2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tips

We managed to nick a few places at Doncaster and Leopardstown on Saturday. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a winner and our NAP East Hampton ran a stinker but overall it wasn’t an awful day. I'm hoping to get a winner on the board on Sunday, 2025 Champions Weekend Curragh tips are below.

1.30 – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

We are already on Tango Flare at 25s for this race and he’s been on the drift. Given that he has been drawn low in stall 7, I am going to back another one from a higher draw just in case there is a track bias.

The horse that fits the bill from stall 17 is John James Feane’s mare, Greek Flower. Yes, she is 7lb wrong but the up-and-coming claimer Nicola Burns will offset most of that with her claim (possible 2lb overweight).

This daughter of Australia hasn’t won since landing a C&D handicap off 70 in October 2023 but she has run some crackers in defeat, including when forcing a dead heat for fifth in the Scurry here back in July. She has shaped well enough in both starts since in lesser races and I’d imagine the big pot on offer here might bring about an even better run.

She was only beaten 2.5l when denied a clear run in this race last year off 87 so she is more than capable off her mark of 83, even if she is out of the handicap. Fingers crossed Nicola Burns can chart a clear passage, if she does Greek Flower can go close at odds of 16/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Greek Flower e/w @ 16/1 (6 places) NAP; Tango Flare already advised e/w @ 25/1 (4 places 1/4 odds)

2.05 – Tattersalls Super Auction Sales Stakes (2yo)

I always end up getting tempted by one at big odds in these sales races and they always run crap races. Not this time. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No Bet

2.40 – Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)

Just seven runners and no extra places on offer. The bookies essentially make this a match, with Composing chalked up at 6/4 and the unbeaten Venetian Sun at 15/8. Given Karl Burke’s form on Saturday, I’d marginally side with his horse but I have no interest in betting on him at the prices. I’m happy to just watch and enjoy this race. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No bet

3.15 – Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)

We have a pretty good record in this race when it comes to getting places (Makarova 28s last year, Get Ahead 66s in 2023), hopefully we can find the winner in this year’s renewal.

The one that looks most overpriced, especially with rain forecast before racing tomorrow, is the 7yo mare Vadream. How can I tip up a sprinter that has been beaten a cumulative distance of over 50L on her last three starts I hear you ask? Well, she has had valid excuses for those runs (upset in stalls Haydock, ground Ascot, track Goodwood) and her run at Newmarket in May when just over 2l behind Frost At Dawn suggests that she still retains ability.

She ran poorly in this last year, but the ground was good. This time there should be a nice bit of an ease and she comes into the race a fresher horse than she was last year. If she can reproduce the form she showed when a 1.75l fourth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock a year ago she is capable of running on late into a place here, so a small e/w interest on Vadream is advised at odds of 66/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Vadream e/w @ 66/1 (4 places)

3.50 – National Stakes (Group 1)

Another small field. I’d love to see Zavateri win this for Eve Johnson Houghton but odds of 11/2 aren’t big enough and you’d have to be concerned about the easy ground. No bet.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: No Bet

4.25 – Irish St Leger (Group 1)

A field of nine are due to go to post for this 1m6f G1 and Al Riffa, Illinois and Amiloc are at the head of the market. Easy ground and the trip are an unknown for the latter horse so one of the bigger priced ones might be able to sneak into the money. The one that makes most appeal is the winner of the trial for this race, Leinster.

Al Riffa’s stablemate has been deserted by McMonagle but he’s had an excellent season and he took his form to a new level here last time when beating Dallas Star by over four lengths. His three previous runs this term came in handicaps, including a 1m4f win here on soft, a solid fourth in the Chester Cup and another fine fourth in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal Meeting.

Obviously, this represents a big step up in class but he has won his last two visits to this venue, he acts on soft ground and given that this is just his eighth start, there could still be more improvement to come from the son of Camelot. Billy Lee is 2/11 with three top 3s when riding for this owner, hopefully he can nick another place at least here at odds of 22/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Leinster e/w @ 22/1

5.00 – Blandford Stakes (Group 2)

Now that she is back on an easier surface, perhaps Higher Leaves can hit the frame at a price in this 1m2f Group 2. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, this daughter of Golden Horn found G1 company too hot on her first two starts of 2025.

She ran a better race last time out when fifth in a C&D G3 on good to yielding behind One Look and, once the forecast rain comes, she may be able to close the gap to that rival on a softer surface.

