Curragh Horse Racing Tips – Sunday, June 26
The action in Ireland on Sunday centres around the Curragh’s eight-race card, which features the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes. Our Irish horse racing expert has identified his top bets on the day which you can check out below.
Blind Beggar (3.10 Curragh) 10/1
Ger Lyons’ BLIND BEGGAR has been expensive to follow since joining the stable, being beaten at odds of 15/8 or shorter in all four runs, including as the outright favourite the last thrice.
He is certainly handicapped to win races, however, and looks weighted to reverse form with both Moss Tucker and Big Gossey on their recent Fairyhouse meeting.
Blind Beggar travelled best through that contest before fading into third late on and now meets the winner (who he was just a length behind) on 4lb better terms and the second on 2lb better terms, so can be backed to reverse the form.
The forecast rain looks firmly in Blind Beggar’s favour (sole victory in Britain came on heavy) and if the addition of blinkers manages to bring about some improvement he looks the value play to land the spoils.
Irish Horse Racing Tips. Ger Lyons can send out Blind Beggar to land the Rockingham Handicap.
Purplepay (3.45 Curragh) 9/2
This year’s Pretty Polly Stakes looks like a cracking renewal, but market leader La Petite Coco is a favourite begging to be taken on, with this her first start since September and likely coming over a trip short of her optimum.
The 3yos receive a huge 12lb from their elders here, and that weight allowance could prove crucial for William Haggas’s PURPLEPAY.
This filly reached a whopping €2,000,000 at the sales in December having been Group 1 placed as a juvenile for previous trainer Cedric Rossi. Having been sent to William Haggas by her new owners, Purpleplay made a promising stable/seasonal debut when sixth in last month’s Irish 1000 Guineas (form franked), and she stepped forward on that showing when landing a French Group 2 next time out.
On that latest showing, stepping up to 1m2f will suit Purpleplay, and her pedigree also adds weight to that theory. Tom Marquand travels over for the ride here on Purpleplay, which looks notable and having produced her best form on a slow surface the forecast rain looks a big plus for her chances.
HMS Seahorse (4.20 Curragh) 5/1
A fascinating handicap in prospect here, but there appears to be a chance that HMS SEAHORSE has been laid out for this by his connections.
An excellent purchase at just 24,000 guineas having failed to score in five starts for Aidan O’Brien, HMS Seahorse produced some smart form over hurdles last season, finishing fourth in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival before a third to the classy Vauban in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival.
Now officially rated 132 over timber, HMS Seahorse reverts to the level here off what looks a workable mark of 82, a rating that is not only lenient on his hurdles best but also his flat runs for Aidan O’Brien, which included a half-length second to the now 100-rated O’Reilly (met on level weights).
Chris Hayes looks like a notable booking by connections, and his low draw in stall 1 can also be considered a positive considered considering that it has berthed the winner in two of the last six renewals of this race.
Irish Horse Racing Tips. Chris Hayes can score on the Curragh’s Sunday card with HMS Seahorse.