Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders is back in the chair to provide four bets at the Curragh on Friday.
Watch and bet on all of Friday's racing action at bet365 (Live Streaming Rules apply).
Robbie Wilders' tips
5.25 Curragh - Danvers Gold @ 15/8
6.00 Curragh - Impact Warrior @ 3/1
7.00 Curragh - Touching Clouds @ 7/2
8.00 Curragh - Gustavus Weston @ 9/1
View the latest Horse Racing Odds
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
5.25 Curragh - Danvers Gold @ 15/8
The 6f fillies’ maiden (5.25) does not appear to be the strongest event of its kind run at the home of Irish Flat racing, and a chance is taken on once-raced filly DANVERS GOLD on her return for Jessica Harrington.
This 6f trip would typically be too sharp for progeny of superstar sire Galileo, but Danvers Gold’s dam was a high-class 5f sprinter for Jonny Portman a few years back and the selection showed plenty of ability on her sole start as a juvenile when a staying-on third over 7f when she was given too much to do.
The fact Danvers Gold was fitted with a hood ahead of her first run raised question marks over her temperament. However, she raced professionally enough with an excellent effort behind Never Ending Story, who had the benefit of a run and went on to place in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc weekend.
There are no such rivals of that calibre in this field. Danvers Gold did initially have an entry in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, but connections clearly think sprinting is the way to go and she is expected to be finishing strongly under Shane Foley.
ROBBIE WILDERS' TIP:
View the latest Horse Racing news, videos and betting tips
6.00 Curragh - Impact Warrior @ 3/1
There is a strong chance that topweight IMPACT WARRIOR will hold a class edge in the mile fillies’ handicap.
The Paddy Twomey-trained three-year-old scored in good style on her debut last August before returning from 230 days off with an underwhelming effort in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in April.
She was a relatively well-fancied 7/1 chance that day, but with hindsight probably found the heavy ground too taxing and could never land a blow after missing the break.
It was much more like it from Impact Warrior next time in a mile Killarney conditions race on a quicker surface this month. A first-time tongue-tie, which is retained today, clearly helped her and she traded at a low of 1.05 in running before being reeled in late by a well-bred Joseph O’Brien-trained filly ridden by a good 7lb apprentice.
Billy Lee arguably went for home too early that day and I’d expect the top rider to time his challenge later this time from an advantageous draw in stall one.
This might be the last time we see her in handicaps for a while.
ROBBIE WILDERS' TIP:
Impact Warrior @ 3/1 - 1pt win
7.00 Curragh - Touching Clouds @ 7/2
Bet365 are offering five places in the 7f handicap and I’m gravitating towards TOUCHING CLOUDS each-way for Dermot Weld.
Naturally, Touching Clouds might need the run following 268 days off the track, but a mark of 76 could massively underestimate her and I’m taking it as a vote of confidence that this daughter of War Front has been kept in training as a four-year-old despite the fact she has already recorded a maiden success.
That gives the impression Weld has black-type aspirations for her. Touching Clouds’s two sisters are Irish 1,000 Guineas fillies.
Chiara Luna contested the Classic a few seasons ago, while Eternal Silence is poised to follow suit on Sunday, and Touching Clouds is totally unexposed after just four starts.
She needs fast ground and will get that at the Curragh, so might be good enough to overcome the potential negatives surrounding her en route to better things.
ROBBIE WILDERS' TIP:
Touching Clouds @ 7/2 - 1pt each-way
8.00 Curragh - Gustavus Weston @ 9/1
Gustavus Weston began last season rated 115 but his mark has quickly dropped to 96 due to his 2022 struggles in Group company, paving the way for a potential major handicap success in the 6f event later on the card.
This seven-year-old usually takes a run or two to hit full stride and has emerged with credit in two big-field handicaps this spring, filling the fifth and seventh positions on ground that would have been slower than he appreciates.
Getting to race on a much quicker surface can provide the catalyst for a better effort, as can the return to the Curragh. Gustavus Weston has recorded his four best performances on Racing Post Ratings at this track (three were over this 6f trip).
Despite the fact Gustavus Weston is clearly not the horse he once was, he is patently still a capable sprinter and proved that by recording five consecutive three-figure RPRs last summer.
If he is going to recapture that level of form it is likely to be over 6f on decent ground at the Curragh. I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t competitive and four places are up for grabs with bet365.
This much-reduced rating is his lowest since 2019.
ROBBIE WILDERS' TIP:
Gustavus Weston @ 9/1 - 1pt each-way
Take advantage of Daily Bet Boosts, Price Promise and Best Odds Guaranteed here at bet365.
ROBBIE WILDERS' TIPS:
5.25 Curragh - Danvers Gold @ 15/8
6.00 Curragh - Impact Warrior @ 3/1
7.00 Curragh - Touching Clouds @ 7/2
8.00 Curragh - Gustavus Weston @ 9/1
View the latest Horse Racing Odds
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
