Tote Placepot Tips for Saturday's Racing at Curragh

Leg 1 Selections: Hans Andersen, Young Ireland

This race should throw up a host of future winners and it’s hard to look beyond Aidan O’Brien’s HANS ANDERSEN, who shaped well when a close second on debut. His trainer's two-year-olds have mostly improved on their second start and, with Ryan Moore in the saddle again, this son of Frankel could go close. Jim Bolger is in flying form at the moment though and his only runner of the day, YOUNG IRELAND has to be feared. He also showed plenty when third on debut and has lots more to come, so he’s a solid choice for the opener. 

Leg 2 Selections: Little Big Bear

LITTLE BIG BEAR has to be the only choice for leg three. Aidan O’Brien’s smart youngster beat a red-hot field in the Windsor Castle last time and the form has already worked out strongly. In fact, the second, eighth and eleventh have all won since. This is a much-lesser event and although he’s up against one-time race winner Slan Abhaile, he’s fully expected to make it three on the spin under Ryan Moore. 

Leg 3 Selections: Andreas Vesalius, Majestic Colt

ANDREAS VESALIUS is an interesting runner for Joseph O’Brien. He was highly tried last season, in which he ran quite well in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot before finishing sixth of 14 in the Group Two Railway Stakes over today’s course-and-distance. That is strong form and he would have finished closer without being hampered in the closing stages. He returned to this track and trip and finished a close second in a Group Three before running well behind Twilight Jet on his penultimate start over five to finish fourth on his return despite being impeded at the start. He looked a little unlucky on handicap debut last time when beaten just a neck and that form has substance too. With more to come in first-time cheekpieces and a seven pounds claimer booked to ride this time, he’s a serious contender. 

MAJESTIC COLT is also appealing off a nice mark and weight. He was rated 111 at his peak in Germany and made his stable debut in a handicap off a mark of 108 which I thought was interesting. He was then highly tried in his next four starts, which included a seventh in a Group Two over course-and-distance and he wasn’t disgraced back here last time, where he finished sixth in a Listed race. He’s weighted to comfortably reverse previous form with Gustavus Weston and Quarantine Dreams and, with Joey Sheridan taking off three-pounds, he holds a much stronger chance than his odds suggest dropped in grade. 

Leg 4 Selections: Equilateral, Castle Star

Charlie Hill’s’ EQUILATERAL ‘was really unlucky when badly hampered multiple times before finishing his race off strongly on the bridle when last spotted in a bunch finish in fifth. Upon reflection of that race, I am confident he would have won that day with a clear passage but, either way, he’s got a great chance of redemption here with Frankie in the saddle. He returned from a long absence to finish an excellent fifth in the Group One King’s Stand and has won/placed multiple times at this level in the past. His last visit to this course saw him finish fifth in the Flying Five and this is easier. With conditions absolutely perfect for him, he can make the trip worthwhile to Ireland with a big effort. CASTLE STAR was a good half-a-length second to Perfect Power in a Group One last time and could outclass these if ready for his reappearance, so he’s included on the list. 

Leg 5 Selections: Magical Lagoon 

The absence of Emily Upjohn due to travel difficulties has certainly taken the gloss of this year’s Irish Oaks, who was also a warm pre-favourite for this. However, Jessica Harrington’s MAGICAL LAGOON looks the obvious one to be with now, who’s clear of these on official ratings and has beaten most of these before. She returned a brave winner of the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and won on her only previous visit to this course. I think she’ll be even better over the extra furlong, as she wasn’t stopping at the finish the last day and she can fully capitalise on the deflection of John Gosden’s filly by taking her first Group One on leg five. 

Leg 6 Selections: Kazakdaria, Pachmena

Dermot Weld’s KAZAKDARIA has the right sort of profile for this race and connections have booked Rachael Blackmore to ride. This filly progressed nicely with each start last year, which culminated with a good fourth on handicap debut over track and trip. She returned with a good third back here last time and, with that outing under her belt, she’s sure to be thereabouts. PACHMENA went very close on her only previous visit here over course-and-distance when second and is only a pound higher this time round. Gavin Cromwell’s mare should exceed market expectations and pose a threat in the latter stages.