Curragh and Newcastle Friday Tips

After a profitable week at Ascot, we return with action from both sides of the Irish Sea this weekend. At Newcastle, the feature on Saturday is the Northumberland Plate, also known as the Pitmen’s Derby. In Ireland, we have the Pretty Polly on Saturday and the Irish Derby on Sunday at the Curragh. Hopefully we can kick off the weekend with a winner, Curragh and Newcastle Friday tips are below.

6.00 Newcastle – Gosforth Park Cup Handicap (Class 2)

We are going to focus on the two big handicaps at Newcastle and the Curragh on Friday night. First up is the Gosforth Park Cup, a 5f handicap with fourteen runners. Mick Appleby has won two of the last three renewals and he is doubly represented. This has likely been the plan for Bedford Flyer since he moved to Appleby’s in March and he has shaped very nicely the last twice. The bookies haven’t missed him though.

King of Bavaria could also be dangerous off just 2lbs higher than when beat a neck here back in February. Rossa Ryan is 1/1 on him and he was on board Annaf who ran so well in G1 company for the yard at Royal Ascot.

Unlike Bedford Flyer, King Of Bavaria is a hold up horse and he should get a good pace to aim at. Fine Wine and One Night Stand (who also looks overpriced at 25s) both like to get on with things and on this stiff track, the race could set up perfectly for a closer. Ryan is 11/47 with 19 top 4s when riding for Appleby and he is 1/2 for these owners. At odds of 20/1, he looks a cracking e/w bet.

Curragh and Newcastle Friday Tip: King Of Bavaria e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) NAP

6.05 Curragh – Harp Bar Kildare Handicap (60-90)

The interesting one here at a huge price is Jered Maddox. Trained by in form David Marnane, this son of Lawman looks overpriced at odds of 33/1. This 7yo has won just one of his 18 starts on turf but he has produced some of his best efforts on grass at this track.

On his last run at Leopardstown he bombed out over 8f but he was drawn wide and I’m willing to put a line through that run. His last run at the Curragh (7f gd), his penultimate start, was much better. After a slowish start he was dropped out and though the winner Verhoyen had flown, he finished off his race very nicely to get up for 4th. He was only 2.75L behind the winner and a neck off second.

That effort came off 70 and it wasn’t the first time he has run well here. His previous visits saw him finish 3rd of 23 off 74 (7f gd/yld), 5th of 15 off 68 (5f gd) and 6th of 30 off 68 (6.5f gd). Clearly, the track suits his run style and if he had broken on level terms on his last Curragh outing, he might have got his first course win.

Luke McAteer is 1/4 with a 2nd when riding for Marnane and he steered a winner home for him at Limerick last week. Hopefully he can repeat the trick on Jered Maddox at odds of 33/1. I’ll also be doing a small e/w double with King Of Bavaria.

Curragh and Newcastle Friday Tip: Jered Maddox e/w @ 33/1 (5 places) NB; e/w double with King Of Bavaria @ 20/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos