UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Aidan O'Brien's DELACROIX should be all the better from an opening second place at Leopardstown. He holds some notable big-race entries, including in the Group 1 National Stakes at this track, and is a half-brother to a Group 3 winner. Majestic Wave has shown improvement on each of his three starts and got up to dead-heat for second when last seen at Naas in July. First-time cheekpieces are tried in a bid to continue the progress. O'Brien also introduces Dubawi colt Acapulco Bay. who holds a Group 2 entry and merits respect. Other newcomers who could go well are Joseph O'Brien's Hostility and Storm Piece, a son of Night Of Thunder representing Ger Lyons and Juddmonte.
Prediction : 1st Delacroix 2nd Majestic Wave 3rd Acapulco Bay

IDES OF MARCH has a host of Group-race entries and could get off the mark at the third time of asking for Aidan O'Brien. He gave best in third in the closing stages over further in what looked a decent maiden here last month. Lunigiana was no match for a subsequent Group 3 winner when second on debut in Cork, but that was a fair effort. She then wasn't beaten far into third at Naas, so has strong claims. Monumental, a stablemate of Ides Of March, gets blinkers and ought to show more on his second start.
Prediction : 1st Ides Of March 2nd Lunigiana 3rd Monumental

The regally-bred FALLING SNOW travelled smoothly in a barrier trial on the Polytrack at Dundalk before quickening away smartly to score. She is of interest on her racecourse bow, on quick ground, for Donnacha O'Brien. Ballet Slippers has to rate an obvious threat after an opening third behind an impressive winner over C&D last month and Ryan Moore stays loyal. There is a lot to like about her stablemate, Tea Rose, on paper and she ought to have the necessary speed for this debut assignment. Saxon Warrior filly Celtic Motif was an expensive acquisition at the sales and is in good hands for her track career.
Prediction : 1st Falling Snow 2nd Ballet Slippers 3rd Tea Rose

James Fanshawe's KIND OF BLUE looks dangerous on the back of a fourth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and a staying-on third in a Group 3 at Newbury. Electric Storm won three of her first four races in Britain, including at Listed level, and was just pipped in second in a Group 3 at Deauville. Shartash was a neck behind her in third in France and his rating of 111 means that he should be a force. Givemethebeatboys wasn't a factor in the Commonwealth Cup, but he can acquit himself well on this occasion, while last year's winner Moss Tucker would prefer cut in the ground.
Prediction : 1st Kind Of Blue 2nd Electric Storm 3rd Shartash

SO MAJESTIC has kept good company this season without winning, but could rectify that here. Katie McGivern's charge took second in a very competitive handicap in Cork last month which sets her up nicely for this sprint. Greek Flower is really climbing the weights after two runner-up finishes in high-quality handicaps at this track. She likes to be played late and will be coming home stronger than most. Little Queenie has plenty of speed in her armoury and resumed winning ways in Dundalk last month. Samrogue, who is up a whopping 15lb for routing a big field in Cork, is another to consider as she travelled strongly that day.
Prediction : 1st So Majestic 2nd Greek Flower 3rd Little Queenie

July Stakes winner WHISTLEJACKET should prove difficult to beat on this step up to Group 1 level. A prominent runner who finds plenty for pressure, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt sets a strong standard for the rest to aim at. The unexposed Anglesey Stakes heroine Babouche is a serious threat for the Ger Lyons stable. Unbeaten in both starts to date, the Kodiac filly came forward from an impressive debut win at Cork to land the Group 3 contest at this course last month. York winner Shadow Army failed to live up to expectations when sent off favourite for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot but looked back to somewhere near his best when runner-up in France recently.
Prediction : 1st Whistlejacket 2nd Babouche 3rd Shadow Army

Having seemingly run below-par last time, the Denis Cullen-trained CHARLISSE could represent some value in a competitive sprint handicap. The Camacho mare probably ran a good deal better than her finishing position suggests, as she was drawn low and had to do too much in the early stages. Only weakening from over a furlong out, she is better judged on her previous second from a similarly high draw to this afternoon. C&D winner Merisi Diamond is interesting now back with his original trainer Joanna Morgan. The five-year-old hasn't been seen since April but had been in good form for Martin Brassil in the early part of the campaign. The progressive Keke should have every chance with James Ryan taking off 5lb.
Prediction : 1st Charlisse 2nd Merisi Diamond 3rd Keke

The Ger Lyons-trained QUADRUPLE can resume winning ways having lost out by the minimum margin at Leopardstown last month. Successful on her previous start at Limerick, the three-year-old looks a progressive filly who is open to more improvement than the majority of her rivals. Genuine Article was well supported when just finding one too good at Galway on his most recent outing. Although raised 5lb subsequently, that hike is negated by the claim of James Ryan. C&D winner Global Energy has been in excellent form of late, so the Sheila Lavery-trained five-year-old has to be a contender under Robbie Colgan. Although on a career-high mark, the gelding comes into this at the top of his game.
Prediction : 1st Quadruple 2nd Genuine Article 3rd Global Energy