Curragh Racecourse: preview and tips for Thursday’s eight-race card and the penultimate meeting of the Flat season
The season at the Curragh is coming to a close Photo: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
The penultimate Flat meeting of the season at The Curragh arrives on Thursday with an eight-race offering at HQ.
The card kicks off at 1.15pm with a maiden contest and then comes to a close at 5.20pm as a big field of 27 take on the seven furlong handicap.
Read below for a full rundown of the Curragh card on Thursday courtesy of Betano, who offer the latest horse racing odds.
Up first is a mile maiden contest for the two-year-old’s to get things underway at the Curragh (1.15). The Noel Meade-trained Ardad Ned could be the way to go in the opener, a promising third on debut at Navan eight days ago that is open to improvement. Newcomer Aravalli rates the pick of the rest for Jessica Harrington, a half-sister to useful winner Palazzo Blue and cost a hefty 150,000 Guineas as a yearling.
Another maiden for two-year-old’s is up next at 1.50, this time over the shorter six furlong trip. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Starred took a big step forward when finishing third in a course and distance handicap 19 days ago and looks the one to beat in this field.
Race three of the afternoon sees a field of ten take on the six furlong handicap (2.25) and Staysound Susie, trained by Andrew Slattery should be a player having finished fourth last time out following a four-month layoff so looks primed to strike here.
An apprentice handicap is race four on the card (3.00) and held over the five furlong trip. Of the 18 runners set to line up, it could be worth siding with Mickey The Steel for trainer Joseph Murray, a previous course and distance winner and was a fine third of 15 at this track 12 days ago so looks to be the one to beat to cash in on a very attractive looking mark of 66. Distillate rates the main danger for the Ado McGuinness team, a winner on the beach at Laytown in September and is dropping down in trip having been unsuccessful at 7f at Down Royal last time out.
A mile and a quarter handicap is the fifth racer on the card (3.35) and trainer Gavin Cromwell, more associated with the jumping game than the flat, has a strong hand here with In my Teens, a Downpatrick winner in June and then a very good second at Roscommon last time out and is pitched into handicaps for the first time so can resume winning ways very quickly.
Powerhouse trainer Aidan O’Brien sends Appeared for the mile and a half maiden at 4.10 and looks to be the class of the field so should get the job done stepping up in trip, while the penultimate race of the afternoon (4.40) can go the way of Far Eclipse, a food fourth at Galway on his last spin and is improving all the time so a first win shouldn’t be too far away.
Finally, the card comes to a closer with a big-field handicap (5.20) and this one can go the way of the Michael Grassic-trained Verhoyen, a three-time course and distance winner but is on a bit of a losing run since 2024, however he has now slipped to a dangerous mark and if he can recapture his old from then could be a major player.
