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
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