Her last start on properly soft ground saw her bolt up in a Group 3 at Toulouse last November and she hit top form at this time last year. She sports a hood for the first time, which will hopefully help her to settle better and if the new equipment works, Higher Leaves can make a bold bid from the front at odds of 20/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Higher Leaves e/w @ 20/1

5.35 – Northfields Handicap (Premier)

Crown Of Oaks has been backed off the boards for this and he looked like a horse going places when hacking up at Ascot last time out (1m2f, soft). He’s only 8lb higher here and if he avoids traffic problems in this huge field, he is likely going to be very hard to beat.

One horse that is capable of a big run off his current mark of 94 is Ado McGuinness’ 7yo Star Harbour. His last handicap win came at this venue over 1m4f in June 2024 off 96 on good ground but he is effective on easier ground too.

Star Harbour has had an up and down 2025. He ran a cracker at Dundalk in August but he wasn’t quite as good at Naas last time, though he wasn’t beaten that far in fourth after suffering interference.

His best effort of this campaign came over C&D in May when he was beaten 0.5l off 97, if he can repeat that off 3lb lower he may be able to land the place money for us at odds of 33/1.

2025 Champions Weekend Curragh Tip: Star Harbour e/w @ 33/1 (6 places) NB

-DaveStevos

2025 Irish Champions Weekend E/w Lucky 15

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best weekends of the Flat season. Not only do we have Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh, we also have the St Leger Festival at Doncaster. Dave Stevos has been studying the form and he has come up with four horses at big odds for a 2025 Irish Champions Weekend & Doncaster Leger meeting e/w lucky 15 (and four e/w singles), find out who he fancies below.

1.50 Doncaster Friday – Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)

Hopefully, Sunset On Leros can get us off to a flier in the Flying Scotsman. Trained by Marco Botti, this son of Almanzor didn’t show a huge amount when a pretty well beaten fourth of five on debut at Newmarket in June. However, he left that run well behind on his second start in a class 2 novice over this C&D a month later.

Drawn in stall 1, Sunset On Leros bounced out, travelled strongly close to the pace and when Benoit De La Sayette asked him to go and win his race around 1.5f out, he quickened up in the manner of a smart horse and surged clear to win by almost three lengths.

Back in second was a horse called Allegresse and he went on to win a novice at Kempton by 9.5l on his next start so there is some substance to the form. This is obviously a step up in class but I think 20/1 looks a shade generous given the manner of his win here last time out. At those odds, Sunset On Leros is the each way selection. Hopefully he enhances Marco Botti’s fine frame hitting strike rate with 2yos at this venue (12/72 with 30 top 4s).

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Sunset On Leros e/w @ 20/1

1.50 Doncaster Saturday – Champagne Stakes (Group 2)

Usually, I leave small field races well alone but I am making an exception here. There was plenty of bullish chatter about St Mark’s Basilica’s first crop of foals before the season began and while he made a pretty slow start, in the last couple of months he has had some nice winners, none more so than Cape Ashizuri who ran out a 2l winner on his debut at Ayr (6f, gd-sft) in July.

That was a six-runner race and four of the five horses that finished behind have won since. The only horse that has failed to win from that contest is now rated 84 so it looks solid form. Cape Ashizuri got badly outpaced before picking up late and running on strongly in that contest and it was a very encouraging debut effort.

This colt is out of Muravka, a High Chaparral mare that has already produced the Japanese G3 and G1 placed Unicorn Lion, the Coventry and Prix Morny winner The Wow Signal and the French Listed winner Miss Infinity. He is bred to be a stakes horse and on the evidence of that debut win, he looks like he is. On breeding and run style the step up to 7f should really suit and he won’t mind a bit of an ease in the ground. At odds of 14/1, back Cape Ashizuri e/w.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Cape Ashizuri e/w @ 14/1

3.50 Leopardstown Saturday – CMG Group Stakes (Group 3)

If Al Aasy runs to his rating of 115, he is clearly going to be hard to beat here. However, he’s an 8yo now and he’s had an up and down season so far, so he is not guaranteed to repeat the level of form he showed when landing a Goodwood G3 in fine style early last month.

3yos have an okay record in this race and I think It’s A Heartbeat may be capable of outrunning her odds of 50/1 for John O’Donoghue and Nathan Crosse. This filly first came to my attention when I did the spotlights for her 1m4f Curragh maiden win (good) in June. Thankfully, I tipped her to win and despite being weak in the market, she did exactly that.

After a short break, she was sent off at 11/1 for her handicap debut at the same venue (good) three weeks ago and she made a mockery of her mark of 89 to hose up by over 3l. She showed she handled an ease when a shade unlucky in running on debut at Naas (1m2f, yielding) so if the track doesn’t dry out, the ground shouldn’t be a big issue.

I think if this unexposed filly were trained in a more fashionable yard, she would probably be half her current price of 50/1 so at the odds, she is worth chancing e/w.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: It’s A Heartbeat e/w @ 50/1

1.30 Curragh Sunday – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

I tipped up Tango Flare for a couple of races this season to no avail. He probably should have gone close to winning in a premier handicap here in May off a mark of 97 and since then, I reckon all roads have led to this race.

Three of his last four starts have come in either listed or rated races and at Fairyhouse in June in a 6f rated race, he finished just 2.5l behind the now 104 rated King Cuan off level weights. 7f was never likely to suit in a listed race at Cork last time and I’d imagine that run was designed to keep him ticking over for another crack at this huge pot.

In last year’s renewal Pat Foley’s son of Fulbright ran a blinder to finish a 1.5l third behind My Mate Alfie off a mark of 99. He is 8lb lower now and if the 6yo gets back to the form he showed in this last season, he has to have a right chance off his current mark. At odds of 25/1, Tango Flare is the each way pick.

2025 Irish Champions Weekend Tip: Tango Flare e/w @ 25/1

-DaveStevos

Map A Mad Price For The Arc

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of the highlights of the racing year. It is also one of my favourite ante-post races thanks to Waldgeist landing the spoils for us at 20/1 a few years ago.

This year’s renewal looks a particularly open affair right now and I think the 50/1 available about Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sea The Stars colt, Map Of Stars, is a mad old price. Yes, he has been beaten on his last three starts (his first three goes at G1 level) but they all came over 1m2f and I don’t think we are going to see the best of this lad until he steps up to a mile.

Obviously, his sire was one of the best 1m4f horses of all time and his dam, Bateel, wasn’t too shabby herself at the distance (won the G1 Prix Vermeille at Chantilly over 1m4f). His pedigree is screaming that he wants this longer trip and the manner of his last three runs over 1m2f suggest he’ll improve for it too.

Like Waldgeist, Map of Stars has now had experience in Group 1s in England, Germany and on home turf so he should be prepared for all tactical scenarios, be it a slowly or fast run race. He has also won on all sorts of ground, including on heavy, and that is always a huge plus when backing a horse ante-post for any race given the unpredictable nature of the weather.

I’d imagine Map Of Stars will have one more run before the big one, maybe in the G2 Prix Foy the month before. If he does win that 1m4f contest, there is no way he’ll still be available at odds of 50/1 for the Arc so I think he’s worth a small e/w investment at that price. Fingers crossed he gets there in one piece. 

2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Ante-Post Tip: Map Of Stars e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tips

The rain arrived after the first race at Goodwood which was unfortunate for Thunder Wonder but he ran better than his finishing position suggests. Unfortunately, Tamam Desert wasn’t ridden as we hoped and it looks like old father time may have caught up with Winter Fog. Two blanks in a row, now it is really starting to feel like Goodwood and Galway! Check out Dave’s 2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday fancies below.

2.30 Goodwood – Golden Mile Handicap (Heritage)

It is hard to believe it is three years since we backed Orbaan to win this at 33/1. David O’Meara’s horses are always worth keeping onside in this race but I am going to side with a horse who is going to hopefully relish the testing conditions at Goodwood.

Star Anthem was placed when we backed him in the G3 Horris Hill on heavy ground at Newbury last season. He also wasn’t beaten far in a 6f G2 at the same track on heavy on his previous start so clearly, he is a horse that enjoys getting his toe in.

After two moderate efforts on good-good to firm at the start of this season, he showed signs of life when returned to soft ground at Chester last time out. In that extended 7f handicap he was beaten just 2.5l into third off 99 and he is now 1lb lower.

He has a high draw here but when the ground is testing they tend to tack across to the near side so that may not be too much of a hindrance. In that last Chester race it looked like Star Anthem was ready to step up to 1m and if he stays, he will hopefully outrun his odds of 50/1.

 2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tip: Star Anthem e/w @ 50/1 (6 places)

3.05 Goodwood – Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

John Quinn won this race in 2023 with Highfield Princess, who was a 4-9 fav on the day. He runs JM Jungle this year and while a rating of 102 leaves the son of Bungle Inthejungle with a fair bit to find, he has a couple of pieces of form this year that suggest he may be able to rate a bit higher.

Six runs ago, his last start on good to soft, he was beaten 1l by American Affair in a 5f handicap at Musselburgh off 93 when in receipt of 1lb. Jim Goldie’s horse has since gone on to win the King Charles at Ascot and is now rated 114.

