UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Aidan O'Brien has made a fast start with his juveniles this season and the master of Ballydoyle unleashes another well-bred filly in FRIENDLY. The daughter of Galileo is a full-sister to the Group 2-winning two-year-old Gustav Klimt amongst others, while her grandam is Rafha, who won the French Oaks and is the dam of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. A Ma Chere, Palifico and Windsor Pass are other debutants with strong pages who could go well, while Takeko is entitled to be sharper for her debut experience.
Prediction : 1st Friendly 2nd Windsor Pass 3rd A Ma Chere

MERCHANTS QUAY was only beaten a length into second on his racecourse debut here a fortnight ago (Irish Chief sixth) and the winner, Admiral Nelson, was deemed good enough for the Coventry at Royal Ascot last week. That form reads well, and is stronger than Alex D's third at Naas. He represents an in-form yard, though, and cannot be dismissed with improvement forthcoming. Arctician is the pick of the newcomers and a bold showing wouldn't be surprising, but Mulgrave is probably one for later in the year.
Prediction : 1st Merchants Quay 2nd Alex D 3rd Irish Chief

Jessie Harrington looks to have a strong hand here with Chasing The Dawn, who placed in three of her four appearances as a two-year-old, and Bearberry, who went close in a competitive Leopardstown maiden earlier this month. She's Our Queen (fifth) and Aidan O'Brien's Satin And Silk (seventh) are others from that aforementioned Leopardstown contest to consider. However, the nod goes the way of FEMINISM, who paid the price for trying to race the eventual winner on debut at Naas and possesses plenty of likeable qualities. Jim Bolger's recent Roscommon third Assurance is also of interest dropping back in trip.
Prediction : 1st Feminism 2nd Bearberry 3rd Chasing The Dawn

AGITARE boasts experience at Group level, having finished third behind Mogul in a Group 2 at Leopardstown on Irish Champions weekend, and ran well enough on his return in a Group 3. The drop back into a maiden may see him get off the mark at the seventh time of asking. Mr Wendell (second) and The Rain King (third) both ran encouragingly on their respective debuts at Naas and the pair are capable of stepping forward from that, while Ming Warrior, second on his return at Gowran, and newcomer Khurshed are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Agitare 2nd Mr Wendell 3rd The Rain King

There will likely be plenty of future winners that emerge from this maiden but SHAMIYNA gets the nod tonight. The form of her debut second over 1m2f at Leopardstown is rock solid with the winner going on to finish second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and dropping in trip shouldn't bother Dermot Weld's filly. Oh So True ran well behind the subsequent Group 3-placed Snow on her debut over 1m2f here and she can show up well again, while Thunder Kiss, Theophile and Aunt Bee are other names to note.
Prediction : 1st Shamiyna 2nd Oh So True 3rd Thunder Kiss

A wide-open handicap in which it might be worth taking a chance on LOVE BRACELET. Aidan O'Brien's charge finished sixth behind Albigna in a 6f maiden here on debut, beaten by less than four lengths, and was then pitched into the Queen Mary. She lost her way but now sent handicapping off 75 and stepped up in trip, it would come as no surprise to see her improve, as she is out of an Irish Oaks winner and bred to stay further than the distances she tackled last season. Capel At Dawn, David Garrick and At War are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Love Bracelet 2nd David Garrick 3rd Capel At Dawn

ORCHID GARDENS was last seen finishing third to the subsequent Group 3 winner Crossfirehurricane in a Listed race at Dundalk in February. That performance was not a fluke, having been a similar distance behind the same rival on her previous start, and an opening mark of 80 appears to be very fair. Salsa struggled in a Group 3 last time but it is far too soon to be writing her off, while Auxilia is another who could bounce back this evening. Others to note are Faire Croire, Lynn Britt Cabin and St Clerans.
Prediction : 1st Orchid Gardens 2nd Salsa 3rd Auxilia

SAYO boasts winning form on the level in France and has proved to be an above-average hurdler/chaser since joining Willie Mullins. Third in the 2018 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and an impressive winner of a beginners' chase at Galway in October last year, he makes plenty of appeal reverting to the Flat in such company. His stable companion Foveros is another interesting contender having competed in Grade 1 races over timber against Envoi Allen, while Tonkinese wasn't beaten far at Fairyhouse recently and Lyrical Attraction may have more to offer.
Prediction : 1st Sayo 2nd Foveros 3rd Tonkinese