NO ONE can deny that the figures are impressive for the start of the Curragh Derby weekend, with a £100,000 feature race, a £30,000 guaranteed Jackpot and any number of very competitive races this evening. Trying to make those figures work in punters' favour will not be easy but in the £100,000 Goffs Challenge it could pay to concentrate on the English raiders.

This race is confined to two year olds bought at last October's Challenge Sales and on the evidence so far, this looks like being the biggest pot that most of these will ever contest.

Magical Baba, a winner over five furlongs here last month, may emerge as best of the Irish, especially now that the form of the Marble Hill Stakes, where he finished fifth, has been advertised by Harbour Master and Hopping Higgins.

There are two ways of looking at that race, though. Harbour Master was clearly not at his best that day, but whatever about subsequent Ascot exploits, the reality is that they were all led home by the apparently very average English filly, Golden Mirage.

English stables are strongly represented with five runners here, and although Pat Eddery is a significant hooking for Tadwiga, placed at both Newbury and Newmarket, who represents Richard Hannon who has an enviable record in this type of race, marginal preference is for Mark Johnston's Oochi Verdi.

This filly boiled over on her second start at Ascot but had previously skated up at Redcar and was not disgraced when second in a decent contest at Newcastle last time. She looks capable of providing Johnston and Jason Weaver with the lion's share of the prize money.

The nap goes to Just Try Me in the opening Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby, which can spark off a Dermot Weld double.