JM Jungle had his first start in stakes company at York last time out and was beaten just over a length into third in that 5f listed heat on good to firm. His only start over this C&D on soft saw him win a handicap off 87 in 2023 and overall, his form figures on softer than good read 3154232442 so he doesn’t mind a bit of cut.

Quite a few of the shorter priced ones in here would prefer quicker conditions and in the hope that the rain softened ground slows them down, JM Jungle is the e/w selection at odds of 25/1.

2025 Glorious Goodwood Friday Tip: JM Jungle e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos

Vicario Might Sneak Black Type At York

Royal Dubai rewarded our loyalty with a superb win last weekend, advised at 28/1 (R4 applied). Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. Tango Flare blew the start, Ardisia ran respectably but missed a place and I have no explanation for Ain’t Nobody’s dire effort.

The King George is the main event this weekend but there’ll be no Goliath priced winner in this renewal with just five declared. We are also racing on the Knavesmire on Friday and Saturday and an Ed Walker trained filly might be able to sneak some black type at massive odds in the Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes on Friday evening.

Ready To Step Up In Trip

This filly is a half-sister to our old pal Makarova, a mare we backed at tasty odds when she won the Abbaye. She’s also a full sister to Nina Bailarina, who was placed in a 6f G3 for this yard. Hardly a candidate for 10.5f on breeding but on the evidence of her last two runs over 1m, including in a listed heat at Pontefract 17 days ago, she looks ready for this longer trip.

The first of those runs over 1m was a staying on third in a handicap at this venue off 83. She raced a bit keenly that day but last time at Pontefract she settled a lot better and she ran on well from the back to nick fifth, 6.25l behind the winner Royal Dress but only 0.75l behind the third Imperial Quarter, a 14/1 shot here. Vicario is 66s.

PJ McDonald takes the ride and he is 6/41 with another 17 top 4 finishes when riding for Ed Walker. That’s a frame hitting strike rate of over 50%, hopefully he can enhance that on Vicario and nick some precious black type in the process at odds of 66/1.

7.48 York Tip: Vicario e/w @ 66/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Newmarket July Meeting Thursday Tip

Last weekend was finished off in fitting fashion by Daylight. She wasn’t disgraced in the Jean Prat, she just didn’t quite see out the 7f. I was going to preview the live ITV races at Newmarket tomorrow but after looking at the card, no thanks. However, at least there is one decent betting heat, the sprint handicap at 3.00, and I am going to chance two in that at decent prices.

3.00 Newmarket - bet365 Handicap (Heritage)

There are two that interest me here and the first one is The Strikin Viking. Trained by Newmarket based handler Hamad Al Jehani, this horse is making his handicap debut. Highly tried last year, his two best efforts were a 0.5l second to Henri Matisse in the G2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh (6f, gd-sft) and a 0.5l second in the G2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood (6f, gd-fm). 

His last two starts of 2024 weren’t up to much and he also disappointed when nearer last than first in a 5.5f Chantilly G3 on his sole run of 2025. He now switches to handicaps off a mark of 103 and while it is hard to argue he is thrown in on recent performances, I think odds of 40/1 are a bit dismissive of his chance.

However, given that he ran so well at Goodwood last year, my fear is that this might be a tune up for the Stewards’ Cup at that venue next month. He’s 50s for that at the moment with one firm, if he wins or runs well here, those odds will tumble. I’ll have a small e/w bet on him just in case, but the other one that looks a shade too big in here is Kevin Ryan’s American Style.

Style Can Strike

By Washington DC, this gelding is having a fine season. A winner off 78 at Ripon on his reappearance, he has backed that up with solid efforts on the Rowley course at Newmarket (twice) and last time out at York when fifth behind Hucklesbrook. He is now 11lb better off with that rival so he may well be able to close the 3.75l gap.

On his previous start he finished 1l behind Marchogian on the Rowley course, from whom he was getting 2lb. He gets 7lb from him here and he has already reversed the form (at York last time), yet he is 22/1 and Marchogian is 14/1. Go figure.

Josephine Gordon got a good tune out of this lad that day at Newmarket and she is back in the plate today. Now, it must be said that American Style does need to pull out a bit more to win this off his current mark but from what we have seen so far this season, he is almost guaranteed to run his race and if he does, it should be good enough for a place and you never know, he might even win.

At odds of 22/1, he is well worth backing e/w and I’ll also be having a half-stakes e/w bet on The Strikin Viking at 40s. Hopefully we can nick some place money.

