UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Ryan Moore sides with DARKNESS FALLS and he may prove the pick. The Camelot colt shaped nicely when third on his debut at Leopardstown and that form has worked out well. The winner Green Dreamer was third in Group 2 company here last week, while the runner-up Shakespeare was a maiden winner earlier in the month. Stablemate Albany County was an eyecatcher when fourth on his introduction here 13 days ago and is a lively second string. He is also open to a nice bit of improvement. Joseph O'Brien has already had a nice winner for Juddmonte and Cluster is an interesting newcomer. The Frankel colt is out of a winning full-sister to brilliant racemare Midday.
Prediction : 1st Darkness Falls 2nd Albany County 3rd Cluster

Connections feel a mile will bring improvement from SO LOVELY and she could prove the one to beat. The Wootton Bassett filly, a daughter of brilliant racemare Love, won on her third attempt at Leopardstown nine days ago and there should be more to come now back up in trip as her dam was an Oaks winner. She is fancied to turn the tables on Bellesque, who she chased home on her first start. That Joseph O'Brien-trained filly has run well to finish placed in Listed company against the boys since. Samnina won a decent looking Galway maiden last month and the runner-up has been second in a Listed race since. She's another to consider.
Prediction : 1st So Lovely 2nd Bellesque 3rd Samnina

LUCA BRILLANTE showed a nice bit of improvement on her third outing at Roscommon and may be able to make a winning start in handicap company. The No Nay Never filly just lost out close home to the more experienced Cashel Queen and a mark of 78 looks fair. Banks Of The Boyne gained a deserved success in a Leopardstown maiden and looks an obvious contender. Tradewinds finished mid-division in a maiden here last time, but had some good placed form previously and is capable of getting involved.
Prediction : 1st Luca Brillante 2nd Banks Of The Boyne 3rd Tradewinds

GREAT BARRIER REEF comes here after being taken out at Deauville last Sunday and can make a winning return after a little break. The No Nay Never colt was last seen completing a hat-trick in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He still looked a touch green then, drifting left when on his own in the centre, and there could be further improvement to come. Velozee looks the obvious threat, getting a nice chunk of weight. She ran a fine race to finish third behind Sun Goddess in the Phoenix Stakes over C&D earlier in the month. Livenka was a cosy winner of the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas and deserves a shot at this level.
Prediction : 1st Great Barrier Reef 2nd Velozee 3rd Livenka

English runner MISS SCOTT has a smart pedigree and has progressed well in four career starts. By a top stallion and a half-sister to two Listed winners, she herself finished runner-up at Listed level at Salisbury earlier this month, with the third-placed filly having previously contested the French Oaks. The Gosdens' three-year-old likes this distance and handles somewhat easy ground. Faiyum has disappointed on two runs this year but is nonetheless able, while Sindria drops in grade after contesting a Group 3 in June. Pivotal Attack and Meriden are closely matched on their two respective recent Listed wins.
Prediction : 1st Miss Scott 2nd Faiyum 3rd Sindria

HARDY WARRIOR was a smart juvenile and ran well in a recent Listed race. Runner-up to Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini last September before finishing fourth in a Group 1, the Pinatubo colt ran well in a Galway handicap in July and was a fast-finishing third at Killarney last week. He should continue to progress and will be fine on softening ground. Pierre Royal finished second in that Galway race, with Irish Lincolnshire winner Ribee in fifth, and both are capable handicappers. Manton Bay is hindered by a 7lb penalty for a recent success, while stablemate Slieve Binnian would prefer a sound surface. Popular top-weight Big Gossey has had another excellent year, but has never won at a mile.
Prediction : 1st Hardy Warrior 2nd Pierre Royal 3rd Ribee

APOTHIC RED steps up in grade having finished second at Sligo, but should be competitive. Although well held in maidens, he wasn't beaten far behind prolific winner Meriden here in April and ran well under a big weight at Sligo. He has been raised 2lb, but his jockey claims 7lb and he gets the nod. Naoi hit the back of the net at Leopardstown, but is effectively 9lb higher as his same rider is unable to utilise his 5lb claim. Rosato is 4lb higher and without her rider's 5lb claim having finished second over C&D last week. Faoladh tries this trip for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Apothic Red 2nd Rosato 3rd Naoi

'Nina in the bumper' hasn't been whispered at an Irish racecourse in some years, but the Carberry clan's politician returns for a one-off spin in this Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Charity Race and can score on high-class hurdler NDAAWI. Winner of the 2025 Galway Hurdle, Ndaawi was mid-division when attempting to defend his crown in July but drops in company for today's commendable cause. Pat Smullen's old ally, trainer Dermot Weld, is well represented by his grandson Alister Weld, who takes his first ride on Wild Sapphire.
Prediction : 1st Ndaawi 2nd Wild Sapphire 3rd The Mediator