The Irish Derby is accompanied by a very strong support card at the Curragh on Saturday evening with a mixture of handicaps and other eye catching races. We’ve already previewed the big race elsewhere on this site and now it is the time to look at the remainder of the offerings.
After going through the card with a toothpick we have decided to focus on the two handicaps that come prior to the big race itself, and we have picked out a selection in both of them to get our Irish betting fix going for the evening.
5.15 Curragh
Preview
18 go for this 3 year handicap over 6 furlongs and it looks a cracker of a race on paper. Elusive King has been installed as favourite after finishing 5th of 17 in a handicap here 2 weeks ago. He was doing his best work late on so there has to be a worry over the shorter trip. On the flip side, other well fancied horses Big Gossey and Linus Larrabee have to go an extra furlong & will need to prove their stamina. The Joseph O’Brien pair Dark Vader & Latin Five are big dangers whilst Nullifier has been well backed for the in form yard for Ger Lyons but his price is skinny.
Betting
Talking of in form yards, you don’t get much better than Johnny Murtagh’s yard, so, with that in mind, the selection here is Taggalo. The form of the horse is nothing to write about having raced just 3 times as a 2 year old, her best run on debut when 5 lengths behind 1000 Guineas heroine Love. In fairness, Love gave her rivals in that Group 1 a near 5 length beating so it’s arguable that a mark of 70 for our selection could prove lenient. She’s been running over 7 furlongs and hasn’t been finishing off so this sharper trip could be the difference.
Regarding the trainer, he’s been operating at a strike rate of 20% this year, and almost 30% in the last 2 weeks. His last 15 handicapper’s starting at odds under 20/1 have finished 211301110112617 which is seriously impressive &, from his last 10 runners in all races, he’s had 3 winners, 3 seconds (all beaten by less than a head), a half length 3rd & 3 out of form, with 2 of those going off at 20/1 & 66/1. This is the stable’s only runner of the day & she just cannot be left out with her yard going great guns.
Tips
PLACED – Back Taggalo (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 William Hill BOG (1/5 odds 1-5)
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6.15 Curragh
Preview
Another cracking handicap, this time seeing 18 run in a 7 furlong Premier handicap. The favourite is the consistent Ice Cold In Alex who has finished 23434 in his last 5 starts, all big handicaps. His mark is still workable & he looks solid to place but I’d rather look elsewhere for the winner. Current Option was excellent last term but disappointed when well fancied for the Irish Lincoln on his return. He goes with the addition of a hood whilst Romantic Proposal ended last term by winning a big field handicap in good style but is 12lbs higher here.
Betting
Top weight No Needs Never is the one I want on side here, from the excellent Joseph O’Brien yard. To negate the big weight, he has put a very good 7lb claimer on board & that may just prove the difference here. A winner of 2 of his 11 races, he looked a good type at 2 including when winning a Listed race & finishing 4th, when failing to get a clear run, in the big Doncaster Weatherbys Sprint.
He had issues last term, being seen just once when 2nd in a Listed race. Since then, he’s shown promise but conditions have not been ideal. Two starts ago, he was beaten by the trip behind Sceptical & was then held up in a conditions race, having to be snatched up at a crucial point. This big field should suit & I’m hoping his rider can get a good position in mid division before making his challenge late as I expect the pace to collapse. This is his first go in a handicap & his trainer seems pretty bullish about his chances so I’m hoping that class prevails from the top of the handicap.
Tips
Back No Needs Never (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Boylesports BOG (1/5 odds 1-5)
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