2025 Newmarket July Meeting Thursday Tip: American Style e/w @ 22/1 NAP; 0.5pt e/w The Strikin Viking e/w @ 40/1 (both 5 places)

-DaveStevos

Daylight Could Shine At Deauville

Saturday was an unmitigated disaster. It was a complete and utter shitshow with absolutely zero positives. To be fair, we’ve had a decent few weeks so we were due a dud of a day.

In an attempt to salvage some dignity from the weekend, I am going to back Daylight in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. Trained by Patrice Cottier, this horse can be backed at 33/1 but I’m not sure she should be as big as that, especially if the forecast rain materialises.

Last season, this daughter of Earthlight posted some rock solid efforts in defeat at the top table. Campaigned exclusively at 6f, she won two of her first three starts, including a G3 at Deauville. She then finished a 1.5l third behind Whistlejacket and Rashabar in the G1 Prix Morny, again at Deauville, and followed that up with a fine 3l second behind superstar filly Lake Victoria in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

Two Runs

This season, she has had two runs. In the first one, her first try at 7f over this C&D, Cottier used her stablemate Kaadi as a ‘pacemaker’. However, the entire field basically ignored her and sat 8-10 lengths behind and I think Barzalona mistimed his challenge and got to the front way too soon. Daylight subsequently faded into third in the last 100 yards.

On her second start of the season, Daylight ran in the French 1000 Guineas and the 1m trip probably just stretched her. She wasn’t disgraced in seventh and in the end, she was just over 4l behind the first two. The bookies weren’t impressed by that run though and she has been completely written off by them.

Optimum Trip

It looks like seven furlongs is this filly’s optimum distance and that is what she gets today. Her course form figures read 133 and looking at how she has been campaigned, I’d imagine her whole season has been geared towards this race.

Mickael Barzalona is back on board and hopefully, he has learned his lesson from hitting the front far too early the last time he rode. If he can time his challenge right, and get a clear run, Daylight can hopefully hit the frame at odds of 33/1.

2025 Prix Jean Prat Tip: Daylight e/w @ 33/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Preview & Tips

Today we had to make do with seconds at 16s and 18s (NAP). My Northumberland Plate and Vase selections ran stinkers and Stanage was out for a Saturday stroll. Jancis had no excuses in the Pretty Polly, she simply wasn’t good enough. I was on the fence about doing a preview for Sunday’s card. The feature race itself is the only Group race on the card, which is a disgrace, but I do like a couple in the handicaps and in the Listed sprint. My 2025 Irish Derby Meeting tips are below.

1.15 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (100 = 9st12lb)

He has shortened up a bit but even at 18/1, I think Triple Double A is capable of running big here off a mark of 78. The British raider, part owned by Alex Ferguson, is a rare Irish runner for Hugo Palmer. He has a decent record on these shores with three winners from 11 runners and hopefully, this son of Mohaather can give him another one.

We backed this horse for the Silver Bowl at Haydock back in May and he just missed the place money for us in fifth. The way he finished that day over 1m suggested he would be suited by further, as did his run at Chester last time out, and he gets that here.

Today’s distance of 1m1f should be right up his street and should enjoy the ground and track too. Palmer has booked Andy Slattery to ride and the bit of rain that fell on Saturday won’t inconvenience him. At odds of 18/1, Triple Double A is the e/w selection.

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Tip: Triple Double A e/w @ 18/1 (4 places) NAP

1.50 – Dubai Duty Free Festival Handicap (100 = 10st)

I had my eye on Tom Gibney’s Booyea for this race but unfortunately, last year’s winner’s price has collapsed. Another option at a decent price is the Johnston horse Urban Sprawl but as regular readers know, my record when tipping his horses is atrocious.

Power Under Me would make more appeal if the rain gets properly into the ground but on good, he looks vulnerable back in a handicap. It is impossible to know what to expect from Spoken Truth after 252 days off so that leaves the veteran, I Am Superman.

A Grade 2 winner in his heyday, this 9yo isn’t getting any younger but he has run excellent races in two of his last three starts and on the evidence of his staying on 2.5l fifth of 19 at Cork last time out, he looks ready for the step back up to a mile.

Keithen Kennedy claims 5lb again so he is effectively in off 84 here. At Naas in April he was beaten 1.5l off 94 (with a 3lb claimer on) so we know he is still capable of running well off this mark. At odds of 16/1, I Am Superman is worth chancing e/w, hopefully he can roll back the years.

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Tip: I Am Superman e/w @ 16/1 (4 places) NB

2.25 – Dash Stakes (Listed)

Before the season started I was 100% sure My Mate Alfie would mature into a G1 sprinter this year. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Ok, he wasn’t disgraced in either start this year, in a 5f Listed heat at Naas or a 6f G2 here last time but for me, he has been a bit disappointing. He only really hit top form when winning this race last season, so maybe he will show his true colours. If he does, he should win.

