UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

CURRAWOOD was noted staying on in third over C&D on debut last month, which makes him a big player. The horses in fifth and sixth have since shed their maiden tags to give a solid look to the form. He holds an entry in the Group 1 National Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's Ides Of March has big-race entries and can improve from an opening fourth over a furlong shorter at this track. Dakota Blue ran well in second at Tipperary without landing a blow on the winner, while O'Brien's The Lion In Winter was an expensive acquisition and certainly merits a market check ahead of his racecourse bow.
Prediction : 1st Currawood 2nd Ides Of March 3rd Dakota Blue

Joseph O'Brien has landed three of the last four renewals of this race and has a leading contender in RUDI'S APPLE. This No Nay Never colt was a creditable sixth in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before being outgunned in second at Fairyhouse by a useful sort. Shimmy Jimmy has to rate a danger in receipt of plenty of weight. He showed good resolution to beat a big field in a maiden at Navan last weekend. Snapdragon hasn't been beaten overly far in three maidens and ought to get involved for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore, while Withoutfurtherado showed marked improvement in third at Down Royal.
Prediction : 1st Rudis Apple 2nd Shimmy Jimmy 3rd Snapdragon

MY MATE ALFIE has been consistent in stakes company since being fitted with blinkers and had Tango Flare back in third when landing a Listed prize here on Derby weekend. The handicapper left his mark alone and Ger Lyons' charge may be able to follow up. Top-weight Tango Flare is 5lb better off with the selection and there may not be much between them at the revised weights. Prolific winner Mr Wagyu hasn't struck since landing this prize two years ago but comes here in good heart, while Heavenly Power, second here last time, would certainly be a poignant winner. Greek Flower, a fast-finishing runner-up over 5f on her latest outing, is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st My Mate Alfie 2nd Tango Flare 3rd Greek Flower

As ever, a strong challenge from Britain for this Group 2 contest and BELIEVING gets the vote. A Group 3 and three-time Listed winner, she ran two fine races within five days in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot. The form of her Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes fourth was boosted in the July Cup, and she had Makarova over two lengths behind over this trip earlier that week. Makarova has since won a Group 3 at Sandown and merits respect along with dual 5f Listed winner Beautiful Diamond, who may fare best of the three-year-olds. Not beaten far at this level in the Greenlands Stakes over 6f here in May, Ano Syra looks the main hope for the home team.
Prediction : 1st Believing 2nd Makarova 3rd Ano Syra

Trained in France by Cork native Gavin Hernon, DARE TO DREAM got a taste of the Curragh when third to Content over a mile in the autumn. A Group 3 winner in April, she didn't have the clearest of runs when a creditable fifth in the Prix de Diane and her trainer is confident that the daughter of Camelot will relish this step up to 1m4f. Content, the choice of Ryan Moore, ran well against classy older rivals when third over 1m2f in the Pretty Polly, while stablemate Port Fairy proved her effectiveness over this trip when outstaying Lava Stream in the Ribblesdale. Leopardstown maiden winner Lope De Lilas is highly regarded, but takes a steep rise in class.
Prediction : 1st Dare To Dream 2nd Content 3rd Port Fairy

Turning for home in the Ascot Gold Cup, VAUBAN was travelling as well as eventual winner Kyprios but the 2m4f was a bridge too far for Willie Mullins' talented dual-purpose performer, who emptied to finish fourth. Back at the trip over which he was second in the Yorkshire Cup, he can confirm the form of that race with Tower Of London. A winner of valuable staying prizes in Saudi Arabia and Dubai early in the year, perhaps Tower Of London was feeling the effects of his travels when below par at York and a brighter display is expected after a break. Shamida, a dual Group 3 winner over this trip last term, returns after 10 months off.
Prediction : 1st Vauban 2nd Tower Of London 3rd Shamida

PUTURHANDSTOGETHER had Courageous Strike just over a length behind in third when going down narrowly to Tachos over an extended 1m1f at Gowran last month. The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding has progressed when steadily stepped up in trip and Courageous Strike subsequently gave the form a boost when successful here over 1m4f. Siege Of Troy carries top-weight on handicap debut after winning a maiden over C&D last month, while Gibbs Island had the staying-on pair It'sonlyjustbegun and Slurricane behind when runner-up over a similar trip at Roscommon. Lord Church is bidding for a four-timer and is another to bear in mind.
Prediction : 1st Puturhandstogether 2nd Siege Of Troy 3rd Gibbs Island

Kailasa and WHITE CLOVER were separated by about a length when both made their debut behind Zaynab over C&D on testing ground in April. The Joe Murphy-trained filly was subsequently third to Igor Stravinsky and Apricot Ice (won both outings since) at Leopardstown, while Kailasa hasn't really progressed and finished almost three lengths off Castanets when the pair were placed in the Roscommon maiden won by Serious Notions. Castanets could well step forward from that debut effort and rates a greater threat than Counterculture, who is closely matched with Nunc Est Bibendum on running behind Glen Princess at Gowran.
Prediction : 1st White Clover 2nd Castanets 3rd Nunc Est Bibendum