UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Adrian Murray has won this race for the past two years with smart juveniles and riding arrangements suggest POWER BLUE is the pick of his trio. The Space Blues colt from a useful Italian family cost 44,000 pounds as a yearling. Jim Bolger has had many sharp early two-year-olds over the years and he relies on Slaney View, who is by Mehmas and out of a Vocalised mare who has already produced two winners. Zaltan, by Lucky Vega and out of a Listed winner, and the Supremacy filly Ski Supreme are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Power Blue 2nd Slaney View 3rd Zaltan

CLEVER AND CUTE was placed twice in maidens on testing ground last year and this is effectively her first handicap having unseated rider when hitting a rail soon after the start on her latest start at Listowel. She hails from a family that the yard has done well with in the past including Group 3 winner Clever And Cool. Tai Tam Bay got a hefty rise for an impressive win on her reappearance at Naas last spring but held her form well throughout the year, while course winner Back Down Under and New Theory are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Clever And Cute 2nd Tai Tam Bay 3rd New Theory

BIG GOSSEY continues to hold his form well despite his advancing years and returns to his favourite track with strong claims. The selection has won seven times at this venue including three premier handicaps over C&D and having signed off on a winning note on the turf here last November, he's performed with credit on three outings at Dundalk this year. Merisi Diamond and Stag Night both handle soft ground well and are two for the shortlist, while Love Billy Boy won on testing ground at Chester last year for Richard Hannon and is an interesting addition to Ger O'Leary's yard.
Prediction : 1st Big Gossey 2nd Stag Night 3rd Merisi Diamond

WIN ME OVER is Aidan O'Brien's sole representative from three entries at the five-day stage and the Kingman filly is bred to be smart, being a sister to top-class miler Palace Pier. Saol Nios Gile and Bint Queen Kindly are other newcomers to keep an eye on in the market. Murkala made a promising debut over C&D but didn't really progress in two subsequent starts, while Wannabe Royal was placed on both outings at Dundalk over the winter. Kitty Rickets showed promise in three maidens last year, while Copacabana Sands was unlucky in running when a close third in a valuable Naas event over this trip last autumn.
Prediction : 1st Win Me Over 2nd Murkala 3rd Wannabe Royal

Another wide-open renewal and 2022 winner RAADOBARG may be worth a shot. He won this off a mark of 98 and is now 3lb lower. The Night Of Thunder gelding was third 12 months ago off a mark of 105 and slipped down the handicap last season, despite a few good efforts. Chris Hayes has won the race twice in the last four years and Independent Expert is an interesting runner on her first outing for Stephen Thorne. She was just edged out in the Irish Cambridgeshire and handles cut in the ground. Rhythm King ended last season in fine form and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Raadobarg 2nd Independent Expert 3rd Rhythm King

The 90-rated FIRST WAVE sets a good standard and should prove the one to beat if stripping fit. The Wootton Bassett colt was pipped close home on his debut here in October before another solid effort to chase home stablemate Serengeti at Dundalk later that month. Former Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share is a fascinating runner. He has had his issues and hasn't set the world alight in two hurdle runs this winter, but has the ability to make a nice Flat horse. Admiral Churchill chased home a smart horse in Rock Of Cashel in a Galway maiden last July and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st First Wave 2nd A Dream To Share 3rd Admiral Churchill

PANDION POWER may be able to pick up the winning thread again on his return to action. The Footstepsinthesand gelding won twice in soft ground in October and ended his campaign by finishing a solid third at Galway. That final run was his third in a fortnight. Off the same mark, there may be another race in him. Escape Act was a winner in soft ground in England and is one to note on his first outing for Richard O'Brien. English horses can be well handicapped coming to Ireland. Matthew Smith saddles La La Lucrative, a winner at Leicester when last seen, and he's another to note.
Prediction : 1st Pandion Power 2nd Escape Act 3rd La La Lucrative

CHESTER NIMITZ ran a big race on his debut at Navan last season when pushing Majestic Wave to half a length, and it was a solid effort to finish third at Dundalk three weeks later. Back on turf, there looks scope for further improvement. Alfred Tennyson is rated a couple of pounds superior and had some solid form last season. He's a leading contender on the pick of his juvenile form. Mathan ran well with cut in the ground when second to Bodhi Bear at Navan and is another who has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Chester Nimitz 2nd Alfred Tennyson 3rd Mathan