GETTING CONNECTED

ENGLISH raider Dutch Connection is the choice in the featured Qatar Airways Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon.

This Group 2 contest looks the ideal chance for the Charlie Hills inmate to regain the winning thread.

On his comeback at Royal Ascot last month, Dutch Connection ran a fine race to finish sixth to Ribchester.

That effort came over a mile and the five-year-old is a better horse at today’s trip as evidenced by wins in last season’s Lennox Stakes and the 2015 Jersey Stakes.

He could have most to fear from Ballydoyle’s Spirit Of Valor, who ran well to take second in the most recent edition of the Jersey Stakes.

The other Group 2 event on the card is the Kilboy Estate Stakes, where Turret Rocks is preferred to Laganore. On the last two occasions that these mares have clashed, Turret Rocks has come out on top. The Jim Bolger (inset) inmate comes into this race off an excellent third in the Pretty Polly Stakes and a repeat of that run, should be good enough. Bolger could also land the opener with Dawn Delivers, whose second to US Navy Flag reads well after that one’s Group 2 second at Newmarket on Thursday.