UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

ROCK OF CASHEL represents the top yard and on pedigree, stands out. A half-brother to wide-margin Oaks winner Snowfall and Group-placed Alfred Munnings, his Group 3-winning dam is a sister to top racemare Found and the selection debuts in a race in which City Of Troy won for his same connections last year. Bernard Shaw, a $1,800,000 yearling purchase, is out of a Canadian Grade 2 winner and is a sibling to three black type performers - one of whom today's rider John Velazquez rode in America. Another stablemate of the selection, Trinity College is out of 1,000 Guineas winner Hermosa, while Hazdann showed promise when meeting some traffic on debut at Gowran.
Prediction : 1st Rock Of Cashel 2nd Bernard Shaw 3rd Hazdann

APRICOT ICE debuts in handicaps as a three-year-old against seasoned types but her form is strong and she should better her 87 rating. She was well held in a Listed race as a juvenile but her form since is largely consistent and won when dropping to this distance last month, with the third-placed filly winning well on Wednesday. Red Letter Bray is ideally suited by this distance and is ground-versatile. He won at 100/1 on debut for new connections over C&D last month but is 6lb higher now. The lightly-raced Charlisse dropped to this distance for the first time when beaten just a nose over C&D last month and should compete from 3lb higher on just her third turf start.
Prediction : 1st Apricot Ice 2nd Red Letter Bray 3rd Charlisse

TRULY ENCHANTING needs to show more than when finishing mid-division in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot 10 days ago but it is hoped that stepping up in distance will help greatly. She seemed outpaced at halfway when scoring impressively on soft ground on her Tipperary debut last month and having been well beaten in the fast-ground, five-furlongs contest at Ascot, today's longer distance could suit much better. American Bar overcame greenness and a slow start when winning at Listowel, with the eye-catching fourth-placed filly winning on Wednesday. Today's race is much stronger but she will be much more streetwise. California Dreamer finished fifth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and holds Cradle Of Love and Barnavara on form.
Prediction : 1st Truly Enchanting 2nd American Bar 3rd California Dreamer

JAN BRUEGHEL won impressively on his debut over today's C&D last month, is a well-bred brother to Irish Derby winner Sovereign and has many big-race entries. The form of that maiden success is far from outstanding and he started a largely unsupported 7/2 shot, but won in the manner of a potentially high-class type and should progress with racing. Bolster has progressed very well in handicaps recently and while he is the top adjusted-rated runner, he was previously well beaten in his sole stakes start. Wendla defeated the subsequent Irish 1,000 Guineas fourth to win a Group 3 last month and faces a slightly stiffer task today, as she also steps up to this distance for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Jan Brueghel 2nd Bolster 3rd Wendla

BLUESTOCKING finished second in last year's Irish Oaks and won well on her seasonal reappearance. Frustrating to follow last year, she nonetheless produced many fine efforts in defeat, is dependable, suited by conditions and seemed better than ever at York. Emily Upjohn is top-class on her day and was unfortunate not to have won the 2022 Oaks at Epsom. A keen-goer, she won the Coronation Cup last June but her latest runs have been disappointing. She is the top adjusted-rated runner but needs to reproduce her best. Stay Alert was flattered to beat subsequent Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Running Lion so well at Newmarket recently, as the runner-up hung left, but finished second in this race last year.
Prediction : 1st Bluestocking 2nd Emily Upjohn 3rd Stay Alert

BIALYSTOK hasn't run on the Flat for 1019 days but is a 140-rated hurdler who has shown pace over jumps. His champion trainer is seeking a first win in this race and while the selection hasn't run since falling at the Punchestown Festival, he had smart French Flat form some years ago and, being still just a six-year-old, should compete from his 92 rating. Scholarship is capable at this level and while well held on two recent course visits, the winner of both races subsequently won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot. Good Heavens notably finished second in the 2022 Irish Cambridgeshire but is long absent and, under top-weight, might prove best watched for now.
Prediction : 1st Bialystok 2nd Scholarship 3rd Good Heavens

GALEN finished second to City Of Troy on his debut on last year's Derby weekend and should benefit from his course reappearance run last month, having again shown smart form. A flashy type, it was mildly disappointing he failed to win here last month but was beaten by a race-fit rival and the well-held third-placed horse has scored easily subsequently. Lucky Out and barrier trial winner Lucky Melody are closely matched on recent Leopardstown form, with the latter shaping as though she would improve considerably at a longer distance. Next Trick faces a stiffer task than when finishing second at Gowran recently.
Prediction : 1st Galen 2nd Lucky Melody 3rd Lucky Out

JOHN STEINBECK's pedigree reads very well and he could be smart. His Group 2-winning dam is a sister to four Group 1 winners, including dual Classic winner Gleneagles, and while he makes a belated debut, he does so on a big weekend and Ryan Moore takes the ride. Arnaman ran a notable race on debut in March and has since changed hands. At Dundalk he started a 100/1 shot and chased home last year's Debutante Stakes runner-up Sakti, while the third-placed horse won a maiden subsequently. He has been gelded since and now runs in a first-time tongue-tie. Emerald Eclipse has shown some useful form but is rated just 73 and needs to improve to win.
Prediction : 1st John Steinbeck 2nd Arnaman 3rd Emerald Eclipse