UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

SNAPDRAGON gets blinkers and is expected to improve on an opening fourth place over an extended 5f at Naas. This No Nay Never colt holds a Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes entry. His stablemate, newcomer Ides Of March, has the same engagement and is highly likely to be involved, while Jessica Harrington takes the wraps off another Group 1 entrant in Iron Fist, who could show up well. Mount Parnassus, with three runs under his belt, and debutants Admiral Churchill, Viking Invasion and Beckman are other players. East Hampton suffered a nightmare route when fourth on debut over C&D in May and could outrun his odds in a deep race.
Prediction : 1st Snapdragon 2nd Ides Of March 3rd Iron Fist

A race where the market will be very informative. Aidan O'Brien unleashes a pair of Frankel fillies in LAKE VICTORIA and Exactly with preference for the former. Lake Victoria's dam won the Commonwealth Cup, so she should have plenty of dash for this assignment, while Exactly is a half-sister to a Listed winner and will certainly know her job. Dahlia Noir can trouble the aforementioned pair as she finished well for second after a slow start over an extended 7f in Leopardstown. Joseph O'Brien's And So To Bed showed promise in fourth in a hot maiden over 6f at this track while her stablemate, Valencia, wasn't cheap at Goffs Ireland Sales.
Prediction : 1st Lake Victoria 2nd Dahlia Noir 3rd Exactly

TRANSCENDING GLORY finished runner-up behind a very in-form rival in a slightly higher grade over C&D last month and could go one better. Fast ground clearly holds no fears for him. Current Option bounced back to form with a vengeance in a quality handicap at Fairyhouse and has to be respected. Port Louis was nearest at the finish in third in his last race at Fairyhouse and didn't have the clearest route. He ought to get plenty of pace to aim at in this contest. Serialise is a lightly-raced sort who was highly tried in Listed company at Navan, while the veteran Ice Cold In Alex should be coming home stronger than most.
Prediction : 1st Transcending Glory 2nd Current Option 3rd Port Louis

HAMPSHIRE makes a belated debut but does so on a prestigious weekend and it is positive that Ryan Moore rides. By Galileo, his dam won five American Grade 1 races on firm ground so is sure to be well suited by a fast surface and while he has no big-race entries, he is very likely to have plenty of ability. Il Sovrano's unraced dam is a sibling to a Group 1 winner so he could be capable, while fellow newcomer Scared Oath is out of a Listed-winning dam and warrants respect. Rock Of Ireland has form but disappointed on his latest run.
Prediction : 1st Hampshire 2nd Il Sovrano 3rd Rock Of Ireland

GRAPPA NONINO is ideally suited by these staying distances and fast ground, and also ran well in a recent course handicap. He has won just twice from 17 Flat runs but scored here last August and while rated 4lb higher than his last run, he finished ahead of today's rivals Rain and Bold Approach and can confirm those placings. Ryan Moore is a notable booking to ride Scaramanga and while his year-long absence isn't overly concerning coming from his top yard, he has been well held on his latest Flat runs and is now a nine-year-old. Stablemate Stoke The Fire is a lesser-rated hurdler but is race-fit and ran well in Flat handicaps last year.
Prediction : 1st Grappa Nonino 2nd Scaramanga 3rd Stoke The Fire

Improving three-year-old LORD CHURCH has good physical size so can continue to progress as he chases a hat-trick. He showed little as a juvenile and while he faces far more than when winning ordinary handicaps against his own age group at Limerick and Cork, he has been raised just 5lb for each win. Alpha Capture debuts for Willie Mullins and while once rated 103, he flopped last year. A slow-starter who wears a hood for stalls entry, he retains his same ownership and needs to recapture his Listed-winning juvenile form as he steps up notably in distance. Silkies Sib's half-brother was Listed-placed and while he is rated 7lb higher than when winning over this distance at Leopardstown, he should climb the handicap ladder further.
Prediction : 1st Lord Church 2nd Alpha Capture 3rd Silkies Sib

MODEL APPROACH showed improvement when finishing second in first-time blinkers last Saturday and is rated just 1lb higher now. He seemed to benefit from stepping up in trip at Down Royal and while he meets older horses for the first time, he steps up an extra two furlongs which could suit. Lady Christa won easily at Fairyhouse recently but has been raised 11lb and has a more exposed profile that the selection. Robbies Rock has raced just three times and meets more experienced rivals on handicap debut but showed nice improvement when stepping up in distance at Down Royal last month. This is a tougher test but, in common with the selection, he steps up two furlongs in distance and is unexposed.
Prediction : 1st Model Approach 2nd Lady Christa 3rd Robbies Rock