UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Aidan O'Brien has a particularly strong group of juveniles this season and perhaps OFFICER can provide the Ballydoyle team with another success. The Dubawi colt is out of the Group 1 winner Hydrangea which makes him a brother to Wingspan, who won the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes recently at Gowran. The first-time blinkered Thrice is another that makes plenty of appeal on pedigree, while Tribal Nation is also by Wootton Bassett and the 155,000gns yearling is out of a Group 3-winning daughter of Sepoy. Snapper Rocks won a barrier trial at Naas last month and is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Officer 2nd Thrice 3rd Tribal Nation

DESERT POWER has been placed on all three outings in sprint maidens this year and may get a winning turn. The Slade Power gelding beat all bar the speedy Sturlasson on debut at Navan and again finished well behind Mehmar (won again since) at the same venue last month with Yaxchilan three lengths back in fourth. Red Hugh O'Donnell had Pansy Poe and White Clover behind when runner-up to Emerald Harmony on his reappearance at Tipperary earlier this month and should be suited by the extra furlong. Pansy Poe has shaped well here on a couple of occasions and appeals most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Desert Power 2nd Red Hugh ODonnell 3rd Pansy Poe

Joseph O'Brien's SHODA should have a future in handicaps. She put in a promising debut effort when third in a maiden at Killarney and built on that when scoring at the Galway Festival. The way she forged on well to score by almost four lengths bodes well for her first handicap assignment. Her stablemate Perfect Portrait could enjoy this drop in class. She didn't show in a Group 3 at Fairyhouse last month, but has been given a break since. Aird is nicely weighted with Robyn Donaghue-Leahy taking 7lb off her back, while O'Brien's Belhaven and recent Dundalk winner Ameerat Jumaira are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Shoda 2nd Perfect Portrait 3rd Aird

Aidan O'Brien has mentioned 7f for HENRI MATISSE on both occasions that he won over 6f at this track and the Group 2 Railway Stakes winner is taken to bring up his hat-trick. This is due to be the slowest ground he will encounter, but the progeny of Wootton Bassett are showing a real aptitude for soft ground. The 107-rated Hotazhell provides stiff opposition as he took a Group 3 over an extended 7f on his latest outing at Leopardstown. Prior to that, he shed his maiden status over C&D. O'Brien's Rock Of Cashel and Mehmas colt Scorthy Champ are winners that definitely add further spice to the mix.
Prediction : 1st Henri Matisse 2nd Hotazhell 3rd Rock Of Cashel

It will be a huge shock if this doesn't go to Ballydoyle and BEDTIME STORY, who is unbeaten in three starts. The daughter of Frankel was a hugely impressive winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and readily defeated stablemate Exactly in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month. She can take the next step up the Pattern ladder in her stride. The other O'Brien runner is Bubbling, who was a taking winner of a Galway maiden and holds Group 1 entries in the autumn.
Prediction : 1st Bedtime Story 2nd Bubbling 3rd Exactly

SACRED OATH might be able to get off the mark at the third attempt. The daughter of Lope De Vega was a promising third over C&D on debut and, having travelled strongly, it looked like 1m4f was too far when she filled the same position at Galway. Coming back in trip looks a wise move. Raydamann has been caught close home in his last two starts having been ridden prominently and is likely to contend again, while Ard Na Mara kept on steadily into fourth at Gowran Park and is open to improvement. Fighter, well held in third on his seasonal return, is blinkered as is stablemate Revelry, a well-bred newcomer who cost plenty as a yearling.
Prediction : 1st Sacred Oath 2nd Raydamann 3rd Ard Na Mara

TACHOS hasn't been out of the first three home in her four starts this year and has decent claims in an open contest. Dermot Weld's filly got the better of Puturhandstogether at Gowran Park in June and is better off at the weights. The daughter of Gleneagles did little wrong when finding one too good over this trip at Naas earlier in the month. Like the selection, Puturhandstogether has done well since entering handicap company and defeated some in-form rivals over C&D last month. He is open to more improvement and Down Royal winner Masoun is another three-year-old with scope for further progress.
Prediction : 1st Tachos 2nd Puturhandstogether 3rd Masoun

Handicap debutant GOLDRUSH KID met with a setback after showing promise on debut at this venue last year. He returned at the back-end to finish runner-up at Navan and again shaped well at Sligo in May. He might prefer an extra furlong, but his trainer has always held him in high regard and the son of Unfortunately could be on a nice mark. Never Shout Never has dropped to a competitive mark and had plenty of rivals behind when fourth over 6f here last weekend. New headgear is fitted and he has won over this trip. A dual course winner over further, Merisi Diamond will be suited by any easing of the ground.
Prediction : 1st Goldrush Kid 2nd Never Shout Never 3rd Merisi Diamond