Curragh Saturday Racing Tips by Dave Stevos
Curragh Saturday Racing Tips
It is 2000 Guineas Day at the Curragh this Saturday with the 1000 Guineas scheduled for Sunday. You can check out my ante-post selections for both the big races by clicking here. There is also action in the UK, have a look at my York, Haydock and Goodwood preview and tips here. At the Curragh the two Guineas races are the highlights but there is plenty more top-quality racing to get stuck into on both days. Check out Dave Stevos’ Curragh Saturday racing tips below.
2.15 – Marble Hill Stakes (Group 3)
The first pattern race of the day at the Curragh on Saturday is the Marble Hill Stakes. This G3 for the juveniles is run over 6f and just seven go to post. None of these have form on ground as testing as today’s apart from one horse – It’ll Do My Day. Trained by Mick Mulvany, this son of The Last Lion has run three solid races so far during his career, including a fine effort on debut over 5f at this track on soft to heavy.
He finished 2nd on that occasion, just under 5L behind the winner Missing Matron. Next time out at Cork he made amends, again over 5f, getting back up in the dying strides to beat Castle Star by a head. He was well behind that rival on yielding ground in a Listed contest next time. However, the return to this much softer ground could see him close the gap. The top 3 in the betting have it all to prove on ground like this. So, at odds of 33/1, It’ll Do My Day is the e/w pick.
Curragh Saturday Racing Tips: It’ll Do My Day e/w @ 33/1
2.45 – Greenlands Stakes (Group 2)
English raider and market leader Glen Shiel is the one they have to beat here. This son of Pivotal relishes testing ground and he gets his ideal conditions for his comeback run. This horse broke our hearts last season at Ascot in the Champions Sprint Stakes by beating our 80/1 pick Brando by a flared nostril. He also won over this C&D on yielding last season, beating Sonaiyla in a Group 3. However, Glen Shiel has never won on his seasonal return and at the prices, better value can be found elsewhere.
At around 12/1, Urban Beat could be worth chancing each way. This fella is trained by Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen rides. He has shaped nicely on both his outings at Naas this season and he will be suited by this testing ground. He is 2/2 on heavy, including a win over C&D. The son of Red Jazz scored at G3 level at Dundalk back in October and on his only previous try at G2 level the ground was far too quick. On this type of ground he is worth giving another chance to and at 12/1, hopefully he can nick a place.
Curragh Saturday Racing Tips: Urban Beat e/w @ 12/1
3.55 – Lanwades Stakes (Group 2)
Just six go to post in this G2 and it is hard to see past Champers Elysees. She is rated 5lb higher than the next best in the field, Valeria Messalina and even though she is conceding 3lb, the conditions will suit the fav much better than Jessie Harrington’s filly. Epona Plays was impressive at Naas last time and she could be the biggest danger. However, with just six horses going to post this race doesn’t appeal as a betting heat. No bet.
Curragh Saturday Racing Tips: No Bet
4.25 – Spring Fillies’ Handicap (3yo only)
This is a tricky little puzzle to solve but at a decent e/w price, Magic Carousel could go well off a mark of 72. This grey daughter of Zebedee has been sent off at silly odds on three of her four runs. She was 100/1 when well beat on debut at Cork (8f gd/fm). Next time at Tipperary she was sent off at 400/1 but the soft ground really suited her and she ran a cracker to grab 2nd, finishing just 2L behind the now 101 rated Carlisle Bay.
She was then sent off at 12/1 for her final maiden run at Galway where she finished 4th of 5, beat 10L on heavy ground. The handicapper awarded her a mark of 70 for those three runs and she reappeared at Killarney 11 days ago. Sent off at 100/1, she ran a massive race to finish 4th, beat just 1L (8f sft). She was given a 2lb hike for that super run and she is in today off 72. On that run behind Carlisle that mark looks workable and with Mikey Sheehy’s 5lb claim she’ll be carrying no weight. With 4 places on offer, Magic Carousel is worth backing each-way at 14/1.
Curragh Saturday Racing Tips: Magic Carousel e/w @ 14/1 NB (4 places)
5.00 – Betway Handicap (4yo +)
Given his excellent course and distance record over C&D on testing ground, I’ll be taking a chance on The King Of Kells here. He has won both starts at the Curragh (6f/6.5f) when he has had soft/heavy and that is the ground he needs to show his best. This homebred is by Tough As Nails and he didn’t shape badly at all on his seasonal comeback at Roscommon. He races off a rating of 78 today and he is more than capable of getting involved off that mark.
On his second start back last season he finished 3rd behind his stablemate In From The Cold in the Madrid Handicap at Naas (7f sft/hvy), beat just 2L off 86. Things didn’t go to plan on his next few starts but that has resulted in a dropping mark. His career form figures on soft/heavy read 61231 and his three career wins have come at between 6f and 6.5f. Stable jockey Gary Carroll rides Silver Service but he is unable to do the weight for this horse and Leigh Roche has hit the frame on 14 of 39 rides for the Mulvanys (2 wins). At odds of 33/1, there are enough positives to warrant an e/w bet.
