Monday Curragh Racing Tips and Preview – DS
Monday Curragh Racing Tips and Preview
It was a pity that neither Blow Your Horn or Mise En Scene ran on Saturday. My alternative Guineas tip, Zellie, nicked 4th. Arion was far too keen in the early to middle part of the race but I think he did show plenty of promise. Romantic Rival was out of her depth and it may not be easy to get black type with her. The focus switches to Ireland tomorrow where we have four pattern races. Check out Dave Stevos’ Monday Curragh Racing tips and preview below.
1.45 – First Flier Stakes (listed)
Just the five runners in this 5f contest for the Juveniles. The odds on favourite is Blackbeard for ‘The Lads’. By No Nay Never, he pulled clear of the rest on debut at Dundalk with Alexis Zorba and Moore just had to keep him up to his work (and straight) to score. He’ll have learned plenty from that initial outing and he is an exciting prospect.
I was down in Cork the day that Crispy Cat won. He is a very nice sort and he won well but it was a race that turned into a sprint in the last 2 furlongs on quick ground. This will be a very different test on softer underfoot conditions.
Ocean Quest was an impressive winner at Dundalk on debut, despite showing signs of greenness. Kieran Cotter knows the time of day and he wouldn’t be pitching him in here unless he thought he could be competitive. Vanguard Star is bred in the purple but this is a huge ask on debut. The one I like is the Paddy Twomey trained son of Siyouni, Treasure Trove.
This fella made his debut at Tipperary (5f sft) and he dwelt at the start. On a fast 5f like Tipp that meant it was game over but he ran on really nicely to finish 3rd under tender handling. The winner of that race was a full brother to Battaash so it could turn out to be solid form. Twomey is a top class trainer and at odds of 12/1, Treasure Trove is the e/w selection.
Monday Curragh Racing Tips: Treasure Trove e/w @ 12/1 nb
2.20 – Tetrarch Stakes (listed)
The one I like in this at 10/1 is New Energy. Trained and owned by Sheila Lavery, this son of New Bay ran out a ready winner on his debut here over 7f (gd). He could only manage 8th of 9 in a G3 at Leopardstown next time but he was only 2.75L behind the winner, Glounthane. His reappearance in April was an excellent effort, again at Leopardstown. He turned the form with Glounthane around to grab 3rd, just 1.5L behind the winner Dr Zempf.
Both Dr Zempf and Glounthane re-oppose here and while both should improve for the run, they are from yards who would have them plenty fit enough first time out. Sheila Lavery would probably have her horses less than piping fit so arguably, New Energy could improve more than those two. On pedigree 8f should suit and there is a chance he’ll appreciate an ease in the ground too. At odds of 10/1, New Energy is the e/w selection.
Monday Curragh Racing Tips: New Energy e/w @ 10/1
2.55 – Fillies Handicap (0-90)
Beautiful Sunshine is the one I like in this 7f handicap. Trained by the ultra-shrewd Adrian Murray, this daughter of Ardad made her bow for the yard in a G3 at Leopardstown (7f gd). She wasn’t disgraced, beat 8L into 9th, and the return to easier ground has to rate as a massive plus for her. When trained in the UK by George Boughey, she won both her starts on easy ground comfortably.
After a promising debut behind the talented Desert Dreamer at Newmarket (5f gd) she beat Tippy Toes in a Novice at Windsor (5f gd/sft). She has won her last three in a row, including a Listed race. Beautiful Sunshine had a subsequent Novice winner 8L behind next time at Sandown (5f sft). Connections then gave Royal Ascot a shot but the good to firm ground was against her.
Today’s test should be much more to her liking. This will be the first time she’s had a bit of cut since Sandown and I think she showed that 7f should be within her compass last time at Leopardstown. On her form at Windsor a mark of 87 could be very workable and if she gets the trip, Beautiful Sunshine could go close at 14/1.
Monday Curragh Racing Tips: Beautiful Sunshine e/w @ 14/1 (4 places)
3.30 – Athasi Stakes (Group 3)
Finally, a pattern race with more than seven runners. With all the rain that has fallen in the last two days, Lustown Baba could be worth chancing at big odds. Shane Kelly rides Johnny Murtagh’s daughter of Alhebayeb and she is a mare that loves soft ground (and the Curragh). She has had two runs so far this season on yielding and she shaped very well on both occasions.
On her return she stayed on very nicely in a Curragh handicap over 5f, beat 4.75L off 100. Last time out she was beat the same distance in a G3 over today’s C&D. In 2020 she won twice at this venue, a handicap by 7.5L off 84 and a Listed heat, both over 6f on soft. Her career form figures on soft or worse read 312211251 and she is unbeaten on proper soft ground at this track. 25/1 looks a huge price, all things considered, and at those odds, Lustown Baba is worth backing e/w.
Monday Curragh Racing Tips: Lustown Baba e/w @ 25/1 nap
4.05 – Mooresbridge Stakes (Group 2)
On decent ground I’d give Bear Story a right e/w chance in this. However, having studied his pedigree closely I don’t believe soft ground will suit. That could also be argued about quite a few of the others, including the favourite High Definition. Cadillac will handle it but he would prefer it quicker. Lafayette has won on soft ground so he has obvious claims and the rain brings Gear Up into it too (won G1 on heavy). However, with just two places on offer, I am happy to sit this race out. No bet.
Monday Curragh Racing Tips: No Bet
4.40 – Apprentice Handicap (0-75)
At 33/1, Ginsburg looks a shade overpriced for Ger Keane and 7lb claimer Sean Bird. This daughter of Lawman was with Kieran Cotter last season and while she failed to win, she ran some nice races in defeat. Her two best efforts came on the all weather at Dundalk over 7f and she also ran a decent race on yielding ground in a backend 5f maiden at Navan.
She was sold out of Cotter’s yard and she made her debut for Keane here over 6f (yld). Ginsburg ran a cracker off 66, staying on well for 7th beat just 3L. Seamie Heffernan got the call next time at Gowran but she never landed a blow (7f gd). The handicapper dropped her to 64 after that below par effort and with Bird’s claim, she is 9lbs lower than for her last excellent run at this track.
Now, properly soft ground is an unknown for this filly but she has gone well on yielding twice so we know that she at least handles some sort of an ease. Ger Keane does well at the Curragh (9 winners/25 Top 4s from 190 runners) and if this filly can repeat the form she showed on her last outing at this track off effectively 9lbs lower (and if she handles the ground) she could run into the frame at odds of 33/1.
