14:00 Snowfall
It’s another feast of racing at the Curragh on Sunday and we kick off with a maiden for fillies. It’s hard to get away from the Aidan O’Brien-trained team here and I reckon there is no doubt SNOWFALL will be better for the step up in trip on offer.
She finished strong at Naas, and while stablemate Willow is an interesting runner as she is out of Oaks winner Peeping Fawn, I’m picking Snowfall to win the opener.
15:10 Napa Valley
I was very taken with the performance of NAPA VALLEY at Leopardstown when this colt won, and he put up a very fast time for Aidan O’Brien to boot.
Rebel Tale has a much easier option than when running in the Guineas last time out. Keats was expected to win at Gowran Park when odds on, so he could well improve for that and will be the main danger to my selection.
15:45 Urban Beat
The rocking Johnny Murtagh is operating at 28% strike rate at the moment and URBAN BEAT ran a lovely warm-up for this at Naas last time. He has decent form at the track too. He is lumping lots of weight, but he has won off a mark close to this previously, so this is not out of his reach.
Strong Johnson got a 9lbs rise for a comfy win at the track last time, but it would be silly to dismiss his chance with Colin Keane again riding.
16:15 Forever In Dreams
Make A Challenge is yet another success story for Denis Hogan, while Speak In Colours ran well at Royal Ascot in the Kings Stand and has strong form here at the track. This is a quick turnaround for the Greenlands Stakes, so that makes me keen on FOREVER IN DREAMS.
This filly ran some cracking races last season and with first time cheekpieces on after a good run at Naas, she is a very good value bet in a tough contest.
16:45 Cayenne Pepper
This looks an almost perfect opportunity for Aidan O’Brien’s Magical to get back to winning ways.
She is short in the betting for the Pretty Polly Stakes though and it could pay to gamble on Jessie Harrington’s filly CAYENNE PEPPER, who is in receipt of 12lb and can catch her when she is not fully wound up.
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Mick Fitzgerald’s tips summary:
14:00 Snowfall
15:10 Napa Valley
15:45 Urban Beat
16:15 Forever In Dreams
16:45 Cayenne Pepper
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Horse Racing Tips: Our Traders’ Domestic NAPS of the weekend are in
- Horse Racing Tips: A tasty trio of best bets for the Curragh on Sunday
- Horse racing tips: Paul Jacobs’ value-picked long-shots for the weekend