Big Gossey was a shade unlucky not to win for us at 33s last time but the bookies have not taken any chances with the legend of a grey here. The only one that makes appeal at a big price here is the rag, Tango Flare.

Strong Pace Will Suit

Trained by Pat Foley, he came up short behind King Cuan at Fairyhouse last time in a race he had won for the previous two years. I’m not sure the way that three runner race was run suited him and the son of Fulbright should be seen to better effect here, granted he gets a strongly run race.

He got to within 1.5l of My Mate Alfie in the Bold Lad over C&D (good) last season and he’s just 1lb worse off with that rival here so theoretically, he shouldn’t be too far away from him if repeating that level of form. He got even closer to that rival when finishing a 0.75l third behind him in this race last season when conceding 7lb.

This looks a stronger renewal on paper but quite a few of them have questions to answer on recent showings and with odds of 25/1 on offer, a small e/w interest on Tango Flare is advised.

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Tip: Tango Flare e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

3.30 – Rockingham Handicap (Premier)

I previewed this race (and the Ragusa) for the Racing Post spotlights and it is a really tricky race. In the end I plumped for the 2023 winner Harry’s Hill. He’s already been nibbled at in the market, his trainer says this has been the long term plan and he's well drawn so hopefully, he does the business.

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Tip: Harry’s Hill e/w @ 12/1 (4 places)

4.10 – Irish Derby (Group 1)

This is a race that does my head in. Back in 2018 I tipped a horse that is sadly no longer with us (The Pentagon) and I am still bitter over the ride he was given. It’s worth having a look at if you have five minutes to spare. The last time I backed the winner was when Trading Leather won in 2013 but to be fair, Sunway ran a cracker in it last year for us at 20/1 so hopefully, we can sneak a place again with Sir Dinadan.

He looks the Ralph Beckett second string on jockey bookings but I think the step up to 1m4f is really going to suit the son of Camelot. He travelled extremely well in a 1m1f Listed race at Goodwood last time out and while he proved no match for his stablemate Amiloc (who franked the form at Ascot), he kept on honestly after being outpaced and this extra furlong may enable him to go even closer.

Stamina

His sire won this race and while his dam was a modest 7f performer, she is out of a sister to the French St Leger winner Amilynx so there is stamina on both sides of his pedigree. Richard Kingscote picks up the ride and he is 115/615 for Beckett and if you put £1 win on all of his rides, you’d be +79.14.

Clearly, Longbourn is going to be extremely difficult to beat and the chances are, it’ll probably be a Coolmore 1-2-3 but I don’t think Beckett would be running this horse unless he thought he could be competitive so at 66/1, Sir Dinadan is a speculative e/w selection.

2025 Irish Derby Meeting Tip: Sir Dinadan e/w @ 66/1

-DaveStevos

2025 Irish Pretty Polly Stakes Ante-Post Tip

What a week of racing it was at Royal Ascot (apart from Saturday...). We nailed two winners, Docklands at 25/1 and Cercene at 100/1 and we also had them in our ante-post e/w lucky 15, both advised at 25s.

This weekend the focus switches to the Curragh in Ireland for what is a huge weekend on the racing calendar. The Irish Derby is supposedly the showpiece on Sunday but for me, the Pretty Polly on Saturday is a much more appealing race from an each way punting perspective.

The Aidan O’Brien trained 3yo Whirl currently heads the Pretty Polly market at around 2/1. Rated 113, she was a neck runner up behind her stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Epsom Oaks last time out. Previously an easy winner of a G3 at York over an extended 10f (gd-fm), she will get a hefty weight for age allowance from her older rivals but 3yos have won only one of the last eight renewals of this race (Iridessa in 2019) so that has to be a concern for her supporters.

Next Best In Betting

Kalpana is the next best in the betting and she is a serious filly. Rated 118, she won the Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot (11.5f, soft) last October and she ran a blinder here behind Los Angeles and Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May (10.5f, good). With improvement likely to be forthcoming from that comeback run, if I were backing one of the market leaders it would most certainly be her.

However, we are in the business of finding horses that represent each way value at bigger odds and for me, Jancis fits the bill. Trained by Willie McCreery, this lightly raced 4yo ran a fine race in the G2 Lanwades Stakes over 1m here back in late May.

