2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Preview – DS
2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Preview
The tips are a bit late today due to a rare car malfunction. Last weekend, Run To Freedom saved the blank in the July Cup and Jasour was probably a shade unlucky not to go a lot closer too. On Saturday, I’ll be leaving the jumps action alone, check out our 2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday preview below.
1.50 Newbury – Steventon Stakes (Listed)
We have backed Royal Dubai twice this season, nicking place money on the first occasion and I am giving him one more chance on his first start for Owen Burrows.
Yes, he ran poorly in a listed race at Epsom last month but he’s a better horse than he showed that day. Maybe a mile is too sharp for him these days and I am hoping he’ll improve for the step up to 1m2f.
Early last year he won a Meydan handicap at 1m1f and he wasn’t stopping at the finish. Two starts later he ran in a G2 over the same trip and while he only finished fifth, 6l behind the winner Naval Power, he was doing his best work in the final furlong and it looked like 1m2f would suit him really well.
New scenery might perk him up and Owen Burrows has been amongst the winners in the last week or so. Callum Rodriguez has a pretty stellar record of 5/10 (with two top 4s) when riding for this yard, hopefully he makes it 6/11 on Royal Dubai at odds of 28/1.
2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Tip: Royal Dubai e/w @ 28/1
2.00 Curragh – Scurry Handicap (Premier)
I am keeping the faith with Tango Flare here. We backed him in the listed Dash Stakes over 6f here on his last start and while the records show he finished ninth of 11, that doesn’t tell the whole story.
He got absolutely zero luck in running and if he did get a clear passage, he would have been bang in contention and much closer to the likes of Big Gossey (rated 108), King Cuan (102) and My Mate Alfie (110).
Seamie Heffernan maintains the partnership and Tango Flare’s mark of 96 has been left unchanged. He was beaten 1.5l when third in the Bold Lad last year off 3lb higher so he is clearly capable off this mark and if the gaps come at the right time, Pat Foley’s charge can outrun his odds of 16/1.
2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Tip: Tango Flare e/w @ 16/1 (5 places) NB
2.57 Newbury – Hackwood Stakes (Group 3)
Surely Ain’t Nobody is massively overpriced in this G3 sprint. Trained by Kevin Ryan, this 3yo son of Sands Of Mali has been highly tried since landing the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.
He subsequently came up short in a pair of Group 2s last season but on his seasonal return in an Ascot G3 in May he ran a blinder to finish third, 1.25l behind Big Mojo, since a runner up in the July Cup last weekend.
He was only 0.75l behind that same rival (and 2.25l behind the winner) in the G2 Sandy Lane on his next start and while he finished ninth in the Commonwealth Cup, he had more horses behind than in front, he finished third of six in his group and he was only 0.5l behind Big Mojo this time.
When you delve into his form it is a lot better than the finishing positions suggest and back in G3 company, Ain’t Nobody is the each way selection at odds of 20/1.
2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Tip: Ain’t Nobody e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) NAP
3.30 Newbury – Super Sprint Stakes (Class 2)
Havana Hurricane has been all the rage for this sales race and as long term followers will know, my record in these types of races is patchy at best. However, God loves a trier, as the saying goes, and the one I am going to put the hex on is Ardisia.
Last time out, the son of Ardad flopped at Royal Ascot after blowing his chance at the start. He was also slow away when a close fourth behind Ali Shuffle on his third start at Chester and to finish just 1.75l behind the winner after dwelling early was some run at a track like Chester. He’s also now 3lb better off with the winner who is a 9/1 shot here. Ardisia is 33s.
Hugo Palmer has gelded this lad since Ascot so hopefully, his mind will be more focused on the job now and he cuts out his antics at the starting gates. He’s got a nice draw in 14 and if he can get away on level terms, Ardisia may be able to hit the frame at 33/1 (beware when placing your bets as there is another horse called Artista in the race).
2025 Curragh & Newbury Saturday Tip: Ardisia e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
3.40 Curragh – Irish Oaks (Group 1)
What a dreadful renewal. Just seven runners, five of them trained by Aidan and Joseph O’Brien and a 1/5 favourite in the form of the unbeaten Frankel mare Minnie Hauk. If Carlsberg did Irish Oaks, it certainly wouldn’t be this one.
Subsonic is mildly interesting on her close second to Minnie Hauk on debut but with just seven runners and only two places on offer, I’m happy to leave her alone. No bet.
