Curragh Racecourse: preview and tips for Saturday’s Spring Series card with a competitive eight-race card

The Flat season is back in full tilt and nowhere more so than the Curragh on Saturday, with the County Kildare track hosting an eight-race card this weekend.

The action kicks off at 1.15pm with an 11-runner maiden contest over six furlongs before coming to a close four hours later at 5.10pm with a 15-runner handicap contest over the six furlong trip.

Read below for a full preview of the Curragh card on Saturday, plus some selections for each race, courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest Irish Grand National betting for the showpiece race at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

The opening contest on the Curragh card this weekend sees a field of 11 head to the stalls for the six furlong maiden contest for two-year-olds (1.15). Powerhouse trainer Aidan O’Brien has introduced some nice types in this race before and he has another with Extravagant this year, who cost €300,000 as a colt for connections and is a half-brother to three winners, including the top-class Cloth Of Stars and in this race is the choice of top jockey Ryan Moore so that speaks volumes.

Race two on the card (1.50) looks a tough one to unpick but it could go the way of the Jessica Harrington-trained filly Cold Hearted, who just about holds the selection on form of the field despite finishing last when last seen in a Listed contestant newmarket to finish last season, prior to that she was in good nick. Of her rivals, newcomer No Alibi rates the main danger from the Paddy Twomey yard, a half-sister to the useful Treasure trove.

O’Brien and Moore can bring up a quickfire double on the card with Charles Darwin in race three at the Curragh (2.20), a brother to the very smart sprinter Blackbeard, while race four (2.50) can go the way of Cuban Grey in the five furlong handicap, a winner at Dundalk in January and a good head second of 11 to Emerald Harmony in a Bellewstown contest last week.

A field of 11 will take on the Group 3 Express Stakes at 3.25, with a top prize of €41,400 up for grabs. It’s a very competitive renewal but it can go the way of Aidan O’Brien again with Whirl, who is taken to complete a hat-trick on her seasonal return having won the Staffordstown Stud Stakes last season. Ger Lyons’ newcomer Napaglia has the form to have a strong say in this one, off for six months after a good third of ten in a Saint-Cloud contest when last seen.

I Bid You Ajou looks the one to beat in race six on the card (4.00) having proven to be a fairly reliable type and having finished second in a course and distance handicap last summer, while the penultimate race of the afternoon (4.35) is the feature race of the day with the Group 3 Alleged Stakes.

O’Brien once again has a very strong hand with the likes of St Leger winner Jan Brueghel, ruled out of a trip to the Melbourne Cup at the back end of last year, and the very smart Tower Of London - winner of the Curragh Cup eight months ago - pitching up but it could be worth chancing outside of the Coolmore yard this time with Crystal Black, who improved with each run for trainer Gerard Keane, who has four wins at this track and also won the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last season.

Finally, the cracking Curragh card comes to a close at 5.10 as a big field of 15 tackle the six furlong handicap, with preference in the finale heading the way of Surpass And Shine a respectable eight over course and distance six months ago and should be bang in there on seasonal return having found just one too good on a couple of occasions last season as well.

Curragh selections - Saturday 

1.15 - Extravagant 

1.50 - Cold Hearted 

2.20 - Charles Darwin 

2.50 - Cuban Grey 

3.25 - Whirl 

4.00 - I Bid You Ajou 

4.35 - Crystal Black 

5.10 - Surpass And Shine