She was dropped out and held up for a customary late run in that contest but she just got caught in a pocket between the 3f and 2f markers and Declan McDonogh had to wait longer than ideal to get stuck into her. By the time she got into the clear the leaders had flown, but she kept on pretty strongly to just miss out on third and in the end, she was only 3l behind the winner Porta Fortuna.

Back Up In Trip

On the evidence of that run, she looks well worth a go over this 1m2f trip. She has already proven she stays 9.5f, going down by 0.5l on her seasonal return over that trip in a Listed heat at Gowran in early May when she might just have needed the run.

Not only does that last run suggest she wants 1m2f, the dam side of her pedigree does too. She is out of a mare who won over 1m4f on fast ground and her grand-dam, Blameless, is a half-sister to the G2 winner Desert Fire who showed his best form at 9f-11.5f.

Last season, Jancis’ two wins came on good and good to yielding ground so she should get her optimum conditions on Saturday. As regards who will ride, I’d imagine Billy Lee will be on one of Twomey’s entries so it’ll probably be either McDonogh again or possibly Nathan Crosse. Hopefully whoever is jocked up on Saturday can chart a clear passage and if they do, Jancis may be able to hit the frame at odds of 20/1.

2025 Irish Pretty Polly Stakes Ante-Post Tip: Jancis e/w @ 20/1 

-DaveStevos

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Preview & Tips

Cardiff By The Sea landed our e/w NB with a place in the Queen Mary on Day 2. My 2025 Royal Ascot Thursday tips are below.

2.30 – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

A 5f burn up kicks off proceedings on Day 3 and sixteen juveniles have been declared. The Ballydoyle No Nay Never colt Charles Darwin heads the betting at around 13/8 and his chance is obvious. He looked an exciting prospect when hosing up over 6f on soft ground at Navan and he followed up in a four runner race at Naas, beating Cardiff By The Sea by 3.25l over 5f on good ground.

The worry for me with this horse is whether he’ll be comfortable on rattling quick ground. His full brother Blackbeard came into the Coventry Stakes with a similar reputation in 2022 and lost his unbeaten record on good to firm ground. Maybe he’ll be fine, but at the prices I believe he might be worth taking on.

The one that interests me at a price is the Andrew Balding trained Comical Point. By Blue Point, this colt got off the mark at the first attempt in a modest looking maiden at Salisbury last month. The form is certainly nothing special on paper but Balding’s two year olds often need their debut runs so when he has a first time out winner, they are usually pretty useful.

Back in 2021, Berkshire Shadow won a similar sort of maiden at Newbury on debut and then went on to win the Coventry on his next start. He ran to an RPR of 84 on his first day at school and Comical Point ran to 82. Oisin Murphy, who also rode Berkshire Shadow, gets the leg up and while his draw in stall 6 is on the low side, with just sixteen runners it shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience. At odds of 28/1, Comical Point is the e/w selection.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Comical Point e/w @ 28/1 (4 places)

3.05 – King George V Stakes Handicap (Heritage)

A high draw has usually been a plus in this 1m4f handicap for the 3yos. This is reflected in the market though with the top three in the betting drawn 21, 20 and 17. The one I like is also drawn high but he is a much bigger price at odds of 22/1.

As regular readers know, I am usually reluctant to back horses on their handicap debuts. However, these 3yo only races are usually full of handicap debutants so I am going to make an exception with the Joseph O’Brien trained Omni Man.

He gets in here off a mark of 90 and that could prove to be lenient. On his seasonal reappearance, his second ever run, he went close at Navan (8f, good) behind Mississippi River, to whom he was conceding 5lb. That horse has since run well in handicaps off 85 and 90. In second that day was Zahrann, and he is now rated 105 after winning a Listed heat at Leopardstown on his next start.

Omni Man probably didn’t appreciate the soft ground when beaten at Cork on his next start but the step up to 10.5f and return to quicker conditions saw him hose up in a four runner maiden at Roscommon where he beat an 85 rated rival by over seven lengths.

By Invincible Spirit, he is a half-brother to winners at up to 1m6f on the Flat and 2m5f over jumps, including Jack Darcy who won a G2 over 12.5f. That suggests he’ll relish this step up in trip and he’ll also have the assistance of the top class Dylan Browne-McMonagle in the saddle. He’s been drawn in 16, which is another positive, so at 22/1 Omni Man has to be worth chancing e/w.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Omni Man e/w @ 22/1 (5 places)

3.40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)

Hennry De Bromhead had a lovely winner here earlier in the week and I think Hollys Graces might outrun her odds for him in this 1m4f Group 2. This daughter of Australia first came to my attention when I was doing the Racing Post spotlights for her debut over 7f at Dundalk last September. She had shown a nice bit of promise in a barrier trial in August and she duly went and won first time up.

