'We have two strong candidates' - Joseph O'Brien runners out to upset Kyprios

He may be without stable star State Of Rest but Joseph O'Brien is still poised to field a high-class team at Longines Irish Champions Weekend, spearheaded by a potent Irish St Leger challenge with Raise You and Cleveland.

Day two of the marquee meeting at the Curragh looks set to be a significant one for O'Brien, as he revealed Group 1-winning filly Above The Curve is being targeted at the Moyglare Blandford Stakes, having been absent since landing the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary in May.

All eyes will be on a potential clash between Kyprios and Stradivarius in the feature Comer Group International Irish St Leger, but O'Brien, who won the race as a jockey aboard Order Of St George in 2015, hopes to cause an upset with his pair of classy stayers.

A view of trainer Joseph O'Brien's string as they work at his yard at Owning Hill, Co. KilkennyCredit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Raise You has been in the form of his life this season and is priced up as 6-1 second favourite with Paddy Power to make it five wins from his last five Curragh appearances, while Cleveland is 12-1 to plunder the €500,000 prize.

O'Brien said: "It looks a very good race and we have a couple of strong candidates for it. Raise You loves the Curragh and he's found improvement for stepping up in distance. It was a really good performance last time in the Leger Trial.

"I don't know if we'll be able to beat them [Kyprios and Stradivarius] but hopefully he'll run his race. All he could do was win the trial for this race, beating a previous Irish St Leger winner [Search For A Song], so hopefully that sets him up for a good shot at it."

Cleveland (no.3): finished a promising second to stablemate Gear Up in the Group 3 Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes on his stable debutCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On Cleveland, O'Brien added: "It was a really good run from him at Leopardstown [when second] in the Ballyroan Stakes on his first start for us. This would seem the obvious stepping stone.

"He could run in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh or the Long Distance Cup at Ascot after this, but he won't be going to Melbourne."

A tilt at the Flemington highlight is still under consideration for rapidly improving three-year-old Point King, last seen bringing up a hat-trick in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes.

O'Brien said: "He's really been progressive this year and has come up through the ranks from race to race. Hopefully going from Listed into Group 3 company in the Paddy Power Stakes at Leopardstown will be a nice stepping stone. Whether he goes to Melbourne will depend on how he goes there."

On Above The Curve, O'Brien added: "She had a little hold-up earlier in the season and is coming back for an autumn campaign. She's also in the Matron but we're looking at the Blandford, while also having an entry in the Prix de l'Opera for after that.

The picturesque scene at Joseph O'Brien's yard on Wednesday morningCredit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

"She's a lovely filly. You'd think if she happened to be kept in training next year that she'd be at least as good as now, maybe better."

O'Brien's tough Agartha appears likely to contest the Group 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, although a return to the scene of her Tipperary win in the Fairy Bridge Stakes last week is also possible for the Concorde Stakes in October.

Debutante Stakes third Thornbrook is on course for a crack at the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes, while connections are considering supplementing impressive Curragh maiden winner Al Riffa at a cost of €40,000 for the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

The anticipated absence of Ireland's top-rated performer Little Big Bear has changed the dynamic of the race considerably, although Aidan O'Brien is still expected to be strongly represented with his team of crack two-year-olds.

Joseph O'Brien said: "It was a good maiden that Al Riffa won. He's a really nice colt who has done well since. He's also in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown, but I think he might end up in the National Stakes."

On his father's high-flying crop of juveniles, O'Brien said: "He's looked very strong in the two-year-old division – it's hard to beat them. We're trying to do it every day of the week but it's not easy. No Nay Never is having an incredible year too."

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