There is a bumper eight-race card coming up from the Curragh on Sunday as one of four meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland, with the action including two Group 2s, the Minstrel Stakes and Curragh Cup.
The Racing Post’s Robbie Wilders offers his three best bets for the action at the Curragh on Sunday, including one in each of those Group 2 races.
Sunday's Curragh Horse Racing Betting Tips
15:15 Curragh - Power Blue @ 9/4
15:50 Curragh - Orchidaceae @ 7/1
16:25 Curragh - Al Riffa @ 11/10
15:15 Curragh - Power Blue @ 9/4
Curragh legend Big Gossey is the early favourite for the Minstrel Stakes and has been an absolute revelation this season.
The popular nine-year-old has landed two Listed races at this track over the past few months, while he was best of the rest behind subsequent July Cup winner Comanche Brave in the Greenlands at this venue.
It will take a good one to beat him, but three-year-old Power Blue is just that and can deliver the goods.
Power Blue is unpenalised for his Group 1 Phoenix Stakes win over True Love as a two-year-old and takes a welcome drop in trip and grade after contesting the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.
He was far from disgraced when fourth in those prestigious mile events, particularly as he gave the impression a mile stretched him.
Even his second to Prix Jean Prat winner Thesecretadversary in the Red Rocks Stakes on his comeback over the Minstrel trip reads well and he can take this before returning to the highest level.
15:50 Curragh - Orchidaceae @ 7/1
A trappy mile fillies’ handicap can go the way of Orchidaceae for trainer Andy Oliver.
This four-year-old won her maiden at the Curragh as a juvenile and ran an interesting race on her return in a 7f premier handicap here last month.
She raced awkwardly, hung right and lost her position at the 2f marker but got a second wind in the final half-furlong to rally for sixth in the closing stages.
That effort clearly needs building on, but she gave the impression the reappearance was needed and cheekpieces going on for the first time looks a smart move.
Fingers crossed the headgear keeps her more honest as the ability is there and she is well worth a try over this extra furlong.
The form is noteworthy as the easy winner, Meriden, followed up in a Listed race at Killarney this week, and my selection is 2lb better off with runner-up Mallavelly, who was fighting-fit and is likely to be a much shorter price.
That weight pull combined with the cobwebs being blown off Orchidaceae could make all the difference.
16:25 Curragh - Al Riffa @ 11/10
I fancied Al Riffa to serve it up to Scandinavia and Trawlerman in the Ascot Gold Cup last time, but his performance provided concrete evidence that extreme trips aren’t for him.
It is no surprise to see Joseph O’Brien dropping him back in distance as a result and the Curragh Cup looks his for the taking.
Al Riffa won this in decisive fashion last season before going on to land the Group 1 Irish St Leger two months later over course and distance.
O’Brien will doubtless be plotting a similar route for Al Riffa, whose fourth at the royal meeting was still a rock-solid effort in the face of such a stiff task in what is traditionally the season’s best staying race.
He’s tough and it’s well worth chancing that run not leaving a mark on Al Riffa, who is the best horse in this field.
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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.
