Cheltenham went by without us backing a winner. However, we managed to land at least one place on all four days so it could have been much worse. The flat is back in Ireland tomorrow and the feature is the Irish Lincoln. We’ve landed a few nice places in this race in the past, hopefully we can do the same again on Sunday.
2yo Race
Just a quick word on the 2yo race. I won’t be having a bet
but I think Adrian Murray will win it with one of his. His Space Blues colt
Power Blue has already been backed into favouritism and David Egan rides, so
jockey bookings suggest he’s the main hope. However, Lee and Lordan ride plenty
of winners for Murray too so if I was having a bet, I’d probably go with Leblon
Beach, the longest priced of his three runners. There’s too many unknowns to
have a proper bet though, so we’ll stick to the handicaps for today.
2.10 – Nua Healthcare Handicap (80 = 10st)
The ground is drying slowly at the Curragh. It has been dry
but cold so there will definitely be cut in the ground and it will probably be
tacky. It certainly won’t suit horses that want it rattling quick. Never Shout
Never has been running great at Dundalk this year so he’ll be fit and he has
form on soft ground. It is no surprise that he is the fav here, especially with
his yard in such good form.
One that could go well at a bigger price is Rathbranchurch.
Mick Mulvany’s horses often run well on the opening day and this son of Buratino
has plenty of course form in the book. He was beaten 0.75l over 5f here last
October off 68 and he was beaten 0.5l over 6.5f here off 71 in June.
Rathbranchurch runs off 70 today and Wesley Joyce takes off 5lb.
He is versatile regarding ground and he has run well on his seasonal reappearances
in the last two years. At odds of 14/1, he is the e/w selection.
2025 Curragh Lincoln Meeting Tip: Rathbranchurch e/w @ 14/1
(4 places)
2.40 – Nua Healthcare Handicap (100 = 10st)
The legend Big Gossey carries top weight here and he can
never be discounted at this venue. However, I think Staysound Susie is worth a second
look for the Slatterys. First of all, this filly has a decent record when
fresh. She was fourth on her debut at Cork in 2023 and she was beaten 2l in a
maiden at Dundalk on her return to action in 2024.
The daughter of US Navy Flag has a good record on softer
than good too. She won her maiden at Tipperary over 5f on soft ground and
overall, her form figures on soft/heavy read 3351. Her last win came in a small
field at Cork last October off 76 and while she was well beaten off 7lb higher
on her next start, that run may have come too soon.
She was beaten just 1.25l on her only previous C&D run
so we know she handles the track and while this is a harder race, she could have
more improvement in her being just 4yo. At odds of 16/1, a small e/w interest on
Staysound Susie is advised.
2025 Curragh Lincoln Meeting Tip: Staysound Susie e/w @ 16/1
(4 places)
3.45 – Irish Lincolnshire Handicap (Premier)
The one that looks massively overpriced here is the UK
raider Flying Finn. Trained by former Curragh based handler Adrian Keatley,
this 4yo daughter of Phoenix Of Spain had a fine campaign last year. She started
off the season with a second in a heavy ground Catterick maiden and after that,
she was given a mark of 66.
Two weeks later she made a mockery of that mark with a 6.5l
win at Ripon (8f, soft). A six pound rise wasn’t enough to halt her progress at
Doncaster (1m, soft) eight days later and she won again, this time by almost
4l. The assessor took a particularly dim view after that run and Flying Finn
was hit with a 14lb rise to 86.
Listed Form
She struggled off her revised mark at Ascot but the ground was
good. It was much more like it back on softer ground at Longchamp in May and
she picked up some black type in third in that 1m1f Listed race. After a mid-season
break she returned to action at Haydock (1m, soft) and won again off 93, beating
Earls and Raadobarg by over 5l. Her two subsequent starts weren’t as good but
she was possibly feeling the effects of a long season.
The fact she started last season in such good form bodes
well for her chances here and while a high draw is usually a plus over this
C&D, plenty of horses have won from single figure draws in the not too distant
past. I think she looks well worth a try in a race of this nature so at odds of
40/1, Flying Finn is the e/w selection.
2025 Curragh Lincoln Meeting Tip: Flying Finn e/w @ 40/1
(6 places) NAP
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