UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Truth Be Told is the pick of those with previous racecourse experience. After catching the eye at Naas, he was made favourite at Galway but proved disappointing after missing the kick. A chance is taken on Jessica Harrington's SOME PERFORMANCE in light of the fact that the son of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Oscar Performance holds an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Balibel was first home in a barrier trial at Leopardstown and can put that experience to good use, while Aidan O'Brien starts off three sons of Wootton Bassett including Expanded, who is a half-brother to a juvenile Group 3 winner over 7f.
Prediction : 1st Some Performance 2nd Expanded 3rd Truth Be Told

GISELLE stands out here given the fact that she was sent off odds-on when beaten by talented stablemate Bedtime Story at Leopardstown in June. The latter went on to win her next three starts in stakes company including a Group 2 and the selection, although possibly vulnerable after an absence, should be hard to beat. Aidan O'Brien also runs a couple of interesting newcomers in the shape of Galileo filly Eternal Spirit and Mariinsky Theatre, who is a sister to a dual Group 3 winner. Edge Of Seventeen was a promising third on debut at Naas, while Kitty Rickets showed improvement when second at Cork.
Prediction : 1st Giselle 2nd Mariinsky Theatre 3rd Edge Of Seventeen

LITTLE QUEENIE has steadily gone up through the ranks in handicaps and ran well when fourth in stakes company over 5f at Tipperary latest. Paul Flynn's likeable grey is equally as effective over this trip and has a good record at this venue. Firebird was narrowly defeated by Shandy in a Group 3 contest at Naas but the latter, who has finished down the field in a handicap here since, was aided by racing on the quicker part of the track and might struggle to uphold that form. Dance Night Andday has had a fine season and landed a valuable handicap over 7f at Leopardstown last time.
Prediction : 1st Little Queenie 2nd Firebird 3rd Dance Night Andday

THE BEAR TRAP is still seeking a first victory but has gone close several times, including over course and distance in May. John Geoghegan's three-year-old was coming back from a break when not beaten far at Fairyhouse recently and gets the vote. Mile End turns out quickly under a penalty after bolting up over a mile at Bellewstown on Wednesday. She won here over this trip as a two-year-old and any rain that arrives will help her cause. Never Shout Never has been running consistently of late.
Prediction : 1st The Bear Trap 2nd Mile End 3rd Never Shout Never

WHIMSY has strong claims after gaining a deserved win last time. That came over 1m6f at Carlisle and followed a fine second over this trip at York when Aine O'Connor was on board. Zoffanien comes here in good form but has been running over longer trips and may have to settle for minor honours again. Polemon was a winner over this distance at Tipperary last month and has posted a couple of solid efforts since, while Sylkie is also noted.
Prediction : 1st Whimsy 2nd Zoffanien 3rd Polemon

Having met over C&D last weekend, there is little to choose between Harry's Hill, Emerald Harmony, GREEK FLOWER and Apache Outlaw. The selection won twice last year, including once at this venue, and has been runner-up in a couple of valuable Curragh handicaps this term. Dontspoilasale (second) and Harry's Hill (third) filled the minor places over 5f at Down Royal on Monday, while Grand City Hall has won twice over 6f at Cork this year.
Prediction : 1st Greek Flower 2nd Emerald Harmony 3rd Apache Outlaw

WRIST ART won twice around this time last year including on soft ground over a mile at Thurles and is down to a competitive mark. The Tim Doyle-trained gelding got no luck in running at Listowel last time and may reverse places with the runner-up Clarita. Nahori and Lady Arwen have similar profiles to the selection having also dropped in the ratings and come here off the back of promising runs. Hurricane Helen is another for the shortlist following her recent third at Dundalk.
Prediction : 1st Wrist Art 2nd Nahori 3rd Lady Arwen

POSITIVE ENERGY showed promise in maidens and has been placed twice since switched to handicap company including when not enjoying the clearest of passages over a similar distance at Galway last time. The Willie McCreery-trained gelding should still have scope for further improvement and gets the vote over Kinda Tiny, who won at Galway last year and again struck form in the autumn over this trip at Gowran last month. Alessia Fernanda's 7lb penalty for winning at Cork is cancelled out by Keithen Kennedy's claim, while others to consider include Selective Power, Magic Charm, Kiki Roberts and Redemptive Power.
Prediction : 1st Positive Energy 2nd Kinda Tiny 3rd Alessia Fernanda