IRE- Curragh 6/27

[tenfurlongs]

Curragh 1:15- 7f Handicap (Premier Handicap) (4yo+)

Wide open field of 18 horses should result in fine payouts no matter the finish, if you can figure it out. #5- Current Option (15-1) was highly progressive as a 3yo, finishing off his campaign with a close second in the rich Cambridgeshire Handicap against 24 rivals here going a mile, and a win over 7F at Leopardstown in the even richer Sovereign Path Handicap. His comeback race was an okay 12th, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Bowerman in the Lincolnshire Hcp at a mile. That one just finished a close second twenty minutes ago in the Celebration S. (Listed). #14- Romantic Proposal (5-1) was also very progressive in six starts as a 3yo. She beat the boys in her final appearance going 7F over yielding ground at Cork. Gets tested for class today, but there's every reason to think she can handle the rise.

I could only eliminate eight of these, so spread wide and hope you land on the right ones. Good luck!

EX- 5,14/2,3,4,5,6,8,13,14  Result- 11,5,9  In hindsight, the winner Big Baby Bull ($26.40) was playable if you could get past his lack of recent form. He beat a couple of good ones as a 2yo at Doncaster, and he had changed to a new trainer, been gelded, and had a talented apprentice rider which gave him 7lbs off. Still not sure I would have used him on top, though.

TW

[tenfurlongs]

The winner of the 1:45 First Flier S. (Listed), Frenetic ($3.00), made all the running, alone by herself on the stands side, and just widened from the others approaching the line. You don't usually see that in a 5F dash. That is definitely a 2yo to follow, but being by Kodiac, out of a Forest Wildcat mare, she's unlikely to ever go more than six furlongs. There's money to be made in sprints though. Impressive performance.

Curragh 2:15- 1m4f Irish Derby (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) (3yo)

The O'Brien family vs. the rest. #11- Santiago (5-2) was an exciting winner of the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, now turns back to 12F and may take a lot of beating as the number one chance from Aidan. Joseph sends out unbeaten #3- Crossfirehurricane (5-1) which won the Gallinule S. (GIII) here going 10F. Son of Kitten's Joy handles all ground, so only the distance question remains to be answered. #7- Gold Maze (7-1) is still a maiden but was closest to Crossfirehurricane last time. Expensive son of Golden Horn has gotten incrementally better in each start and is taken to upset the veg cart for Ms. Harrington under Shane Foley.

Ex- 7/1,2,3,11,12  Result-  11,14,4,10  So, Aidan O'Brien runs 1-2-3-4 (at least, not sure about fifth and sixth, lol) as favored Santiago just holds off a fast closing Tiger Moth on the line in the pouring rain. That guy is a pretty good trainer.

Update: $1 trifecta paid $175.90  $1 superfecta paid $2744.10

Box the O'Briens!

TW

[shoes]

Just turned it on in time to see the Irish Derby. Thought maybe he moved just a little too soon on Santiago, but very gritty effort.