UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Given how well Aidan O'Brien's string have been running of late the Ballydoyle trio all merit the utmost respect. ADMIRAL NELSON is arguably the pick having set a new record for the highest-priced yearling to be sold at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale last summer at 440,000 pounds. The son of Kingman is out of a Listed-winning mare and it would be no surprise if he were to play a leading role today. Irish Chief and Merchants Quay also merit plenty of consideration, while Cooper's Hawk and Zoffany's Delight are the pick of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Admiral Nelson 2nd Irish Chief 3rd Zoffanys Delight

Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand with preference of his runners going to DAWN RISING. The son of Galileo was considered good enough to run in a Group 3 on his debut at Leopardstown in October and, despite finishing last on that occasion, he is expected to have benefited plenty from that experience. Serpentine is related to plenty of Group winners and warrants the utmost respect with Seamie Heffernan onboard, while others worth considering include Lough Cutra, who has placed on both his starts to date, and Cabot Hills, who has switched to Donnacha O'Brien over the winter.
Prediction : 1st Dawn Rising 2nd Serpentine 3rd Lough Cutra

Nordic Passage looks the obvious starting point having successfully dropped to 6f at Naas on Monday, winning with ease. He is sure to be popular under a 6lb penalty, but a chance is taken on Ger Lyons' ARDHOOMEY, who has landed some top races here in the past. The eight-year-old former Group 2 winner has dropped to a very winnable mark and seems to save his best for this venue. Others to consider are Verhoyen and Ice Cold In Alex, with Flash Gordon also of interest on his handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Ardhoomey 2nd Nordic Passage 3rd Flash Gordon

UNITED FRONT ran well on three separate occasions as a juvenile, dipping his toe into Listed company last June, and showed that he has trained on when running away with a 6f Naas maiden in February. Going back up in trip for his handicap debut shouldn't be a problem and he looks sure to go close. Layfayette improved rapidly as a two-year-old so it will be exciting to see what he can do at three, while Champers Elysees, The King Of Kells, Siamese and Latin Five add further spice to the race.
Prediction : 1st United Front 2nd Layfayette 3rd Champers Elysees

The 106-rated MYTHICAL is the one they all have to beat as he could hardly have been more impressive when shedding his maiden tag at Gowran last September and was then deemed good enough for the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket before he performed creditably in the Group 1 Criterium De Saint-Cloud. Providing he goes on this quicker ground, he should have too much class for Crossfirehurricane, who is unbeaten in three starts but has more on his plate than when beating his stable companion Choice Of Mine (second) in Listed company at Dundalk in February. Gold Maze is also interesting on the evidence of his third in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes here.
Prediction : 1st Mythical 2nd Crossfirehurricane 3rd Gold Maze

A competitive renewal of this contest and the vote is for ARMORY, who showed a high level of ability as a juvenile. He won the Futurity prior to chasing home Pinatubo in the National Stakes, while he was only narrowly behind Victor Ludorum and Alson in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere and those two finished first and third respectively in the French Guineas. The unbeaten Siskin is an obvious threat but he will have to improve to beat the selection, judging on his two successes at the expense of Monarch Of Egypt. The well-bred Vatican City merits plenty of respect, while similar comments apply to Royal Lytham.
Prediction : 1st Armory 2nd Siskin 3rd Vatican City

Jessica Harrington appears to hold all the aces in this and it could be her hat-trick seeking NJORD who lands the spoils. The four-year-old scored on his first outing for the handler when last seen at Galway and the course-and-distance winner can continue his progress despite a 6lb rise. Stablemates Tauran Shaman, who was last seen in a Group 2, and the consistent Onlyhuman are also of interest. Bowerman has been in top form this winter and warrants plenty of respect, with Current Option and Bashiyr others to note in a competitive heat.
Prediction : 1st Njord 2nd Tauran Shaman 3rd Bowerman

SEARCH FOR A SONG produced a career-best effort at this track on her final start last year, winning at the highest level at the expense of Kew Gardens, Southern France and Cross Counter. She improved markedly for the step up to 1m6f in the Irish St. Leger and the reopposing Latrobe was back in sixth. In an ideal world she'd want further than an extended 1m2f, but on the evidence of her maiden win and Listed success at York she isn't slow and will appreciate the quick ground on offer. Her stable companion Maria Christina could be in to ensure this doesn't turn into a sprint finish. Fleeting is an admirable filly who always runs her race but probably doesn't win as often as she should, while the 2018 Irish Derby winner Latrobe is entitled to get closer to the selection over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Search For A Song 2nd Fleeting 3rd Latrobe