A huge weekend of racing on both sides of the Irish Sea as Tom Stanley brings you up to speed on what he and our podcast team are backing for the days ahead!
Classic action from the Curragh this weekend and a chance to find out just how good the once Epsom Derby favourite, High Definition, really is. None of the panel are with him here, though, and the same is true of Sunday’s Pretty Polly favourite, Santa Barbara.
Saturday – Irish Derby (15:45 Curragh)
Donn and Adele are with the Epsom third whilst Rixy and I feel the second that day should be shorter here, and I make Mojo Star my best bet of the weekend.
We also have a couple of shouts for horses worth backing if the ground eases.
- Donn – Hurricane Lane
- Rixy – Mojo Star / Lone Eagle if soft ground
- Adele – Hurricane Lane
- Tom – Van Gogh if soft ground / Mojo Star BEST BET
Saturday – Railway Stakes (15:05 Curragh)
Tricky one this and I’m sitting it out.
Donn argues Castle Star should be clear favourite whilst Adele likes a British raider. Rixy makes a case for one at a price, win and place.
- Donn – Castle Star (should be clear favourite)
- Rixy – Pinar Del Rio
- Adele – Go Bears Go
- Tom – No bet
Saturday – International Stakes (16:20 Curragh)
Rixy wants to take on Cadillac and back Raise You as a likely pace angle. I’m with another Joseph O’Brien horse who should appreciate the drop back in trip.
Donn thinks there’s a lot more to come from last time out winner, Thunder Kiss.
- Donn – Thunder Kiss
- Rixy – Raise You
- Adele – True Self
- Tom – Southern Lights
New to Matchbook? Get 0% Commission on ALL SPORTS for 30 days by using Bonus Code INSIGHTS. Click on the below banner for further details:
Saturday – Chipchase Stakes (14:20 Newcastle)
Best bet time here for Adele, and Rixy agrees Diligent Harry is the one to side with for all he’d like a bigger price.
I think the favourite will take some beating but fancy Ainsdale is overpriced back over six furlongs.
- Donn – No bet
- Rixy – Diligent Harry (would want 5.5)
- Adele – Diligent Harry BEST BET
- Tom – Ainsdale
Saturday – Criterion Stakes (15:15 Newmarket)
Rixy’s best bet lines up here in the form of the Richard Hannon first string. I’m chancing his second string and Adele is also siding with a horse at double figure odds.
- Donn – No bet
- Rixy – Motakhayyel BEST BET
- Adele – Duke Of Hazard
- Tom – Mums Tipple
Saturday – Northumberland Plate (15:30 Newcastle)
Donn saves his best bet for the biggest field of the day. Rixy is on a horse who has from with Donn’s selection while Adele and I feel Mildenberger, one of five for Mark Johnston, is overpriced.
- Donn – Dubious Affair BEST BET
- Rixy – Galata Bridge
- Adele – Rajinsky / Mildenberger
- Tom – Mildenberger / Lucky Deal
Sunday – Pretty Polly (15:40 Curragh)
All against the favourite at the prices. Adele sides with a very tough and progressive filly whilst Donn wants Cayenne Pepper on side. Rixy likes the filly who ran in America last time and I’m chancing a former Group 1 two-year-old winner.
- Donn – Cayenne Pepper
- Rixy – Thundering Nights
- Adele – Epona Plays
- Tom – Shale
Sunday – Curragh Cup (16:10 Curragh)
Only Donn brave enough to side with one at likely prices. Pondus went close under a fair weight in a handicap last time and he makes him the one to beat.
- Donn – Pondus
- Rixy – No bet
- Adele – No bet
- Tom – No bet
Watch the Full Preview here:
Subscribe to the Matchbook Betting Podcast here
Subscribe to the Matchbook Youtube channel here
