Racing
Curragh tipping preview: Take a chance on Laburnum in Irish Oaks
It’s Irish Oaks day at Curragh and Alex Davies has written us a Curragh tipping preview taking on the Win 4. Read his preview and join his Syndicate.
Curragh tipping preview
17:45 – Minstrel Stakes
In terms of form, ROMANISED is head and shoulders above the rest of the field in the opening leg of the Curragh tipping preview. He enjoyed a superb 2019 – winning this race and the Prix Jacques le Marois before just being denied by Circus Maximus in the Prix Moulin at Longchamp.
The 2018 Irish 2000 Guineas winner did indeed win this contest last season, but that was his fourth run of the campaign and the suspicion is that he may just need this outing before Group 1 targets in France later in the season.
With this in mind, it is worth siding with LANCASTER HOUSE. The 4yo was impressive in his seasonal reappearance, winning comfortably from dual-Group 2 winner Speak in Colours in the Gladness Stakes last month and 7f looks the perfect trip for him.
BUFFER ZONE has solid form in listed and Group 2 company over sprint trips, but it remains to be seen how he fares over the longest trip he has faced in his career. He will need to relish every yard to come out on top in front of the seasoned two at the head of the market.
Selection: LANCASTER HOUSE
18:15 – Scurry Handicap
URBAN BEAT is carrying top weight in this competitive handicap, but his neck second to Make A Challenge last week is the best piece of form in this field and he is rightly sitting at the top of the market. In his last six races, he has bumped into Make A Challenge four times so he will be happy not to see him today.
GULLIVER is another horse with a stack of solid handicap form to his name, with his most recent run seeing him finish just a length-and-a-half behind Hey Jonesy in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. A reproduction of that form should see him go very close.
Finally, BUNGEE JUMP may be rated 9lb higher than when beating Magic J by five lengths at Newmarket last month, but that form was boosted on Thursday when Magic J won at Sandown on Thursday night. He didn’t run badly off this mark at Goodwood ten days after his Newmarket success and at a larger price, a chance can be taken on him.
Selections: URBAN BEAT, GULLIVER, BUNGEE JUMP
18:45 – Railway Stakes
A tricky puzzle to solve. MERCHANT’S QUAY stepped up markedly on his debut when seeing off stablemate Irish Chief and Arctician, who reopposes here, in a maiden here on Irish Derby weekend. There have been positive vibes around Alex D who ran that day and he may give the form a boost when he runs at Limerick on Friday.
Lippizaner was a short price to get off the mark on the first day of the resumption in Ireland but LUCKY VEGA was able to win on debut for Jessica Harrington. She has a fantastic record with 2yos and LUCKY VEGA may be another star in the making. It is feasible he can improve past MERCHANT’S QUAY in what looks a trappy but intriguing Group 2.
Selection: MERCHANT’S QUAY, LUCKY VEGA
19:15 – Irish Oaks
The final leg of the Curragh tipping preview and UK runners have won the past three editions of this race, but due to the restrictions currently in place the prize will be staying in Ireland this season.
Aidan O’Brien saddles half of the runners for the third Irish Classic of the season, but the market is headed by Jessica Harrington’s CAYENNE PEPPER, who made a promising return to action when second behind Magical in the Pretty Polly at the course three weeks ago.
If she builds on that reappearance, she will be a very tough nut to crack. Her fourth in the Fillies Mile last season is solid form, with Love winning both the 1000 Guineas and English Oaks this campaign.
However, it has been well documented that O’Brien’s maiden winners can improve greatly for each outing (Serpentine stealing the Derby from the front will live long in the memory), and a chance should be taken on LABURNUM.
With PASSION likely to set a strong gallop as she did at Epsom, LABURNUM should be able to get into a nice rhythm in behind. She was prominent on her debut where she was ridden a long way from home and kept on well under Seamie Heffernan.
She was just touched off by EVEN SO in the Oaks Trial at Naas two weeks ago but another step up in trip is sure to suit and she should go well at a price and could give O’Brien a sixth success in this race.
ENNISTYMON is clearly of interest after her second to Love in the Oaks two weeks ago, but that was her second big performance within 3 weeks and there is a chance another quick reappearance may find her out.
As I have a strong view on the from of the Oaks Trial, EVEN SO is also worth an addition alongside LABURNUM.
Selections: LABURNUM, EVEN SO
You could earn up to £100 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
