UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Newly-licensed Robson De Aguiar runs four in this season's opener and his yard might win it for the fourth consecutive year with FORCE NOIR, who is first string on jockey bookings. Sold for 68,000 euros and 130,000 euros respectively as a foal and a yearling, he is a half-brother to five winners, including a Listed victor, and while he encounters testing ground, he will know his job. Stablemates Bull Shark, a half-brother to a Group-placed winner, and What A Girl Wants, a half-sister to four winners, were also each purchased from Tally-Ho Stud and could be capable. Equus Victor is out of a winning mare who has produced a black-type performer and is stallion Blackbeard's first runner.
Prediction : 1st Force Noir 2nd Equus Victor 3rd What A Girl Wants

BREAKING DAWN showed ability last autumn and can put that experience to good use. A 47,000gns breeze-up purchase, he is a half-brother to two winners and although no star, he ran nicely on both starts, has shown an ability to handle easy ground, and Colin Keane rides. Monmouth is out of a Listed-winning sister to smart performers Gustav Klimt and Wonderfully, but it is a small negative that he was listed - albeit subsequently withdrawn - from a horses-in-training sale last October. Fate's Gambit disappointed at Dundalk last month and now encounters heavy ground.
Prediction : 1st Breaking Dawn 2nd Monmouth 3rd Fates Gambit

MICKEY THE STEEL relishes testing conditions and will be ready for this early-season reappearance. A five-time winner, he is now an eight-year-old but held his form last autumn. Jon Riggens is another eight-year-old with solid claims, as three of his four wins have come at this course. He also handles heavy ground and should compete, despite having to carry 10 stone. Two And Two runs in a first-time hood and scored over this distance at Dundalk in January, but now encounters contrasting ground conditions.
Prediction : 1st Mickey The Steel 2nd Jon Riggens 3rd Two And Two

DMANIAC is at his best on heavy ground at this course and remains capable of further progression as a four-year-old. He is generally consistent and while he has won just once from 10 starts, that success came on his latest start in October and connections will have had this race in mind since. Staysound Susie also goes well on easy ground and while she too scored on her latest start here, she is more exposed than the selection. Unique Journey can also go well.
Prediction : 1st Dmaniac 2nd Staysound Susie 3rd Unique Journey

SIGNORA makes her first start since finishing mid-division in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. The Frankel filly was sent off favourite that day having made a very promising debut in Group 3 company at Naas the previous month. The form of that race has worked out well as the winner Lady Iman went on to score again at the same level, while runner-up Green Sense was a Group 2 winner in France. Girl Bear was third on her debut at Galway in a decent contest, but that form wouldn't look anywhere near as strong. Feel The Love, a St Mark's Basilica half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Fancy Blue, is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Signora 2nd Girl Bear 3rd Feel The Love

ENGINES ON has won twice at the Curragh and likes a good dig in the ground. He finished last season with a victory over 7f here and was value for a bit more than his winning margin. The Sioux Nation gelding ran a cracker in the Irish Cambridgeshire over this trip previously and there looks to be a nice prize in him this season. Ribee was progressive in testing conditions last autumn and is another who could still be on an upward curve. Top-weight Big Gossey rarely runs a bad race, but may be vulnerable against less-exposed types. Tuscan Hill was a Listed winner in soft ground and is an interesting contender on his first outing for Robson De Aguiar.
Prediction : 1st Engines On 2nd Ribee 3rd Tuscan Hills

NAVINSKY was just edged out late on when second at Navan in September and may be able to go one better now. The Zarak gelding went down by a neck to Railwayview Lady that day and had recent Cheltenham Festival winner Saratoga back in third. Ryan Moore rides Scientific so he looks the pick of the Ballydoyle newcomers. The Wootton Bassett colt is a half-brother to Group 3 winners Taniyar, Tanaza and Tarawa. Stablemate Shaftesbury Avenue is a half-brother to three-time US Grade 1 winner Up To The Mark, while Spanish Rising is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Navinsky 2nd Scientific 3rd Spanish Rising

KAKORI showed progression last season and may be able to make a winning return here. The Le Havre filly stayed on nicely to finish fifth in testing conditions on her handicap debut at Gowran last October. The four-year-old looks open to further improvement this term. La Tulipe Noire ran well over seven furlongs here in November and she's capable of getting involved. Former C&D winner Starting Monday is a fairly consistent sort and is another who could make his presence felt.
Prediction : 1st Kakori 2nd La Tulipe Noire 3rd Starting Monday