Curragh Horse Racing Tips for Friday

The Curragh’s three-day Guineas meeting kicks off with an eight-race card on Friday evening.

The latest horse racing betting tips for the Curragh from Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders. 

Friday’s Curragh Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

18:20 Curragh - Galen @ 1/1
18:50 Curragh - Hurricane Ivor @ 14/1
19:20 Curragh - Casanova @ 8/1

18:20 Curragh - Galen @ 1/1

The 7f maiden looks a golden opportunity for Galen to break his duck after an excellent second to City Of Troy on his debut over course and distance last July.

City Of Troy is now favourite for the Derby off the back of an outstanding juvenile campaign and Galen, who didn’t encounter the best trip up the far side rail having been forced to switch that day, shaped with real encouragement to follow home that superstar. 

The 11-month absence is an obvious concern for his supporters, but this looks a relatively weak maiden by the track’s standards, and Joseph O’Brien has seen enough encouragement from Galen in his homework to enter him for the St James’s Palace Stakes.

If that Royal Ascot Group 1 is a realistic aim then Galen will need to take this in style. He should have enough in the tank to beat these. 

18:50 Curragh - Hurricane Ivor @ 14/1

There doesn’t seem to be that much pace on in the 7f handicap and it could be worth siding with Hurricane Ivor, whose best performances have been over trips around 5f.

This seven-year-old has a touch of class about him as a former Group 3 winner who went close off a mark of 101 in the 6f handicap on this card last season. 

He is down to a career-low mark of 87 after blowing away the cobwebs at Naas in March on his return, and I’m not overly concerned by the 61-day break as he was an intended runner at Cork two weeks ago before ground conditions there ruled him out.

The seven-year-old recorded the standout Topspeed figure in this field when victorious here over 6f last April off 9lb higher and is too well treated to ignore at a venue he likes. That turn of foot he possesses at sprinting distances will serve him well.  

19:20 Curragh - Casanova @ 8/1

Virtually all of Casanova’s best performances have come on decent ground and he has found himself well treated after running on testing conditions on each of his past five outings.

He must have a big chance in the mile handicap with the surface set to be much faster. 

The son of Frankel was a solid 100 performer a year ago and a 2lb rise to 87 for his short-neck defeat here on heavy going in April is not beyond him, with three next-time-out-winners emerging from that contest. 

Casanova’s other run this term was also an encouraging one as he claimed fourth in the Irish Lincolnshire (also over track and trip). 

Ado McGuinness is excellent with keeping these high-class handicappers sound and Casanova is primed to strike.  

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.