And what about Vera's Secret? The handicapper hit her with a colossal 17lb rise for her recent course win, but what can you do when a mare like that bolts up by six and a half lengths in her first handicap. She could be anything.

So, too, could Wigmore Street. The form of his Kempton debut for the Crisfords has turned out to be quite spectacular as Scenic, beaten five lengths into second, is now rated 105 following a stylish Listed win at York's Ebor meeting. The third home that day was Tagabawa, who is now rated 94.

That must mean Wigmore Street is well handicapped and, while he hasn't pulled up any trees yet for Joseph O'Brien, a big-field mile handicap like this ought to be right up his street.

You have to rewind all the way back to Silverware in 2000 under Franny Norton to find the last winning favourite of the Irish Cambridgeshire and the winners in 2021 and 2022 were 28-1.

It is hard to learn anything from the draw as the last ten winners have come out of stalls 1-21-5-13-24-19-27-23-2-16. You would prefer to be drawn high than low on that evidence but it is not a deal-breaker.

Weld confident of another big run from Coeur

Dermot Weld has won two of the last five runnings of the Irish Cambridgeshire and the master of Rosewell House reports last year's winner Coeur D'Or to be in fine fettle for his repeat bid.

A 3lb higher mark must be defied, but he ran well when fourth at Galway last time and everything points to another big effort. Even the trainer himself thinks so.

Weld said: "He won the race last year, but he's crept up the weights now and it's going to be a tough assignment for him. I thought he ran very well in the big mile race at Galway, as he did at Royal Ascot, and I think he's going to run another big race here.”

What they say

Tom Gibney, trainer of Booyea
I don't think he liked the track at Galway and he'll definitely be more at home back at the Curragh. We know he likes the place and we're hoping for the best.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Wigmore Street
He will enjoy going back into a big-field handicap and hopefully he can get a share of the prize-money.

Joseph O'Brien: runs Wigmore StreetCredit: Patrick McCann

Bill Farrell, trainer of State Actor
Colin [Keane] got in touch to ride which must be a positive. He's drawn a bit wide [stall 23] and the ground might be a bit lively for him, but there's no other excuses and he seems in great form. We're going there very hopeful rather than confident – you could never be confident in a race like this.

Johnny Feane, trainer of Vera's Secret
She won well at the Curragh and this will only be her second handicap so we feel there is a bit of improvement in her. She has plenty of ability and she's been training well.

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