Alleged Stakes: Timeform preview, tip and free Race Pass

The Alleged Stakes (15:30) at the Curragh on Sunday is available as a free Race Pass, which means logged-in customers can view all our premium comments and ratings.

There are a couple of Group 3 contests on the Curragh card, including the Alleged Stakes (15:10) over a mile and a quarter where just 4 lb covers the six runners on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

The one with the most potential is Point Lonsdale (Timeform weight-adjusted rating 122), for ‘Hot Trainer’ Aidan O’Brien, who hasn’t been seen for the best part of a year having finished down the field in the 2000 Guineas on his only outing at three. He had been a smart two-year-old when his wins included the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Futurity Stakes at this track earning him the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag. He only lost his unbeaten record when going down to top two-year-old Native Trail in the National Stakes when sent off odds on. Although yet to race beyond a mile, Point Lonsdale has plenty of big entries over middle distances in the coming months and, as a brother to his stable’s very smart horse Broome, recently successful over two miles in Dubai, he should be very well suited by the step up in trip.

If Point Lonsdale isn’t sharp enough after his absence, Visualisation (121) looks the obvious one to profit. Joseph O’Brien’s front runner also goes well in testing conditions as he showed again when winning a listed race on his return at Naas three weeks ago, bouncing back from a curtailed campaign in 2022 to beat Sunchart by a length and three quarters.

Donnacha O’Brien’s Irish Derby runner-up Piz Badile (121) makes his reappearance here and should appreciate the drop in class. He returned last April with a win in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown when beating Buckaroo by a short head before contesting the Derby, Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris. His second place at the Curragh was much the best of those runs, albeit no match for seven-length winner Westover. He’s another four-year-old with potential but the forecast heavy ground is an unknown for him.

The lightly-raced Self Belief (118) is another with a race under his belt already this year after finishing just over three lengths third behind Visualisation at Naas and is entitled to come on for that outing. He won two of his three starts last year, both on soft ground, including a listed race at Leopardstown on his final outing. He’s fitted with a hood for the first time after hanging left in the final furlong in his last race.

Layfayette’s (119) task is made harder by having to give 5 lb away to the rest of the field on his reappearance but he’d need respecting if returning in the same sort of form he began last season. He ran up a hat-trick last spring, with this race as the middle leg, and then went on to win the Mooresbridge Stakes over the same course and distance, earning the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag. He went off the boil later in the year and, unlike 12 months ago, comes here without a prior run.

Fastnet Crown (118) is another with the ‘Horses For Courses’ flag having won a couple of handicaps at the Curragh in the past. His latest win came in a seven-furlong handicap at Dundalk last December and he’s fit from several runs at the Dubai Carnival, though he couldn’t get competitive in the Irish Lincolnshire back at this track last month.

Timeform analyst’s verdict

Point Lonsdale has been absent since last year's 2000 Guineas but he was very classy at two and could have a bit too much for this opposition if retaining his ability. Recent Naas listed scorer Visualisation might be the one to take advantage should the selection fail to fire. Piz Badile struggled in top three-year-old company last summer but should make more of an impact with his sights lowered on his return.

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings

122 Point Lonsdale

121 Piz Badile

121 Visualisation

119 Layfayette

118 Fastnet Crown

118 Self Belief

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