That form has taken a few knocks since but she could only beat what was in front of her. She was left off for the winter after that run and reappeared in the Listed Oaks Trial at Naas last month. She was held up and she got outpaced when the leaders turned the screw in the home straight but I thought she kept on pretty nicely and she was far from disgraced, finishing 5.5l behind the winner.

Her pedigree suggests she’ll relish the step up to 1m4f, as did that run at Naas. I also think the quick ground at Ascot will be right up her alley and as an added bonus, De Bromhead has secured the services of Colin Keane. This doesn’t look the strongest of Group 2s, hopefully Hollys Graces can hit the frame at odds of 33/1.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Hollys Graces e/w @ 33/1

4.20 – Gold Cup (Group 1)

I am not a huge fan of these staying races. Usually, the market principals come to the fore and with Kyprios now retired, this looks a good opportunity for either Trawlerman, Illinois or Sweet William to get their heads in front. If I were having a bet, I’d probably side with Sweet William at the prices but at around 8/1, he’s just a shade too short for this blog.

I am happy to just watch this race. No bet.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: No bet

5.00 – Britannia Stakes Handicap (Heritage)

A battle charge. Thirty 3yo runners over the straight mile and usually, a high draw is favoured. The one I’ll be taking a chance on at a working man’s price is the Ian Williams trained son of Blue Point, Supido.

Formerly trained in France by Philippe Decouz, this gelding showed some smart form as a juvenile. Placed in a 7f listed heat at Vichy last July and beaten just 1.5l when fifth in a G3 at Baden Baden, both over 7f, he won his only start at a mile in a conditions race at Saint-Malo in August.

Current connections bought him for 90 grand at the Arqana sales in October and he started out for Williams in a Chester handicap over 7.5f (good) early last month. Billy Loughnane, who also rides today, dropped him out early, switched very wide in the straight and his mount ran on very nicely in the closing furlong to finish a never nearer fifth.

Loughnane wasn’t overly hard on Supido and it looked like a prep run for a bigger prize to my eye. He’s been handed a nice draw in stall 31, Ian Williams has been amongst the winners and on the evidence of that Chester run, this horse is more than capable of winning off his mark of 93. At odds of 50/1, Supido is the each way selection.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Supido e/w @ 50/1 (4 places 1/4 odds) NB

5.35 – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)

A few of the Derby also rans line up in this 10f Group 3 but the one I am going to take a chance on is having his first start in stakes company. Arabian Force, trained by William Haggas, steps up in class after winning a pair of novices, at Wetherby (1m, gd-fm) and then at Salisbury (1m2f, gd-fm).

Beaten on debut at Kempton in April, the money came for him on his second start at Wetherby and he duly obliged, though he was pushed to the pin of his collar by Hymnbook, a winner of a maiden since. Haggas stepped him up in trip at Salisbury and, despite still looking a bit green, he hacked up by 5l, beating Gladius, since a winner off 87 in a handicap.

He’s bred to be a stakes horse, being by a top notch sire and out of a sister to Rizeena, the winner of the 2014 Coronation Stakes at this venue. Tom Marquand (10/48 with 14 top 4s for ths owner) takes over in the plate and this horse will relish the quick conditions in Berkshire. At odds of 20/1, Arabian Force is worth backing e/w.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Arabian Force e/w @ 20/1

6.10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (Class 2)

Four of the five runnings of this race have been won by horses drawn 24 or higher. The favourite, last year’s winner English Oak, has a nice draw in stall 27 but he’s far too short for this blog. My nemesis, and the 2023 winner, Witch Hunter has been drawn in stall 8 so he looks to be up against it but with me not tipping him, his chance is massively enhanced.

The one I’ll take a chance on from stall 25 is Divine Libra. Trained by Charlie Hills, this 5yo son of Dark Angel finished sixth of 26 in this race last year off 95. He was beaten 6.25l for the win but he didn’t get the clearest of runs and he was only 2l behind Carrytheone in third.

Divine Libra is back for a repeat bid off 1lb lower and he had a lovely prep run at Chester last month. Top Aussie pilot James McDonald comes in for the ride and he hasn’t been beaten that far on his two previous runs over C&D on good to firm ground. He was beaten 0.75l off this mark at Chester last year so he is capable of going close off this mark and if he gets a bit of luck in running, Divine Libra can hopefully hit the frame at odds of 16/1.

2025 Royal Ascot Thursday Tip: Divine Libra e/w @ 16/1 (6 places) NAP

-DaveStevos