UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

SARATOGA SPECIAL hasn't run since May and has half a length to find with Treasure Isle on Naas form but is open to plenty progression and is well related. A sister to a Group 2-placed sprinter, she was green when wandering around slightly in the middle part of her debut run but showed smart ability to chase home the once-raced winner. It is very encouraging that connections have opted to contest a Listed race on her reappearance run. Treasure Isle finished fourth to the top-class Babouche in a Group 3 here last month but must be considered now back down in class and trip. Shamrock Breeze was narrowly beaten at Deauville recently and holds Morning Vietnam, Treasure Isle and Amazing Athena on previous form. She is consistent and reliable.
Prediction : 1st Saratoga Special 2nd Shamrock Breeze 3rd Treasure Isle

TORIVEGA returns to the scene of two unlucky recent defeats and should be competitive. Out of a Group 2-winning mare, he contested Group races as a juvenile and met significant traffic before finishing strongly on his seasonal reappearance here in May. He again encountered similar in-running trouble over today's C&D in July but this race, at least, has a smaller field and he should compete from his rating. Greek Flower finished second in that recent C&D race but now competes from a career-high mark and might struggle to confirm placings with the selection. Prominent racer Mehmar is in excellent form but also competes from a career-high rating, while the consistent and progressive Pinar Del Rio returns following a short break.
Prediction : 1st Torivega 2nd Greek Flower 3rd Mehmar

GANNAS showed capable ability on debut and drops in grade having contested a good Goodwood maiden last month. He was checked late on on his Fairyhouse debut, with that form being considerably boosted by the winner landing a Group 2 subsequently, and while well held at Goodwood, that race contained many previously-placed runners and looked strong. He concedes weight to newcomers, who will need to be smart to score on debut. Billie Be Quick ran nicely in a useful Naas race last month, but might struggle to beat the selection. Top-weight Distant Seas, an 88,000-pounds breeze-up buy, ran well on debut but didn't build on that at Naas.
Prediction : 1st Gannas 2nd Billie Be Quick 3rd Distant Seas

BOUTELLA's two most recent maidens have been won by horses who have gone on to do much better things and she herself should better today's initial handicap rating of 65. Out of an Italian Listed winner, she was well held by the top-class Babouche in June but, at Fairyhouse last month, encountered some early in-running trouble before showing late promise behind a subsequent Group 2 winner. She has over four lengths to find with Snapdragon on that form, but is significantly better off at the weights and is open to plenty of progression. Snapdragon has proven nursery ability but doesn't appear ahead of the handicapper. South Shore Island has shown ability in maidens and can compete on handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Boutella 2nd Snapdragon 3rd South Shore Island

Last year's St Leger winner CONTINUOUS is unpenalised for that Classic success at Doncaster and should take the beating, despite being beaten at Royal Ascot in June. Ground versatile and high class, he finished fifth in the Arc last October and while he failed to quicken when finishing an underwhelming fifth in the recent Hardwicke Stakes, that was at least his seasonal reappearance run and he meets lesser rivals today. Caught U Looking is herself smart and has finished fifth in the Oaks and the Irish equivalent here, but may struggle to beat the selection as she drops in distance. Trustyourinstinct was possibly flattered to finish so close to Jan Brueghel in June but he is capable and might sneak a place.
Prediction : 1st Continuous 2nd Caught U Looking 3rd Trustyourinstinct

Curragh Cup runner-up GROSVENOR SQUARE can go one better in this slightly lesser grade. Having built up a sizeable early lead on that occasion, the three-year-old looked the most likely winner at the furlong pole, only to be caught close home. Now that connections can be assured of his stamina, the Galileo colt is lightly to be ridden with more restraint. Absurde, winner of the Ebor and County Hurdle, is likely to have a repeat bid for the Melbourne Cup as his main target. With that in mind, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding is entitled to be all the better for this run. A Piece Of Heaven, who was far from disgraced at Royal Ascot last time, should be capable of better now that he steps back up to this longer trip.
Prediction : 1st Grosvenor Square 2nd Absurde 3rd A Piece Of Heaven

Lightly raced for current connections, recent Gowran Park runner-up SHAADEN can register a first career success. Having shown promise on a couple of occasions at Dundalk over the winter, the filly was highly tried in Listed company on her return to turf at Cork in March. Although failing to make much impact on that occasion, the four-year-old ran better when sixth at Gowran Park subsequently. Her latest staying-on second back at that same venue suggests her turn is near. Inablink made a very promising stable debut when fifth at Gowran Park last month. If the filly reproduces that effort, she is entitled to go very close here, for all that her best form has come at the County Kilkenny track. Recent Naas second Viva Voce should be suited to stepping back up a furlong now.
Prediction : 1st Shaaden 2nd Inablink 3rd Viva Voce

Previous course winner SATURN SEVEN looks well drawn on her return to the Curragh. Successful over 5f here last October, the Eddie Lynam-trained filly was showing her versatility having won over 7f for previous connections. This intermediate trip should prove ideal for the daughter of Sioux Nation. Imperial Dream drops back to sprinting for the first time since joining trainer Pat Flynn. A strong traveller in his races, the former British-trained gelding should be able to cope with the likely faster pace of this race. Having run on strongly over 5f at Tipperary recently, Magic Force is certainly worth another try at this longer distance.
Prediction : 1st Saturn Seven 2nd Imperial Dream 3rd Magic Force