2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips – DS
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips
Saturday was a complete disaster from start (literally in the case of Neverstopdreaming) to finish. James Horton’s filly lost her race in the stalls, I called the Northumberland Vase completely arseways and then Comhra compounded the agony with a lifeless run. Sir Chauvelin was only beat 4L for the win in the Plate but he was given too much to do. It is hard to get too excited about the big race on Sunday but overall, it is a great card. 2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting tips are below.
1.50 – GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2)
At odds of around 16/1, I Am Invictus is of interest in this 6f G2. Trained by Michael O’Callaghan, this son of Cotai Glory remains a maiden after two starts. However, his form is strong and two of the three horses that have finished in front of him ran really well at Royal Ascot.
This colt faced a tough task on his debut. He ran in the valuable ‘Calyx’ race at Naas (5f gd/fm) and despite looking green, he ran on really nicely to finish 3rd behind Tourist and Coventry winner River Tiber, both of whom had the benefit of a previous run.
O’Callaghan dropped his charge into maiden company next time, on easier ground at Navan (5f gd/sft). This time he knew his job a lot better and a furlong out he quickened into the lead. Pearls And Rubies came out of the pack to nail him on the line but the two pulled well clear of the third and the winner went on to finish a close second in the Listed Chesham Stakes.
On pedigree this step up to 6f should suit. His dam is a half sister to triple 6f 2yo winner Fairyland (including at the Curragh) and 7f G2 placed Now Or Later. Bucanero Fuerte looks a worthy favourite but I Am Invictus holds solid place claims and at 16/1, he is the e/w pick.
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips: I Am Invictus e/w @ 16/1
2.25 – Jebel Ali Dash Stakes (Listed)
Our old friend Commanche Falls pitches up in this Listed contest. Unfortunately, he isn’t double figure odds like he has been the last twice when we have backed him. He’s been running well in G2 and G3 company this season and I’ve no doubt that he is more than capable of winning at that level. This looks an excellent opportunity for him to gain his first win in Pattern Company and a repeat of his York 3rd should suffice.
Our King’s Stand bet Mooniesta is next best in the betting. She was bitterly disappointing at Ascot but she is better than that. If she turns up in top form, she should be the biggest threat. The interesting one at a price is Castle Star. G1 placed at 2yo, he failed to produce in three runs last season. However, his 8th in the G1 Flying Five here last September was an eye catching effort and with a clear run he would have beaten Mooniesta.
Traffic Problems
On his return in a Listed race at Naas last month he again met trouble in running. After a slow break he got slightly hampered after 2f and after that, he had no chance. He should be sharper for that outing and he should be able to travel a bit better over this extra furlong.
The application of cheekpieces for the first time looks a positive and his very best form has come over this C&D. If he is ever going to rediscover his mojo 6f at the Curragh is the most likely place it will happen and at 18/1, Castle Star is the e/w pick.
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips: Castle Star e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)
3.00 – Rockingham Handicap (Premier)
He might be 8lbs ‘wrong’ at the weights but with Siobhan Rutledge taking off a very handy 5lbs, Mymomentintime is capable of outrunning his odds here. Trained down in Cork by Susan Finn, this 4yo colt has the scope to improve a fair bit beyond his current mark. A big, strong son of Kantharos (sire of G1 Golden Shaheen winner X Y Jet), he shaped very well last time at Naas behind Harry’s Hill.
Paddy Harnett probably pressed the button too soon in that race and he was just pipped for 2nd by Lokada. The O’Callaghan horse was giving Mymomentintime 7lbs that day, he has to give him 11lbs here. Back in fourth was So Majestic, to whom our selection was giving 13lbs. He has now gone on to win two in a row so the form off that Naas race is working out well.
Career Best
Last season Finn’s charge produced a career best on his first visit to the Curragh (5f yld). Yes, it was only off 57 but he won doing handstands and it was clear to see he was a cut above that level. On his next start over C&D it was bottomless which didn’t suit and he was sent off on a winter break.
I’d imagine Finn’s plan was to win at Naas last time and get a hike in the weights to get in here. That didn’t work out but he still sneaks in and though he is out of the handicap, I still expect him to make a very bold bid from stall 4. At odds of 33/1, Mymomentintime is the e/w NB.
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips: Mymomentintime e/w @ 33/1 NB (6 places)
3.40 – Irish Derby (Group 1)
The 2023 Irish Derby can be summed up with one word. Meh. Nine runners and seven trained by the O’Briens. Auguste Rodin is long odds on to follow up his Epsom win and that form was franked at Ascot.
The third and fourth from Epsom re-oppose, White Birch and Sprewell. They’ve got around 6 lengths to find with the jolly and they probably need to improve again to fill the same places here. Sprewell might need softer ground than this and I think White Birch will chase the winner home.
We backed Adelaide River in the Epsom Derby but his job was to ensure a proper test for his stablemate. Seamie Heffernan keeps the faith and with a couple of other potential pacesetters in the field, maybe he’ll be allowed to run on his merits this time. If he is, it’ll be the first time he has tried his best on nice ground and that is what his pedigree suggests will suit.
Uncle Mo
His War Front dam was best on good ground and she is a half sister to superstar dirt performer Uncle Mo. Australia’s progeny have a superior strike rate on good or quicker compared to testing ground so this should tell us a lot more about how much ability this horse has.
The trip is a question mark on the dam side of his page but his sire is a stamina influence and if he is ridden more patiently, hopefully he will stay. At odds of 50/1, Adelaide River is a hopeful e/w selection.
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips: Adelaide River e/w @ 50/1 (half stakes)
4.15 – Derby Festival Handicap (Premier)
Mick Halford and Tracey Collins had three runners here on Friday and they all went well. They have Inchturk in this Premier Handicap and he could be worth chancing on his first start on nice ground.
The son of Le Havre has won just one race, an 8f Gowran maiden on the best ground he has encountered to date in his career. He beat the now 86 rated Moe Sedway by a head and he had a subsequent three time Sha Tin handicap winner Hava Nageela (now rated 90) 3.5L behind in 3rd.
After three poor subsequent runs on testing ground (including on his comeback here in March) Inchturk has dropped to a mark of 80. On that Gowran form that mark should be within his range and all the evidence on the dam side of his pedigree suggests that he will relish this quicker ground.
There is a chance he might need the run on his first start for 99 days but there are enough potential positives to warrant a small e/w bet at odds of 125/1.
2023 Curragh Irish Derby Meeting Tips: Inchturk e/w @ 125/1 (6 places)
6.00 – Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap (Premier)
The Mick Halford/Tracey Collins theme will continue in the final race of the day (hopefully). Golden Twilight is a horse we have backed a few times and he has rarely let us down. He’s been knocking on the door in Premier Handicaps and the hope is that the first time tongue tie/cheekpieces combination can get him over the line in a big one.
Halford and Collins’ charge has done most of his winning at Dundalk. His last win came there off 92 in October and he pitches up off 91 here. He is a horse that likes the Curragh, winning his maiden here in 2021 (10f yld) and then finishing 3rd in decent handicaps off 82 and then off 89 on his last visit in May, when beat a length by Dame Rapide (14f gd).
He just didn’t quite see it out in that contest and three of his last four wins have come at today’s trip of 12f. Ronnie Whelan maintains the partnership and his shorter priced stablemate, Chally Cute, will be ridden by 5lb claimer Jamie Powell. That horse would like to see some rain come and he may be in the handicapper’s grip. We know for sure that Golden Twilight is capable of going close off this mark at this track and he’s proven on the ground. At odds of 20/1, he is the e/w NAP.
