Get Lucky On Derby Day At The Curragh

The second race on Derby Day 2018 at the Curragh is the 5f Rockingham Premier Handicap and 18 horses will battle it out for the 59k prize. There are three 3yos in the race and two of them head the market, Blue Uluru for Lyons/Keane and Dali for Donnacha and Aidan O’Brien. However, 3yos have an awful record in this contest in recent years and it can be tough for them against seasoned handicappers.

Rory Cleary won this last year on Tithonus.

In the past 10 seasons no 3yo has won The Rockingham, so it usually pays to side with more experienced horses. The one I like from 4lb out of the handicap is Lucky Beggar for David Griffiths and last year’s (and 2009’s) winning jockey, Rory Cleary. This son of Verglas might be an 8yo but he has shown no signs of slowing down this season. He went close on his seasonal bow at Doncaster and then he caught my eye big time when hooded in the dash at Epsom, staying on late (from 3lb out of the handicap).


He may have only finished 7th but he stayed on well to challenge for a place and this stiffer 5f should play to his strengths. He was a neck behind Dark Shot that day off level weights and he is now 6lb better off with that rival who is a much shorter price. I think Griffiths may have had this race in mind since Epsom, and Lucky Beggar was given a considerate ride in his prep run at Ayr, again in a hood.

He was uncharacteristically slow from the stalls at Ayr and his jockey looked o be in no hurry to put him into the race. However, Lucky Beggar showed a smart turn of foot to bustle up the leaders in the closing stages and he was only 2L behind the winner, finishing under hands and heels. Trip, track and ground look ideal, the hood is off (never won in one), Rory Cleary knows how to win this race and at odds of 33/1 Lucky Beggar has to be worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 2.15 CURRAGH: LUCKY BEGGAR E/W @ 33/1 (5 PLACES)