UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Aidan O'Brien boasts a strong hand with three well-bred colts in DIEGO VELAZQUEZ, Meriwether Lewis and Portland. The vote goes to the former as he is a half-brother to Broome, who has been an excellent servant to connections in recent seasons, and, more interestingly, Point Lonsdale, who won this in 2021 before landing the Chesham at Royal Ascot. It would be no surprise if the son of Frankel made a winning start to his career. The aforementioned Meriwether Lewis has a sublime pedigree and has to be respected along with Huxley, while Instant Appeal's second on debut at Leopardstown gives him a great chance.
Prediction : 1st Diego Velazquez 2nd Meriwether Lewis 3rd Huxley

VALIANT FORCE wasn't disgraced when weakening late on into fifth in the Marble Hill over C&D recently and the Adrian Murray-trained colt could put his experience to good use on this drop in class. The market should prove informative for Aidan O'Brien's trio, with debut third Alabama likely to appreciate this stiffer test. His stablemate The Liffey may improve once over further, but he has enough speed and class in his pedigree to make an impact here too.
Prediction : 1st Valiant Force 2nd Alabama 3rd The Liffey

SCARLETT O'HARA has finished second in two very competitive maidens in recent months and the application of first-time cheekpieces could help the daughter of Frankel to go one better here. Aird was a nose in front of the selection on her sole previous start last year and she cannot be discounted on her return to action. Kitty McFee showed plenty of promise on her racecourse bow and edges out Portunalia and Bindi Sue to be best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Scarlett OHara 2nd Aird 3rd Kitty McFee

Apache Outlaw ran to a high level as a juvenile, perhaps most notably when finishing within two lengths of Shartash in the Railway Stakes, and that level of form entitles him to plenty of respect on this handicap bow. Not Too Real Bad found herself with plenty to do passing the two furlong marker, so it was to her credit that she found a way to win at Cork. Thomas Mullins' charge runs from 2lb out of the handicap here, but that success would suggest she can cope. SILMANIYA opened her account at Navan last September before going on to contest a Listed event at Dundalk, where she was sent off favourite. Back on turf, this mark looks well within range and he edges the vote.
Prediction : 1st Silmaniya 2nd Not Too Real Bad 3rd Apache Outlaw

BURREN SONG has only had one attempt at this trip in the past, when not beaten far at Killarney, and now looks like the ideal time to go again, having won his last three. Andrew Slattery's charge can uphold the form with Hell Bent (third) from Leopardstown, while My Mate Mozzie must be of interest on his first run since finishing second in the November Handicap. Stablemates Nusret and White Caviar also have the form to get involved in proceedings.
Prediction : 1st Burren Song 2nd White Caviar 3rd Nusret

DESERT HAVEN has clearly improved from two to three years and looks the answer to this maiden. Noel Meade's charge was a beaten favourite at Cork last month but it wasn't a particularly bad run and he sets a decent standard on his penultimate effort at this track. First Gentleman tries cheekpieces for the first time and has placed on each of his two starts, including here, while Blue News boasts good enough form to suggest he can be competitive too.
Prediction : 1st Desert Haven 2nd First Gentleman 3rd Blue News

LADY ARWEN arrives on the back of her best effort for a short while and she could be primed to make a big impact on her debut run for Connor O'Dwyer. Her sole previous win came off 1lb higher and, given Jake Coen pitches in with his 5lb claim, this daughter of Postponed has a live chance at the weights. Midnight Fire heads a long list of dangers, with the likes of Admiral Nelson, Grigal and Markievicz all shortlisted as having something to offer too.
Prediction : 1st Lady Arwen 2nd Midnight Fire 3rd Admiral Nelson

The standard is set by EXTRAPOLATION, who reverts back to the Flat following a creditable second over timber at Punchestown on his most recent run. The gelded son of Mahler saw off a full-brother to dual Cheltenham Festival winner Presenting Percy - the Gordon Elliott-trained Valsorpresa - in emphatic style at Downpatrick on his penultimate run, and a 7lb penalty for that success may not be enough to hold him back here. Bumble Bee Bet appears to be his most serious danger following a staying-on success at Ayr in April, while Lionnar adds further spice to the race.
Prediction : 1st Extrapolation 2nd Bumble Bee Bet 3rd Lionnar