It's Irish Derby day at the Curragh on Sunday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns to mark your card for one of the biggest days in the Irish calendar.
1.50 Curragh - I Am Invictus @ 16/1
4.15 Curragh - Rahmi @ 9/4
4.50 Curragh - Transcendental @ 13/2
5.25 Curragh - Salt Lake City @ 7/2
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Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
The GAIN Railway Stakes (1.50) is a rare juvenile race at the Curragh that Aidan O'Brien hasn't dominated in recent years and he might struggle to win it again this season as the Michael O'Callaghan-trained I AM INVICTUS is strongly fancied to break his maiden here.
The son of Cotai Glory has come up against two of the best juveniles in Ireland on his first two starts. He was beaten by Coventry winner River Tiber on his debut at Naas in May and then only just failed to get the better of Pearls And Rubies when second at Navan last month.
Pearls And Rubies was beaten only narrowly in the Chesham at Royal Ascot, so the form looks strong, especially given I Am Invictus was three and a quarter-lengths clear of the third.
Both of those runs came over 5f, but the step up to 6f should suit I Am Invictus and he looks capable of making the breakthrough at the third attempt for a yard that is banging in winners.
I Am Invictus @ 16/1 - 1pt win
The Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap (4.15) is one of the big betting races of the day and RAHMI appears to have an outstanding chance of making it two wins in succession.
The four-year-old has run just twice for Johnny Murtagh after coming to Ireland from France and he improved significantly on his first start for the trainer when beating Dunum and Adelaise over course and distance last time.
That race was run in a good time and Rahmi has gone up just 4lb for beating 19 rivals in a red-hot contest. That surely underestimates his ability and the improvement he has to come.
Rahmi is evidently well suited to big fields like this and Ben Coen is a positive jockey booking. Everything looks in place for him to take another step forward and follow up.
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The Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Handicap (4.50) is another ultra-competitive race, but Gavin Cromwell has been doing well with his Flat runners and might have the answer here.
Cromwell saddles TRANSCENDENTAL, who dropped in the weights following several defeats in the winter on the all-weather at Dundalk, but bounced back to form on turf here last month.
The five-year-old was returning from a short break and, after holding a prominent position, kept on strongly to get up in the closing stages and score cosily by just half a length.
The narrow margin means he has gone up only 4lb in the weights and the return to 7f at this track looks certain to suit. Gary Carroll is back on board and another big run looks likely.
Transcendental @ 13/2 - 1pt win
The Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes (5.25) is an interesting three-year-old-plus Listed race and it's worth taking a chance on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Galileo colt SALT LAKE CITY.
He improved significantly on his last two runs last season, following his maiden win at Navan with a good fifth behind this year's Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster.
Salt Lake City took another step forward from that run when beaten just a neck on his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown. That came in a hot Listed event behind the warm favourite Moon De Vega and the first three pulled three lengths clear of the rest of the field.
The selection is entitled to improve for that first run since last year and the drop back to a mile shouldn't be a problem. Ryan Moore rides and Salt Lake City can go one better here.
Salt Lake City @ 7/2 - 1pt win
1.50 Curragh - I Am Invictus @ 16/1
4.15 Curragh - Rahmi @ 9/4
4.50 Curragh - Transcendental @ 13/2
5.25 Curragh - Salt Lake City @ 7/2
View the latest Horse Racing Odds
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
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