Curragh selections Sunday 12th September
The second day of Irish Champions Weekend and attention turns to County Kildare for four Group 1 contests at the Curragh. However the card is bookended with two fiercely competitive handicaps which offers some real value for punters. Those are the two races we are concentrating on. We finished off the Leger meeting at Doncaster with a win for Glorious Journey (advised 3/1) whilst both Portland each-way selections, Treacherous (advised 20/1) and Whenthedealinsdone (advised 9/1) were placed.
Curragh 1.45: Angel Palm & Laugh a Minute
The opening contest is a big field sprint and more often than not high numbers are favoured, especially on quick ground. Both of our selections are drawn to take advantage of the near side.
ANGEL PALM looked a quality horse when despatching Friendly by 3l at Leopardstown in a 7f maiden last summer but had been in danger of not fulfilling his true potential. He started this year well enough with a fourth at Fairyhouse over this 6f trip, but then under performed on his next two starts, albeit one was at group level.
However he won in emphatic style in one of Dundalk’s big races last month and hopefully he will prove to be just as effective back on turf. Blinkers look to have had a positive effect and perhaps a drawn near the stands rail will help propel him to another win off 8lbs higher.
It is interesting that Oisin Murphy has been booked for LAUGH A MINUTE, a horse who trainer Ado McGuinness saddled to listed race success at Cork in the spring. He has struggled to justify a rating in the hundreds since, but has been dropped a further 5lbs since finishing unplaced here last month. That puts him on 93 today, the lowest mark he has ever raced from. He has good autumn form throughout his career, going back to a big sales win at Doncaster as a juvenile and it would be no surprise to find the horse bounce back to form when it really matters today.
Curragh 5.45: Max Mayhem & Magic Chegaga
A wide open finale, but there could be one crucial bit of form that is the key to this contest.
Collins Street won a conditions race at Naas last month and looks group race bound for his ambitious connections now. However behind him that day were MAX MAYHEM from the same stable of Joseph O’Brien beaten just a head into second with MAGIC CHEGAGA 3l further back in third.
Max Mayhem has a first try at handicaps here and this 10f trip seems to suit ideally based on that personal best effort at Naas. He did win a small race at Roscommon earlier in the season, but this type of contest may bring out some improvement, as should the quicker going. Promising claimer Mikey Sheehy retains the ride today.
Magic Chegaga has improved steadily throughout the season. He won a big field handicap here over a furlong shorter on his seasonal debut and followed up at Naas over this trip last month. He is 4lbs better off with our other selection today for that run back at the same track since and this horse has thrived, much like his handler Tom Gibney all season long.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Angel Palm – 1.45 Curragh – 18/1 Bet365 (¼ odds 1st 5)
0.5 pts each-way – Laugh a Minute – 1.45 Curragh – 16/1 Bet365 (¼ odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Max Mayhem – 5.45 Curragh – 9/1 general (Bet 365 ¼ odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Magic Chegaga – 5.45 Curragh 25/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
