UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

HOSTILITY was fourth in a hot maiden here over 7f before finishing runner-up over the same trip on yielding ground at Listowel. He raced prominently last time and positive tactics are likely to be employed again over this shorter distance. Full Power sported blinkers for his debut when a long way behind the selection at Listowel and will need to take a big step forward to contend. Pickersgill was over six lengths behind Hostility here in August but showed notable improvement when placed over this trip on easy ground at Naas. Saracen, a stablemate of Hostility and ridden by the stable jockey, cost 500,000 euro as a yearling, while Corcovado is a half-brother to three smart sprinters.
Prediction : 1st Hostility 2nd Corcovado 3rd Pickersgill

An extra furlong would be optimal for MERISI DIAMOND but underfoot conditions should make this enough of a test for Joanna Morgan's progressive five-year-old. Well handicapped when winning over C&D in March, he has gone up another 14lb in total for a pair of 7f victories at Roscommon in recent weeks. A big hike may not bother this powerfully-built son of Caravaggio who relishes testing ground. Jon Riggens is coming down to an attractive mark and wasn't beaten far at Naas last time. Bid For Chester, a winner over 5f here on heavy ground in April, is also slipping down the ratings and this trip will suit better than the 7f over which he was third at Naas.
Prediction : 1st Merisi Diamond 2nd Jon Riggens 3rd Bid For Chester

Aidan O'Brien runs four last-time-out maiden winners, none of which are proven on soft ground, and much will depend on their ability to handle underfoot conditions. Ryan Moore is on GISELLE, who has been odds-on for both starts, including when runner-up to a subsequent Group 2-winning stablemate at Leopardstown in June. Not seen for four months after that, she returned with a victory over 7f here and is likely to come on for that outing. Whirl coped with a slight ease when winning over 7f at Doncaster, while the other Ballydoyle inmates, Island Hopping and Mint Candy, have won over this trip and are also open to further improvement. Goffs Million third Celtic Motif has place claims again.
Prediction : 1st Giselle 2nd Whirl 3rd Mint Candy

ELANA OSARIO has progressed with each run and had Radar Ahead nearly three lengths behind when beating all bar Get over 1m3f at Killarney earlier this month. The Paddy Twomey-trained filly has scope for further improvement and is proven on heavy ground. Rubies Are Red is the top-rated and was highly tried earlier this season, but couldn't take advantage of a couple of opportunities since in maidens over this trip at Bellewstown and Galway. Valinor was runner-up over an extended 1m1f here on her second start, while Bloom Vega showed promise in the spring and is another to consider along with Gaoth Chuil, a useful handicap hurdler who will certainly not lack for stamina.
Prediction : 1st Elana Osario 2nd Rubies Are Red 3rd Bloom Vega

CHALLY CHUTE has won three times over this distance and probably ran a career best when just denied in the featured Guinness Handicap at the Galway Festival this summer. The selection will appreciate the drop back to 1m4f after weakening in the closing stages of the Irish Cesarewitch. Helvic Dream bids to repeat his success in this race last year and will have ground conditions to suit. The former Group 1 winner has been mainly campaigned over hurdles since but still retains plenty of ability, while it will be fascinating to see how strong Sonnyboyliston is in the market after a lengthy layoff. He won the Ebor Handicap and the Irish St Leger back in 2021 but hasn't been seen since filling the runner-up spot in a valuable handicap at Riyadh in February 2022.
Prediction : 1st Chally Chute 2nd Helvic Dream 3rd Sonnyboyliston

ALFALFA has been lightly raced this season but indicated he's ready to add to a 1m4f Thurles success on soft ground around this time last year when finishing strongly into third behind Bear Profit over this trip at Naas recently. The Tim Doyle-trained gelding was given plenty to do on that occasion and Wayne Hassett now claims a valuable 5lb. Starting Monday relishes soft ground and also came home well when third at Listowel last time. However, he's probably best suited by a mile and may find this distance a shade too far. Party Dress won well on soft ground at Tipperary back in the spring while others to consider include Nans View, Aljadel and Tartaraghan.
Prediction : 1st Alfalfa 2nd Party Dress 3rd Starting Monday

Although 10lb higher as a result of his recent Navan win, CALZAGHI can follow up. The Kevin Coleman-trained gelding did very well to win at the County Meath track as he was slowly away and had to pass the entire field to gain a first career success. Granted a better break on this occasion, he looks the one to beat. Well-backed Thurles runner-up Warazam (was also engaged to run at Gowran on Monday) gives the impression that she will appreciate stepping up to this trip. Having lost her position early on at Thurles earlier in the month, the three-year-old was finishing strongly inside the final furlong. Colin Keane is an interesting booking on the handicap debutant Wing Glider, with the champion jockey retaining the ride having partnered her at Killarney recently.
Prediction : 1st Calzaghi 2nd Warazam 3rd Wing Glider

Fourth over C&D last time, GENUINE JIM can provide Nicola Burns with a first career winner. Despite being sent off 100/1, the Galileo Gold colt ran a huge race from stall 3 to 'win' his side of a race which was dominated by those drawn high. Potentially much better housed on this occasion, the lightly raced four-year-old can open his account. Purring Along, winner of that aforementioned contest, should again play a leading role. Although she carries a 7lb penalty for that success, that weight is negated by the 10lb claim of the promising Julian Pietropaolo. Dropping back in trip is unlikely to inconvenience recent course runner-up Nahori.
Prediction : 1st Genuine Jim 2nd Purring Along 3rd Nahori