UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

BARTON KEY didn't get a straightforward passage when showing promise on debut and might reverse form with New Theory, who was fifth. That form looks quite strong, with the runner-up scoring subsequently, and the selection merits plenty of respect. No Such Thing, whose dam was a winning juvenile, was a 50,000 euros yearling and concedes plenty weight, while Fairhaven is out of a Group 3 winner and is a half-sister to a Listed scorer but similarly has a lot of weight to carry. Gazelle D'or and Gloriously Glam have each shown ability and can progress.
Prediction : 1st Barton Key 2nd New Theory 3rd No Such Thing

APRICOT ICE drops to this distance for the first time but her form is strong. Unplaced at Listed level last September, she has finished second to three capable Ballydoyle horses in maidens and can could go well once again. Ebanza threw away victory by hanging left at Gowran and she drops a furlong in distance. Emerald Banner is rated 85 and is well suited by this distance, but carried a first-time tongue-tie when beaten at Cork and now cheekpieces are also applied.
Prediction : 1st Apricot Ice 2nd Ebanza 3rd Emerald Banner

DANCE NIGHT ANDDAY showed improved form on her return to 6f when winning at Naas and might defy an 8lb rise. Well suited by good ground, she met some traffic two furlongs out that day but finished strongly and won snugly. Transcendental won over five furlongs at Navan last month but is also effective over six and, while raised 7lb, was initially rated 83 when arriving in Ireland in 2022. Back Down Under might appreciate stepping back up in distance, having finishing second in the Birdcatcher last October.
Prediction : 1st Dance Night Andday 2nd Transcendental 3rd Back Down Under

GALEN chased home top juvenile City Of Troy on their respective debuts over course and distance last July and makes his return possessing notable St James's Palace Stakes and Irish Derby entries. He shaped really well that day and while the other beaten horses haven't as yet shown any star qualities, the well-held third and fifth have scored subsequently. Kortez Bay is a reliable 85-rated performer but could find the selection too strong, while Super Sox has also shown plenty ability but also needs to improve to win. Balyan is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Galen 2nd Kortez Bay 3rd Super Sox

PIER PRESSURE has an excellent all-weather record but might now successfully revert to turf. His initial maiden tries were on grass and while his Dundalk record is much better, he might merely have matured last winter and, being unexposed, it is notable he reappears on a big weekend. Benavente is himself a capable all-weather performer and also reverts to turf. He can be forgiven some of his early career runs on unsuitably soft ground and being race-fit is a positive. Expressova is progressing well and won in a first-time hood last month, although is now 8lb higher.
Prediction : 1st Pier Pressure 2nd Benavente 3rd Expressova

KAYHANA is likely to have been readied for this initial starting point all winter. A debut winner last June and well suited by good ground, she ran well in a similar handicap on Champions Weekend last September, with today's distance likely to suit better. Karsavina debuts for new connections having been bought for 110,000gns last October and had useful form when trained in the UK and, briefly, in France. She contested last year's 1000 Guineas and having been beaten on her recent runs, including twice in France last December, has been dropped 2lb. Chazzesmee's best results have been achieved on easy ground, including a Lincoln win in March, but he was placed in a big handicap on good ground last July.
Prediction : 1st Kayhana 2nd Karsavina 3rd Chazzesmee

HEAVENLY POWER was well held on his recent reappearance run but had useful form last year. He might ideally prefer a little ease in the ground but two of his three wins have come over today's C&D and he should compete. The lightly-raced Coeur d'Or broke his maiden tag as a six-year-old at Laytown but finally came good last year and while he is a capable performer in big handicaps, dropping to this distance isn't ideal. Lady Tilbury debuts for new connections having been bought for 150,000gns last December. She has done most of her racing over five furlongs and, stepping up in trip and running in a first-time tongue-tie, is a notable contender.
Prediction : 1st Heavenly Power 2nd Coeur dOr 3rd Lady Tilbury

GLOBAL ENERGY has been running well recently and while much of his best form is on an easy surface, he ran well on good ground last time at Leopardstown. He has dropped back in distance in recent times and having won on heavy over a mile in March, has competed well twice subsequently, suggesting he should again get involved at the business end. Ferrybank has also done well in recent months and while much of that form was on the all-weather, he reverted to turf when also running well at Leopardstown last week. He is 3lb higher but should again prove competitive. Karlsberg can cope with a 7lb hike for winning at Cork last month, but needs soft ground.
Prediction : 1st Global Energy 2nd Ferrybank 3rd Karlsberg