A competitive 8 race Curragh card for us to enjoy this Sunday. It looks a tricky enough card. Monaasib should win the maiden at 17:15. He brings the best form to the table, and is favoured by the weights.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid the bookies will be well aware of these facts. Not unlike skinny jeans, skinny prices aren’t really my bag. In fact, I retain high hopes that my collection of bootcut jeans will return to the height of fashion any day now. Here are four selections that can go well at rewarding odds.
14:35 Orchid Gardens
The fillies handicap is an interesting race. Sonaiyla heads the weights. She got a massive ratings hike after winning a stakes race last time out. She was probably flattered by a track bias that day. In a change of tactics, connections opted to make the running with her.
For the sake of my selection I hope that, despite returning to seven furlongs, they adopt positive tactics again here. Orchid Gardens is that selection. She’s inclined to be keen in her races. Despite running freely, and a troubled passage in the race, she finished a good fourth on her comeback at this course a couple of weeks ago.
The handicapper hasn’t missed that promise. He has raised her five pounds in the weights. For context, the winner that day, Music To My Ears who reopposes here, only got six pounds. I’m hopeful she’s still well handicapped.
The subsequent efforts of the horses that finished around Orchid Gardens that day have been mixed. I’d be relatively confident it’s decent form but that run may have taken the fizz out of her.
From a good draw, this strong travelling sort should be comfortable dropping back to seven furlongs. If they go a decent pace, she can finish strongest of all.
15:10 More Beautiful
What to do with More Beautiful? She runs in what appears a strong renewal of the Airlie Stakes. This filly was uber impressive on debut in Naas. The second has gone in since. On the back of that run she was sent off even money for the Queen Mary in Ascot.
She was a bitter disappointment that day, adding grist to the mill of those who decry her sire War Front. A family of unreliable poseurs they say. I’m unconvinced. As, clearly, are the breeders who pay $250,000 for a teaspoon of his semen.
It astonishes me that she isn’t the Ballydoyle first string here. They obviously thought her a good thing in Ascot. She now appears to have fallen below Mother Earth, a well beaten third in the Albany Stakes, in the pecking order.
Frenetic could be a star. She may be more effective at five furlongs, though. Also, she’ll be a short price. More Beautiful could well be shunned by the market. At a price it’s worth chancing her to confirm that debut promise.
16:45 San Pedro
Ballydoyle second strings are the theme of this piece. San Pedro runs in the premier handicap. This horse bolted up in a backend maiden in Leopardstown last season. On the back of that he was made favourite for a group race in Newmarket last November.
His many supporters, me among them, witnessed a tame effort. The ground was offered as an excuse but it was deep ground in Leopardstown, too. Whatever the reason, I’m quite confident he’s much better than that.
Quicker ground promises to suit on pedigree. He was entered for a Naas handicapped pre lockdown so you would be hopeful he will be straight enough for his comeback. Even from a wide draw, his mark of 92 is appealing for a potential group horse.
17:45 Miacomet
Miacomet should go close in the 17:45. She has taken a couple of runs to find her feet this season. Her narrow defeat in Navan last time out suggested that she’s primed to strike.
She was a model of consistency in a busy campaign last term. Her last win came at this course off a mark of 73. She should be very competitive off two pounds higher here.
Brendan Duke’s Tips for the Curragh on Sunday
14:35 Orchid Gardens
15:10 More Beautiful
16:46 San Pedro
17:45 Miacomet
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