Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s top Saturday Picks at the Curragh on 2,000 Guineas day

The top TV pundit likes the look of Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at 15:40.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 weeks ago

Mick Fitzgerald’s Curragh Racing Tips

13:20 Henri Matisse
13:55 Midnight Strike
14:30 Regional
15:05 Sumiha
15:40 Rosallion
16:15 Crystal Black
16:50 Grand City Hall
17:25 Jan Brueghel

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:20 Henri Matisse

The 2,000 Guineas is the feature race on Saturday at the Curragh where the good should be on the quicker side. We start with a 6f maiden and it’s no surprise that Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore team up with the well-bred HENRI MATISSE. There’s lot of winners in the pedigree and he should be one that sets the standard. Any market moves for Amo Racing’s Hill Road or the O’Brien second string Monumental should be noted. ‌

13:55 Midnight Strike

This time it could be Joseph O’Brien’s turn to get into the winner’s enclosure with MIDNIGHT STRIKE who was really impressive at tis venue on debut last month in soft ground. He looked to have a lot of natural speed that day and the better ground conditions should suit now in this Group 3 6f contest that looks a natural fit for him to progress his two-year-old career.

14:30 Regional

‌The co top weight Art Power will be popular given his strike rate at the Curragh for UK trainer Tim Easterby, but he may have to give best to compatriot REGIONAL from the Ed Bethell stable. He was a Group 1 winner at Haydock last season when beating Shouldhavebeenaring by a neck in the Betfair Sprint Cup. The yard is in good form, he likes good ground and could spring a surprise on debut in this Group 2 contest over 6f.

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15:05 Sumiha

‌Dermot Weld relies on quality over quantity these days and SUMIHA could be an each-way price for the 1m 4f Orby Stakes. It didn’t work out for her at Cork over 12f on very soft ground last time when second to Thunder Roll, but was a good winner on debut over 10f last August, when beating the odds-on Thunder Roll. ‌

15:40 Rosallion

A really good opportunity for ROSALLION to go one better in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after finishing second in the Newmarket equivalent earlier this month. The Ballydoyle pair Unquestionable and River Tiber could be alternatives against the short-priced favourite, but we need all eight to run to get the three each-way places. ‌

16:15 Crystal Black

‌A really competitive 10f handicap next where there should be no shortage of each-way angles. A lot are running off higher ratings from last season so we need to look at one who has a little bit of mileage in their handicap mark. The course and distance winner CRYSTAL BLACK could fit the bill for the father and son team of Gerard and Colin Keane, the Irish champion jockey. He’s won his last two starts at the Curragh in September on good ground and last month on soft going and could still be on the up.‌

16:50 Grand City Hall

The 7f handicap is the penultimate race on the card where recent Cork maiden winner GRAND CITY HALL can make a winning handicap debut now of a lenient mark of 83. A key form guide could be the 6f maiden Megarry won last season in which Grand City Hall was third. His recent win and that rating of 83 points to another big run. ‌

17:25 Jan Brueghel‌

A valuable 10f maiden closes the card on day two of the Irish Guineas Festival and the debutant JAN BRUEGHEL jumps off the page for Team Ballydoyle. Those who have already had a run don’t look to be world beaters. Strong market support for this son of Galileo would help his cause.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Curragh Racing Tips

13:20 Henri Matisse
13:55 Midnight Strike
14:30 Regional
15:05 Sumiha
15:40 Rosallion
16:15 Crystal Black
16:50 Grand City Hall
17:25 Jan Brueghel

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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